8 gauge all ready to go.

[Craig Larter]

Loaded up my first batch of 8 gauge shells yesterday, ready to give it a go. Winchester hulls, WW 209, 30 grains Clays, SP-8, 2-10 ga .130 card wads, 1 1/2oz #7 1/2 lead.

[Mark Garrett]

They look great .

[Mills Morrison]

Looking good!

[Ken Descovich]

They look pretty

[CraigThompson]

Have you test fired one yet ? I’m curiouse how they feel recoilwise in your 12-14 pound gun .

[charlie cleveland]

those look really good the recoil should be very light...the Winchester hull when new and reloaded really stand out...charlie

[Jay Oliver]

Craig those shells look great...it makes me want an 8 gauge! Let us know how they shoot.

[Joseph Sheerin]

Very cool, to be honest, I don't ever remember seeing an 8ga loads.

[Bill Murphy]

I wish my eight gauge loads looked like that.

[Craig Larter]

Thanks guys will let you know how it goes. My two bigs are on tap for some fun tomorrow.

[Mark Garrett]

Thanks guys will let you know how it goes. My two bigs are on tap for some fun tomorrow.

Sounds like fun , I'd like to be there . Enjoy !

[Bill Murphy]

Craig, the D grade hammer gun is an eight? Have you told us about it before?

[Craig Larter]

Bill no its a 10 gauge.
I shot the 8 and it is a blast, smokes targets at 50 plus yards, had all my buddies giggling. The load is very nice shooting little recoil, no flinching.

[Bill Murphy]

Thanks, Craig. Have you had the 30 grain Clays loads tested? What was the result? I have a full keg of Clays but understand that it isn't made any more. Is that correct?

[Craig Larter]

Clays is still being made, it was impossible to find a couple years back during the powder shortage. I got the load from Tom Armbrust 1200fps 8500psi. Shots were very consistent and the Clay's burns very clean. The mec bushing actually throws 29.1gn, so I figure a little less speed and pressure.

[Mike Koneski]

Bill, Hodgdon still makes Clays. It is a good powder. Burns clean.

Craig, do you use a hand loading machine or did you find a press? Did you mill the industrial "rib" of the hull or did you buy them that way?

[Craig Larter]

Mike I bought new Winchester hulls because they can be fold crimped. I bought hulls already swadged from Tom Armbrust. I also bought the converted MEC. Simple and easy.
My understanding is the Remington hulls can only be roll crimped. When reloading a roll crimped hull the mouth needs to be heat conditioned so the wad can be inserted. I plan to shoot my 8 at clays so I went for the press and fold crimp route.

[Craig Larter]

Some Pictures first run with the 8

[Mills Morrison]

That is awesome! 8's are a charge to shoot

[Jay Oliver]

Craig I am glad the gun and your load recipe shot well. I must admit, since I first saw your post with the bucket of newly loaded 8 gauge shells(that looked beautiful by the way...) all I have been thinking about is getting a Parker 8 gauge of my own someday. Looks like too much fun!

[Mike Koneski]

Craig, who did the conversion to the MEC?

[Craig Larter]

Ken Burns makes the presses, my prime contact was/is Tom Armbrust.

[CraigThompson]

Ken Burns makes the presses, my prime contact was/is Tom Armbrust.

When I talked to Tom about one of the presses he told me a great many things I didn’t absorb of perhaps went over my head . Do they use an older style 600JR and rebuild repaint etc or do they take new presses and change them out ?

[Craig Larter]

You can buy just the dies and fit them to an old style JR press, or fully set up for your load in a used JR with new dies. I decided to go for the fully set-up option to keep it simple and not waste hulls setting up a press and dies. If you are familiar with reloading either approach is not a big deal.
Many guys pick up one of these big Parkers and say "I could never shoot that thing". But I can say from experience that Parker produced beautifully balanced guns and once you shoot a few rounds you forget about the size and weight.

[CraigThompson]

You can buy just the dies and fit them to an old style JR press, or fully set up for your load in a used JR with new dies. I decided to go for the fully set-up option to keep it simple and not waste hulls setting up a press and dies. If you are familiar with reloading either approach is not a big deal.
Many guys pick up one of these big Parkers and say "I could never shoot that thing". But I can say from experience that Parker produced beautifully balanced guns and once you shoot a few rounds you forget about the size and weight.

I just got off the phone with Ken Burns . I’ve got a 600JR coming as well as their resizing setup and an old reconditioned Herters press . If I had an RCBS Rockchucker I wouldn’t need the Herters but at present my rifle presses are incapable of accepting his resizer apparatus. He sent me a picture of the resizer deal in a Herters and an RCBS .

