Buckshot Alah 8 gauge

[CraigThompson]

Just tried the two 0000 buck buffered at 30 yards . Eight barrel looks good and I just mighta pulled the left a skoosh . I also found the 00000 buck and the .775” slugs I’d cast before . So perhaps after dinner I’ll load two more of the 0000 buck , four of the 00000 buck and four slugs . Wanna try the 00000 and slugs at 30 yards then all three at forty yards . Eight barrel was fired at the benchrest target and the left at the pistol target . Oh yes these were with 31 grains of Clays .

[Milton C Starr]

Just tried the two 0000 buck buffered at 30 yards . Eight barrel looks good and I just mighta pulled the left a skoosh . I also found the 00000 buck and the .775” slugs I’d cast before . So perhaps after dinner I’ll load two more of the 0000 buck , four of the 00000 buck and four slugs . Wanna try the 00000 and slugs at 30 yards then all three at forty yards . Eight barrel was fired at the benchrest target and the left at the pistol target . Oh yes these were with 31 grains of Clays .

Wow thats a beautiful 8 gauge ! :shock:
I may have missed it but what are you planning on hunting with the 8 gauge buckshot ?

[CraigThompson]

Wow thats a beautiful 8 gauge ! :shock:
I may have missed it but what are you planning on hunting with the 8 gauge buckshot ?

Maybe a deer this Friday . Damage Control permits :cool: As a matter of fact four of us went last night and got seven .

[CraigThompson]

Loaded up two more with 0000 buck buffered , also loaded four with eight 00000 buckshot buffered as well . Then I loaded eight with the .775” 730 grain slug which needed one 12 gauge nitro card to have the correct height . All are using 31 grains of Clays and a CCI209M .

[charlie cleveland]

are you casting your own slugs...tell us something about your 8 ga...charlie

[CraigThompson]

are you casting your own slugs...tell us something about your 8 ga...charlie

Yeah I cast the slugs and the 0000 an 00000 Buckshot . A friend in Ohio had Accurate molds cut the mold for the slug I’m using . I had borrowed the mold a year or two ago , but at the time the only thing I could use them
In was a 10 gauge ML I’ve since purchased the mold from him . Oh yeah he had it cut for an LC Smith 10 gauge that the barrels had been cut . That slug fits very well inside the SP-8 wad and is a good height with a single 12 gauge nitro card underneath .

[CraigThompson]

Well I shot the 00000 at 30 yards and it was okay . Shot the 0000 and 00000 at forty yards and it wasn’t as okay . The slugs were not so okay , when they went off correctly they did okay at thirty and forty yards . However I had about 50% hang fires . I’m going to load some more slugs with Universal Clays and International Clays . Also wanna load some 000 , 00 and 0 buckshot to see if it does any better at forty yards . I may try the other two powders with the buckshot as well . Incidentally while I was searching my shelves for the open 8 pounder of Universal Clays I found I already had a four pounder of Clays , if I’d known that I’d have saved the forty bucks the two cans of Clays cost me last week LOL’s.

[charlie cleveland]

try bluedot my buckshot loads do well with this powder... my roundball loads are only accurate to 30 yards in my 8 ga lifter....hope to better the round ball load soon...charlie

[CraigThompson]

Just finished a group all pushed with 32 grains of International Clays 0 , 00 , 000 , 0000 and 730 grain slugs . Think I’ll ease out front and try them now .

[Milton C Starr]

Has anyone tried a tri ball load in the 8 gauge ? , I remember seeing a 12 ga tri ball load on another forum that patterned pretty good out to 40 iirc . I think it was 3 .600" balls and usually patterned them in like a small triangle .

I have been thinking of eventually trying to make a 10 ga 2 7/8 #4 buck load , would be interesting to used a old sxs on coyotes .

[charlie cleveland]

no 4 buck does well in the 10 ga...I ve used no 4 in the 10 ga 3 1/2 inch shell with no 4 buck using a Ithaca mag 10 it will bring a deer down cleanly at 50 steps...charlie

[Milton C Starr]

no 4 buck does well in the 10 ga...I ve used no 4 in the 10 ga 3 1/2 inch shell with no 4 buck using a Ithaca mag 10 it will bring a deer down cleanly at 50 steps...charlie

years ago I ordered some 0000 in 10 gauge 3.5" but they never sent me the ammo . Theres another company now making 10 ga 3.5" 0000 buck but I dont currently have a 10 gauge magnum .

Ive always wanted to try loading up some lead T shot in the 10 ga , I believe BPI sells it . I know theres a good number of guys in the midwest that love the 10 gauge for predator hunting .

I was going to order 2 cases from RST last week but ended up buying a 22 mag instead lol.

