Some of youse like the plus sizes...

[Greg Baehman]

...so here she is, all 14 lbs. of her---a 6-frame GH 8-ga. w/36" bbls.

http://www.gunrunnerauctions.com/listings/details/index.cfm?itemnum=949623589

[scott kittredge]

WOW :shock: could put 10 ga tubes in it and shoot ducks :rotf:

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Nothing like an 8 gauge, if only they were legal I'd never use anything else.

DLH

[John Truitt]

In a few double gun journals back, I cannot remember which, Sherman Bell wrote a very interesting plea/ article in favor of removing the band on the eight bore. I thought it to be a very interesting article and it made lots of sense to me. Who knows. May be one day.

[Dave Noreen]

Every old Parker Bros. should have screws that nice!!

[Jack Cronkhite]

Curious, what is the rationale behind banning the 8 ga for hunting??

[Dean Romig]

The Federal Gov't, in its infinite wisdom, deemed the 8 gauge too destructive on waterfowl - capable of taking 'too many birds' - this, well after the semi-autos and pumps were in use and before the 3-shot restriction... go figure :shock:

[Austin W Hogan]

According to my old copies of Forest and Stream, etc, The 8 gauge gun was made illegal for migratory waterfowl hunting through the efforts of sportsmen's organizations. There were also very strong moves to outlaw the pump and semi auto which were compromised with the 3 shot plug. Some individual states did follow through with a semi auto ban for big game hunting.

Best, Austin

[Bill Murphy]

The great deer hunting state of Pennsylvania today continues the ban on semi automatic center fire rifles.

[Dean Romig]

Hmmm... I guess I'll have to realign my villian train.

Bill, as it should be - a limit of one deer would require only one bullet, right? Right!

[Bill Murphy]

I wouldn't be interested in using a semi auto, but you know those Pennsylvanians.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Large bore shotguns were considered the tools of the market hunter. When they were trying to ban the sale of game they also saw fit to ban the tools of those that did that sort of work. Most sportsman didn't use anything larger than a 12 gauge so encouraging a ban on guns they didn't understand was pretty easy.

There have been several tries at getting the bans lifted by people who were very influential in the wildfowling circles but it never stuck. You'll never see it happen today, the outcry of the democratic bunny huggers would be far too loud.

Destry

[Dean Romig]

Turn your swords into plowshares and your eight bores into skeet guns :rotf:

[Jack Cronkhite]

Strange world we live in. Rather than a ban on a class of antique shotguns a requirement limiting the ounce of shot would accomplish the same thing.

Even with a market hunters load, the way I shoot it wouldn't matter that much to the migratory population.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

In those days, factory loaded 8 gauge shells had 1 3/4 ounces of shot in them. You can buy more than that in a 12 gauge shell today. Buckingham wrote about this 60+ years ago but they're still banned. Hell you can buy 12 gauge shells with more shot in them than any vintage factory loaded 4 gauge shell I've ever seen.

DLH

[Jack Cronkhite]

Is the ban by state or is it federal? If federal, who issued the ban??

[Destry L. Hoffard]

It's a Federal ban issued by the Federal Government enforced by the Fish and Wildlife Service.

DLH

[Tom Will]

I live pretty close to that auction, so I went by and looked at it today. I thought it may be my only chance to fondle an 8 gauge.
It was worth the trip for sure. You can't help but smile while you're holding it. Those are some massive barrels. It seemed to balance quite nicely.
How many 8 gauges were made?
Tom Will

[Jack Cronkhite]

So I guess I won't be loooking for an 8 ga. this did get me thinking about the why of it all. Found the prohibition here. It is under the Migratory Birds Convention Act - Regulations

HUNTING METHODS AND EQUIPMENT
15. (1) Subject to subsections (4) and (5) and section 23.1, no person shall hunt a migratory bird
(a) except with a long bow and arrow or with a shotgun not larger than number 10 gauge;

(Note: the subject to's relate to far north residents who can also use a rifle not larger that .22)

I can understand the rationale somewhat, but it does seem the desired result is lost with the introduction of 3 and 3 1/2 inch magnum shot shells. All a bit academic for a pheasant hunter. :):

[Bill Murphy]

Oh my gosh, I shouldn't be using the ten at pheasants? My last tame pheasant hunt was quite pleasant with my little Sauer ten.

[Kevin McCormack]

Since the feds are trying mightily to "significantly reduce" the population of Snow geese in the Atlantic flyway (seasons in DE and MD extended to March 15; unplugged guns & electronic calls both legal), my vote is that they sweeten the pot and authorize the use of 8-ga. guns with nontoxic shot. I could put together a party of 4 right tonight for a go at the buggers in the predawn blizzard expected here tomorrow morning!

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Kevin,

I'd brave a snowstorm for that kind of action, but see if you can't talk them into letting us use lead. I've got plenty.....

DLH

[Bill Murphy]

If I can use lead, I'll be leaving the big guns at home and will shoot the snows with the little tens. I think I have enough of those to last a while.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Yeah, I've got about 1000 rounds of 10 gauge lead available. Maybe I'd bring both, shoot the big gun till I ran out then go to the 10 bore.