[Daryl Corona]

Now would'nt you really like to sneak that baby out on the marsh just to bag one duck just to say you did it?:nono::bigbye:

Looking good my friend living the life.

[Mills Morrison]

My little jon boat would sink if I put my 8 in it.

I thought I would want to take mine duck hunting, but decided it was too heavy to lug around the marsh.

[Bill Murphy]

I hand carried my AYA Matador ten around the Dorchester County Maryland marshes for years, just because I had the shells and didn't want to give up a 90 yard chance if it presented itself. One time, we were invited to clear out a pond that had been populated by hundreds of RSA mallards that were run out of a polluted home base. I had my ten that day, but wished my eights were a little closer than 120 miles up the road. The lady of the house begged us to take a
"big shot" like in the old days, but we shot everything on the wing.

[CraigThompson]

Now would'nt you really like to sneak that baby out on the marsh just to bag one duck just to say you did it?:nono::bigbye:

Looking good my friend living the life.

To be honest I’d like to take it out in a cut cornfield for the early resident goose season !

[CraigThompson]

I hand carried my AYA Matador ten around the Dorchester County Maryland marshes for years, just because I had the shells and didn't want to give up a 90 yard chance if it presented itself. One time, we were invited to clear out a pond that had been populated by hundreds of RSA mallards that were run out of a polluted home base. I had my ten that day, but wished my eights were a little closer than 120 miles up the road. The lady of the house begged us to take a
"big shot" like in the old days, but we shot everything on the wing.

One of the last couple times I hunted the Blackwater for Sika during the gun season I carried my little Savage 220 bolt action rifled 20 gauge AND a Parker Grade 2 top lever 10 gauge in case they came by within 30 or so yards . Luckily that trip I was within a couple hundred yards of the truck and had a game cart for tree stand removal etc .

[edgarspencer]

As I get older, I only hunt with a twenty, and try to only keep a handful of 7/8oz loads in my pockets. I still carry a Zippo, even though a BIC is lighter.

[CraigThompson]

As I get older, I only hunt with a twenty, and try to only keep a handful of 7/8oz loads in my pockets. I still carry a Zippo, even though a BIC is lighter.

I carry a Zippo in my pocket every day . However my Zippo isn’t a lighter but rather a tape measure ! When I lay it beside my grandfathers old Zippos the lighter cases and the tape measure case match right up .

[Daryl Corona]

One of the last couple times I hunted the Blackwater for Sika during the gun season I carried my little Savage 220 bolt action rifled 20 gauge AND a Parker Grade 2 top lever 10 gauge in case they came by within 30 or so yards . Luckily that trip I was within a couple hundred yards of the truck and had a game cart for tree stand removal etc .

Interesting that you chose to carry a slug gun in that marsh as in that county you can use a rifle. You can see a long way in those marshes and a target could appear from 50-200yds.

[CraigThompson]

Interesting that you chose to carry a slug gun in that marsh as in that county you can use a rifle. You can see a long way in those marshes and a target could appear from 50-200yds.

Not on the Blackwater ! NWR gun regs are shotgun ML and I think handgun now . Dorchester county is rifle but not the refuge .

[CraigThompson]

At the present I’ve got 25 new hulls and 25 already fired hulls . So I loaded one of each . Loaded a fired one first , only problem was getting it out of the depriming sizer station next time I’ll use Imperial Sizing die wax on the brass .

[CraigThompson]

Also loaded three with 0000 buckshot . Tried the first without buffer and then two with buffer . Ten of the 0000 buck pushed by 31 grains of Clays . In the two buffered I also put an overshot card just to try and keep the buffer from sifting out the tiny hole in the middle of the crimp .

[Mills Morrison]

That is cool.

[CraigThompson]

That is cool.

Thanks ! This was a first I had the press clamped down on the breakfast table as it’s a bit warm out in my shop LOL’s !

[CraigThompson]

I’ve got 00000 buck already cast somewhere out in the shop just couldn’t lay my hands on them quick . I also have a pair of .415” round ball molds and a .775” ball mold coming from the old Tanner mold company in the UK . The .415 roughly equates into 000000 buck and the big boy I’m going to try as a punkin ball . Also bought a mold from a friend in Ohio , he’d had Accurate Molds cut it for an LC Smith 10 he had with no choke barrels , I cast with it before but only used it in my McFarland 10 gauge ML , but those slugs are also .775 HB and 730 grains they fit quite comfortably in the SP-8 shot cup . When the mold from OH gets here I’ll cast a couple dozen and give her a go .