[charlie cleveland]

milt try lead bb shot on the predaters...I have shot and killed several coyotes and beavers with them...at 40 yard or better a big coyote will fold up for sure..charlie

[CraigThompson]

The stuff with International Clays wasn’t getting consistent ignition . But the hulls I was using cane from the group of 20+ that came with the gun they’d all been fired more than a few times . So I’m thinking the hulls might be on their last legs . Gonna try a couple of the new unfired as well as change primers from CCI209M’s to WIN209’s . Gonna try International Clays again as well but just two of slugs and two of buckshot and see what results I obtain .

[charlie cleveland]

I found if you put a 1/8 inch over powder wad in before putting the plastic wad in this will keep the misfires from happening...I had your troubles before finding this out...charlie

[CraigThompson]

I found if you put a 1/8 inch over powder wad in before putting the plastic wad in this will keep the misfires from happening...I had your troubles before finding this out...charlie

Well I just loaded four with the card as you say two with slugs two with buckshot and only one of the four went off correctly. I’m of the opinion that the crimp is not stiff or tight enough because the hulls I’m using are past their prime . Tommorrow I’ll try four unfired the same way .

[charlie cleveland]

you could be right about the hulls...I use bluedot for all my 8 ga loads that I shoot....charlie

[CraigThompson]

you could be right about the hulls...I use bluedot for all my 8 ga loads that I shoot....charlie

In the book I have with WIN hulls and the SP-8 wad he has no loads using Blue Dot . But I don't think the powders the issue or some wouldn't set off correctly and others not . I suppose I could get a roll crimper thing and try that but I don't really want to do that .:whistle:


I've got the grass cut etc so other than a couple auction items my weekend is wide open so I just might get this stuff ironed out . Then I need to get a scope on top a Mannlicher Schoenauer MC rifle length 06 I bought to rob the triggers . Might set this one up with several factory loads to carry out for Damage Control when I use the 8 gauge from a ground blind . Or I might carry my 6mm-06 that's never been blooded . Anyway I need to get some stuff straight before Tuesday evening .

[CraigThompson]

you could be right about the hulls...I use bluedot for all my 8 ga loads that I shoot....charlie

If you don't mind saying what charge weight and powder weights with SP-8 wads ?

[CraigThompson]

Okay just loaded a pair of the slugs with International Clays as well as filling the bottom cavity with wax and a nitro card in the bottom of the shot cup for proper height . Also loaded two more with sixteen 00 buck pellets and buffer again with International Clays . All four are in brand new unfired hulls with WIN 209’s . They look nice but let’s see if they boom correctly :whistle:

[CraigThompson]

Well all four went off as one would like . The slugs however were kinda low and the left barrel of buck I think I pulled it a bit left off the box . I’m going to take the four once fired and try slugs in them again two for the left and two for the right . Then I’m going to load two new hulls with sixteen 0 buck pellets and try them . Below is the 00 at 30 yards 14 of the 16 pellets are on the box all be it a little left and a little low .

[Shane Jennings]

Maybe a deer this Friday . Damage Control permits :cool: As a matter of fact four of us went last night and got seven .

What kind of deer are you hunting? Whitetail or sika?

[CraigThompson]

What kind of deer are you hunting? Whitetail or sika?

Whitetail sadly I’ve not been on the Eastern Shore of Maryland to hunt Sika in three or four years . Since I’ve put my pop in an adult care facility now I could try and do Blackwater NWR this season , but based on current events I think I’ll just hunt around here besides damage control three months and then three months of archery , ml and gun here I should get my fill .

[CraigThompson]

Okay shot the four slugs and the pair of 0 buck . I’m going to need to go to the range and shoot something larger than my cardboard boxes for the slugs might also need a wrap or two of masking tape to snug them a bit . But I’m pleased that the snap .... boom ceased . The 0 buck shot nicely at 30 yards so Tuesday I’ll carry the 8 gauge and sit a different spot until dark or until I plunk one .

[CraigThompson]

The lone slug that hit paper just now and it tells me nothing since I have no idea where the other three went .

[CraigThompson]

And the two with 0 buck at thirty yards .

[CraigThompson]

Well Monday first thing I need to do after breakfast is head to the range . Loaded 12 more slug loads but with three different powders . Also filled the HB with candle wax Nd our one wrap of masking tape on each slug , maybe snugging them up a skoosh will help accuracy . Also have my 6mm-06 , MS 7x57 , Savage Hog Hunter 338 FED and AR-10 338 FED to check sight in . The pair of 338’s I wanna check suppressed . Tuesday if no rain I might just take the Mannlicher Schoenauer 7x57 along with my 8 gauge .