DLH

[Jack Cronkhite]

So did anybody get out in the snow for the snows?? I have to go back a few decades, but a heavy snowing blowing day was the best migratory hunt I ever experienced. Lots of wet bad weather hunts that were dandy, but nothing compared to that heavy snow day. Dad had not yet given me the VH so I had to manage with a Winchester 1200.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Snow goose hunting is really just getting started, most of the guys I know don't target them till the spring conservation season for the most part.

Best snow goose hunt I was ever on was during a snowstorm as well. Five of us killed around 90, we shot till we ran out of cartridges.

Destry

[Greg Baehman]

Winter Snows...

[Jack Lester]

Well she popped over 7 large. Looks like 2 horses left in that race. I was going to ride over and look at it today but I think I will pass. Dropping it on the glass counter is not an option. Can't say I didn't try Destry. Guess that $150.00 I had set aside for it will have to go elsewhere. Sigh, Jack

[Dean Romig]

I'll be really surprised if it doesn't go for $10.5K

[Don Kaas]

Heck, you can buy a 36" 6 frame DH 8 bore for that...:) I just wonder what the original owner of my gun was thinking when he ordered the gun with the standard skeleton buttplate...I guess $5 for a Silvers put him over the limit...We'll have to watch a see...:corn:

[Dean Romig]

Heck, you can buy a 36" 6 frame DH 8 bore for that...:) (($10.5K I'm presuming))


Eric, what're your thoughts on that??

[Eric Eis]

Well Dean, I think Don maybe a little shy on the price maybe yes maybe no. Be interesting to see

[Bruce Day]

8 ga, 10 ga?? Pretty weak if you ask me.

This is what the big boys use.

[C Roger Giles]

Bruce;
I spent two years in the US Army artillery and we did not have any little mini guns like that, all of ours would do like Ma Bell says, reach out and touch.

GTG Rog

[Jack Lester]

I'll bet,as we speak, Destry is trying to figure out how to mount one of those on the front of a sneak boat. Jack

[Destry L. Hoffard]

I've got one that measures about 1 3/4 inches across the muzzle, it's all the punt gun a man needs. Them little toy canons ain't nothing compared to this piece of iron. It would throw a pound of shot with an equal volume of black powder and I'd imagine has killed quite a few fowl in it's day.

Destry

[Bill Murphy]

I'm through. Erik was right. I can't believe what I did. Every once in a while I get one, but this isn't one of those times. However, I'm proud of myself.

[Tom Will]

Wow, over 12000 with 7 minutes to go. I told Scott I thought around 10 and he didn't believe me.
It finished at 11780, my computer was messing up when I hit refresh. Anyway I hope some of you guys get to see and hold that one. Hopefully someone here is now the owner.

[Richard Flanders]

Wow. $12K+. Impressive. I guess I'm not surprised. Other than the light corrosion it looks in pretty good shape and would likely clean up reeeeeal nice, eh Bill?? I purchased a gun yesterday... just because I still could..... a NIB Colt AR15 .223. I reckon a guy just has to have at least one for balance on the gunwall.... and they are a real hoot to put lead through. Just in time too... the s***cicle is growing rapidly and it's about that time of year. It may be a coin toss between this newby and a pre Civil War musket loaded with 00 buck.

So, why did the final bid go down??

[Tom Will]

I'm not sure, but I was watching pretty close. My computer said 65 bids then when I refreshed 57 bids so I closed down and got 63 bids and thats where it ended. My real attention was on the Colt though which was a little bit later.

[Eric Eis]

Guess I am feeling a little better about my purchase last weekend.

[Bruce Day]

For the collector who feels a need for an 8ga, Jack Puglisi has several available, including a G grade similar to the auctioned gun, and priced below that at about $10,000. Or if a person really wants a nice hammer 8 in a D grade , he has one at $29,000. That pricing level makes one wonder about the value of the little 20ga D grade hammer gun that was shown at Vintagers and will be shown again at the PGCA exhibit at Pheasant Fest.

[Don Kaas]

I feel so much better about my implusive purchase at the Vintagers...when Destry and I hit the foreshores and lochs of Scotland later this year with our 8 bores, I suspect I'll feel even better!

[Jack Lester]

Wow, guess I should have gone over to see it when I had the chance. Somebody is going to have to throw a pail of water on old Scott, that is if we can get him down off the water tower. Jack

[Tom Will]

He has another 8 gauge coming to auction. It has Godfrey marked on it which I think was an importer. The gun is in remarkable condition. I'm not positive but it may be a hammer gun.
Tom

[Jack Lester]

Let's just keep this between you and me. I still have the $150 that I set aside. I got to make it a point to say out of Burton for a while. Jack

[Tom Will]

Jack; that is much easier said then done. If you haven't been there you need to go. I saw at least 1 Parker single barrel trap,a LC Smith single trap, a DM Lefever Bowling Green Ohio trap and 2 Ithaca single traps. These guns are all well used but still well worth a look.
By the way I live in Garfield Hts' if that's close to you and you ever want to go shoot together let me know. I also know a nice place for raised pheasants.
Tom Will