[CraigThompson]

I’ll try the 0000 buck for pattern this evening or tommorrow and if it does okay out to say 35ish yards I’ll cart it along Friday when we go damage control hunting . And who knows :corn:

[MARK KIRCHER]

We had another big day out at Vanderbilt yesterday. 95 degrees (with a nice 15MPH wind thank goodness) - We had a big turn out to shoot the .410 and .28 gauge course set up by Master course planner Craig! Louis and Jolly Bill were on hand also and gave us Vanderbilt guys a small bore lesson! Billy shot his .410 for the first time in 12 years and make it look easy! And Louis changed his shooting style and shot the best I have seen him shoot!

So after we wore out the small bores Craig had a surprise for us and we passed around his 8 gauge for a few shots each. Holy Moly! Going from a 5-6 .410 wand to 13 lbs 14oz of 8 bore back to back is a game changer. Louis had the longest shot estimated at 70 yards! Much to the entertainment of the group!

A nice discussion followed about how lucky we are to be able to collect and shoot these old masterpieces- most 100+ years after they were created. :usa::usa::usa::usa::usa::usa::usa:

BTW - I am now looking for an 8 Bore :eek:

[Rick Losey]

thanks for posting the pics Mark, that was really a fun way to end the day's shooting

as i told Craig- just imagine a market hunter swinging one of those over and over while filling his restaurant orders

[Mills Morrison]

Looks like a lot of fun!

[Louis Parker]

As you can tell from the pic, Craig's 8 GA is bigger than I am. To break that "way out there" clay was really a thrill, even if it was a Hail Mary shot. Thank you Craig and Mark.

[Rick Losey]

As you can tell from the pic, Craig's 8 GA is bigger than I am. To break that "way out there" clay was really a thrill, even if it was a Hail Mary shot. Thank you Craig and Mark.

Louis - I think I'll print that picture out and get you to autograph it

:clap::clap::clap:

[Bill Jolliff]

Looks like a lot of fun!

Oh Mills, it was.

Jolly

[Bill Murphy]

Anyone going to open up the dove season with an eight gauge? I visited our local government sunflower field today and would like to find a blind site suitable for my disabilities and the 13 pound gun. My favorite line in the dove field is, "NO, I think you hit that one. Good shot."

[Milton C Starr]

Anyone going to open up the dove season with an eight gauge? I visited our local government sunflower field today and would like to find a blind site suitable for my disabilities and the 13 pound gun. My favorite line in the dove field is, "NO, I think you hit that one. Good shot."

Bill dont you have a 10 magnum on a #6 frame or was that someone else ?

I had wondered if anyone has used a 8 ga for doves but since its a migratory bird that may be kind of dicey haha . Then again I wonder if game wardens carry a caliper ? :whistle:

[charlie cleveland]

I ll say this much a 8 gauge will kill a dove way out yonder..let us know how you do this year bill....gona be a lot of parkers in the fields this year and in all the gauges....charlie

[Phillip Carr]

I just got off the phone with Ken Burns . I’ve got a 600JR coming as well as their resizing setup and an old reconditioned Herters press . If I had an RCBS Rockchucker I wouldn’t need the Herters but at present my rifle presses are incapable of accepting his resizer apparatus. He sent me a picture of the resizer deal in a Herters and an RCBS .

If someone wishes to set up a press to swedge some industrial shells I have an older Herters press they can have for cost of shipping.

Look into the Swap Trade area in the Members only area.

[Bill Murphy]

I have a Herters Model 3 on the bench, but don't know what kind of dies I would need to become a serial resizer. I know, reread all the forum threads. I bolted the Model 3 on to the bench today. It is a real horse.

[Craig Larter]

Tom Armbrust told me RST just submitted 8 gauge shells for pressure testing, winchester clear hulls. He said the crimps looked very nice.

[CraigThompson]

Tom Armbrust told me RST just submitted 8 gauge shells for pressure testing, winchester clear hulls. He said the crimps looked very nice.

I assume they were not roll crimped ?

[Craig Larter]

Correct

[Bill Murphy]

Morris told me that his ten gauge shells were loaded on PW loaders. What loader will he use for the eights?

[charlie cleveland]

wonder what the price of a box of 8 ga shells will be....charlie

[Milton C Starr]

How long has it been since a American company sold loaded 8 gauge ammunition ?
I will probably buy a box out of curiosity and in case I ever buy a 8 ga .

Charlie I am think pribably $2-$3 per shell in a 10rd box .
I wish they sold 10 gauge by the 25rd box .

[CraigThompson]

Morris told me that his ten gauge shells were loaded on PW loaders. What loader will he use for the eights?