[charlie cleveland]

that old 8 ga will do its job ok...I got faith in the gun...charlie

[CraigThompson]

that old 8 ga will do its job ok...I got faith in the gun...charlie

The bad part is it’s making me want a second one ! Preferably a hammerless on a #6 frame with 34” barrels . I know where there’s a German made double rifle in 375 Flanged I like . If I can’t work out a deal for that I just might take the leap for the second 8 gauge . But I need to get a couple hundred atleast new WIN hulls .

[CraigThompson]

It’s going to be intresting when the molds arrive from the UK especially the .775” mold for punkin balls . The .415” to make 000000 I don’t think will be overly difficult as long as my hulls hold up although I might have to snip the shot cup off the SP-8 wads .

[CraigThompson]

Well just returned from the range I dunno if shooting from the seated bench made a difference or the one wrap of masking tape around the slug before putting them in the shot cups but all the slugs hit the boxes and two of them were rather decent all be it one powder for the right barrel and a different powder for the left barrel . I’ll just post the two I deem acceptable .

[Harry Collins]

Thats not too bad. With double rifles if the bullet is to lite or to fast they will cross paths. If to heavy or to slow they will shoot apart. Look like you need a touch more speed.

[CraigThompson]

Thats not too bad. With double rifles if the bullet is to lite or to fast they will cross paths. If to heavy or to slow they will shoot apart. Look like you need a touch more speed.

Actually the top target is a pair from the right barrel and the lower target is a pair from the left barrel . Typically I like a slug in one barrel and buckshot in the other .

[Milton C Starr]

Have you looked at any of the molds accurate molds sells for slugs ?
They have quite a few hollow base designs too which I suppose is basically a foster style slug .

They have a .774 900gr hollow base design that looks pretty interesting , I think thats just a bit over 2 ounces .

[CraigThompson]

The mold for the slugs I’m using was cut by Accurate as well as my .730” 730 grainer for the 10 gauge . Matter of fact the mold I borrowed a couple years ago and cast the slugs I shot today arrived in the mail today and is now part of my accumulation of stuff . I’ve put $250 in molds for this dinosaur that’s enough for now and besides I’ve met my parameters .

[CraigThompson]

Oh yeah Accurate does not make HB or HP molds as such . They will cut the mold all the way thru on the bottom and you can send it to www.hollowpointmold.com and they’ll hook you up with the HB pin , which equates into $200+ by the time you’re done . For what I’ve got in the mold I’m using I’m perfectly satisfied and 730 grains is certainly heavy enough .

[Milton C Starr]

The mold for the slugs I’m using was cut by Accurate as well as my .730” 730 grainer for the 10 gauge . Matter of fact the mold I borrowed a couple years ago and cast the slugs I shot today arrived in the mail today and is now part of my accumulation of stuff . I’ve put $250 in molds for this dinosaur that’s enough for now and besides I’ve met my parameters .

Have you tried any large lead shot in the 8 gauge ? I have always read that larger shot stacks more evenly in larger bores .

[CraigThompson]

Have you tried any large lead shot in the 8 gauge ? I have always read that larger shot stacks more evenly in larger bores .

It’s very little difference when compared to a 10 . And no I’ve not tried large birdshot . Just 0 , 00 , 000 , 0000 and 00000 . And once the pair of .415” ball molds arrive I’ll make some 000000 buck .

[Milton C Starr]

It’s very little difference when compared to a 10 . And no I’ve not tried large birdshot . Just 0 , 00 , 000 , 0000 and 00000 . And once the pair of .415” ball molds arrive I’ll make some 000000 buck .

I ordered some 0000 for the 10 ga BPS I had years ago but they never sent me the ammo . I want to try loading something for coyotes in the 10 gauge but I dont want to put anything too large through the Parkers since its full choked I have read that can be a problem ? But I think something like lead T shot or as Charlie said lead B or BB would be good coyote medicine . I dont have anywhere to try buckshot on deer . The area we have to hunt is mostly hogs and its wide and open , you're looking at about 300 yard shots .

[CraigThompson]

I ordered some 0000 for the 10 ga BPS I had years ago but they never sent me the ammo . I want to try loading something for coyotes in the 10 gauge but I dont want to put anything too large through the Parkers since its full choked I have read that can be a problem ? But I think something like lead T shot or as Charlie said lead B or BB would be good coyote medicine . I dont have anywhere to try buckshot on deer . The area we have to hunt is mostly hogs and its wide and open , you're looking at about 300 yard shots .

I shoot 0000 and 00000 thru all my 10’s no problem . The largest I’ve ever heard of the factory loading for a 3 1/2” 10 was 00 .

[Milton C Starr]

I shoot 0000 and 00000 thru all my 10’s no problem . The largest I’ve ever heard of the factory loading for a 3 1/2” 10 was 00 .