I would assume he could get PW or a decent machinist to rework an LS-1000 for 8 gauge . I would also assume his 10 gauge loaders if PW are LS-1000’s as they’ll make one 2 7/8” for about $40 extra when bought new . I still wanna get an LS-1000 10 2 7/8” just have a difficult time justifying it .

[Craig Larter]

Charlie my guess would be $35.00 to $40.00 per box of 10. I do believe the RST 10ga shell rekindled interest in the 10ga. Four of my non-reloading friends have since purchased 10ga guns because ammo was available. My guess is RST 8's may do the same. When you think what 8's sell for the cost of ammo is inconsequential for many plus the fun factor shooting an 8.

[charlie cleveland]

I think your right about the shells if you can buy ammo for a given gun and its talked about enough like we talk about 10 and 8 ga s it creates new interest in these guns.... I for one really like talking and hearing about these big guns...charlie

[Stan Hoover]

Morris Baker brought some shot shells to Rock Mountain on Saturday, I believe he had some requests and decided to bring them over.

Different people were asking him about the 8 gauge shells they would be offering and he had 2 Zip lock bags with some 8 gauge shells in them.
One bag was a 1 1/2 oz load and the other was a 1 3/4 oz load and they are utilizing Winchester Industrial shells. He stated the 8 gauge shells would cost would be $5 dollars per shell:cool:

Have to thank Morris for offering these shells for sure, they will probably spark more 8 gauge interest.

I believe my Mec will be producing my 8 gauge shells,
Stan

[Milton C Starr]

Charlie I seen these on a English site for sale thought youd like to see these nice vintage 8 gauge shells . Those red Eley paper 8 gauge shells are the best looking shotshells in my eye . He seems pretty lucky to have 6 full boxes of them haha .

[charlie cleveland]

those red shells are the pretest 8 ga shells I have seen...the ones I have for sale in the for sale section here on thr parker site are just like the ones you pictured here...eley used to make the best looking 16 ga shell ever...it was a sky blue color...thanks for the pictures of the shells....charlie

[Milton C Starr]

those red shells are the pretest 8 ga shells I have seen...the ones I have for sale in the for sale section here on thr parker site are just like the ones you pictured here...eley used to make the best looking 16 ga shell ever...it was a sky blue color...thanks for the pictures of the shells....charlie

I rarely if ever see these sold as a complete box , this fellow bought those 6 boxes in 2017 with a beautiful Tolley double 8 gauge he also had nitro proofed at the time . He never got around to shooting it so he listed those shells and his Tolley . He was apparently going to hunt with the shells he isnt collecting them. If I had a 8 ga and those Eleys I would too . Not sure what I would used lead BB for though , squirrels ? :rotf:

Charlie ive always liked the purple 16 gauge hulls , theres no mistaking them for anything else .

[CraigThompson]

I believe my Mec will be producing my 8 gauge shells,
Stan


I go along with your thoughts on my own 8 gauge shells .


HOWEVER ............................. ,

Only if I'm able to get the hulls I have on order :whistle:

[CraigThompson]

Incidently how many folks participated in the 8 gauge event at Koneski's ?

[Frank Srebro]

Four gents shot for score.

[charlie cleveland]

that looked like a nice tolley 8 ga...wonder what the price was for the gun and the shells....I hope they do well with selling their 8 ga shells....if a fellow could find a way to sell them in Europe fellow might do ok...but at least we know were to get 8 ga ammo if we need some... I have took the industrial shells took the componets out of them and reloaded them....charlie

[Milton C Starr]

that looked like a nice tolley 8 ga...wonder what the price was for the gun and the shells....I hope they do well with selling their 8 ga shells....if a fellow could find a way to sell them in Europe fellow might do ok...but at least we know were to get 8 ga ammo if we need some... I have took the industrial shells took the componets out of them and reloaded them....charlie

He wanted $260 for the two full boxes and $520 for the other 4 boxes and $9100 for the Tolley . The fellows in England who shoot 8 gauges are using the industrial shells as well . Ive been reading about what they are shooting and handloading in their 8 gauges over there . Seems those guys are mostly using fiber wads they said because the plastic ones are too big in a .805" bore or so .

[charlie cleveland]

805. seems like a tight bore.but I m always thinking about and old lifter 8 ga I have the bores on that gun are .845 the barrels have been cut its now 27 1/4 inches they were 32 inches before the hacksaw got them...have to say who ever cut them done a good job even filled in the end of the barrelsmy round ball mold measures .842....it will not fit any of the other guns I have and 2 of them has cut barrels....charlie