It was a small custom ammo outfit , they are no longer is business.
I just ran across a odd 10 ga load . https://www.ariaballisticengineering.com/hard-baller/10-Bore-Gauge-P-p127503785

Thats 3 3/4oz , would love to see what pressure that generates haha .


The 0000 load was basically like this one but from a different outfit .
https://www.warwolfordnance.com/products/ammo-war-wolf-ordnance-0075-3081


Theres quite a few small custom ammo stores now selling exotic ammo.

I dont currently own a 10 ga 3.5" gun but its interesting to see new ammo developed for it .

I dont have a desire to shoot a 3+oz load out of a 10lb gun either , I done that once .

[CraigThompson]

Well I think I’ve got a goodly supply of nice new WIN hulls coming . Ordered a roll crimper tool for my drill press . I’m debating whether to get 50 or so new REM 8 hulls just for roll crimping .

[CraigThompson]

The three ball molds from Tanner Molds in the UK showed up today . They’re been floating around in the USPS for the last two weeks . Kinda strange it took six days for them to be made taken to the UK post office and make the trip to Chicago then two weeks to get from Chicago to central VA .

[CraigThompson]

A few results this afternoon . Maybe after dinner I’ll see how 000000 buck stack in SP-8 shotcups or without the petals . Same for the .775” roundball.

[CraigThompson]

It looks kinda promising ! It appears I might be able to shot the six pellets of 000000 with the wad cup still attached . And it appears that the .775” roundball with either one or two 1/8” 12 gauge cards in the bottom of the shot cup might work as well .

[CraigThompson]

Just loaded a few . Loaded two more of the 730 grain .775” slug with International Clays but this time I put two wraps of masking tape instead of just one to tighten it a skoosh more going thru the choke . Then I loaded two of the .775” roundball with two 1/8” 12 gauge cards under it in the shot cup also with International Clays . And finally I loaded two with 000000 buck also pushed with International Clays and buffered . Only put six of the pellets in the two shells .

[charlie cleveland]

I hope yourslugs pattern well for you I wanted my round ball loads to pattern well out to 50 yards but it seems 30 yards is my limit...my buckshot loads do ok out to 40 yards I aint shot any buckshot in my single barrel davenport yet it has some choke in it..i m hoping to be able to stretch it out to 50 yards..good luck....charlie

[CraigThompson]

Well haven’t been to the range yet . But I shot the 000000 loads and the punkin ball loads in the side yard an hour ago . Amazingly they did relatively well that is the buck load atleast . The two punkin balls from the right barrel hit the box but not anywhere close to each other or the aiming point . The first is the two punkin balls , then right barrel buck and the last is the buck in the left .

[CraigThompson]

I still wanna get to the range possibly Monday in the AM to test loads in a 6.5x54 MS so after dinner tonight I think I’ll load two punkin balls to try in the left barrel and maybe two more with 000000 buck .

[charlie cleveland]

I thought of this..maybe if we sight down the center of each barrel we might get better scores out of the slugs... my bore diameter is .842 my round ball diameter is .835 im going to try your tape method to see if I can get better accuracy out of my gun....I f I can get my gun to shoot out to 50 yards with good hits I will be satisfied with it...I m better with my slingshot than I am with my pumpkin ball loads....charlie

[CraigThompson]

I thought of this..maybe if we sight down the center of each barrel we might get better scores out of the slugs... my bore diameter is .842 my round ball diameter is .835 im going to try your tape method to see if I can get better accuracy out of my gun....I f I can get my gun to shoot out to 50 yards with good hits I will be satisfied with it...I m better with my slingshot than I am with my pumpkin ball loads....charlie

While you might be onto something I don’t think I’d remmember while hunting to sight down a particular barrel and besides they’re supposed to be regulated to cross at some point . I dunno if masking tape will work on roundballs I’ve only done that with slugs . I have however seen some roundballs Ross Seyfried had paper patched for a rifled 8 bore double .

[CraigThompson]

I’d used up all the 000000 pellets so decided to cast today .Just finished casting enough of the 000000 balls for 10-12 rounds and seven of the .775” balls . My outdoor thermometer in the shade said 98 . Ran the weed eater around the house while I was waiting for the lead to liquify . Then goterdone as quick as possible !

[CraigThompson]

The 000000 I cast the other day I decided to roll between two pieces of steel today to kinda round out the spruce area . So while at the shop today I rolled about half of what I cast . When I got home I loaded two rounds with International Clays and six pellets with buffer . And shortly I shot one from the right and one from the left at 30 yards . BOTH barrels tightened up the pattern noticeably although POI was a touch left of POA . When I got back in the house I loaded two more for Damage Control Tuesday evening !

[charlie cleveland]

poor little deer better not come for a snack tonite....your throwing some pretty tight patterns now.....charlie

[CraigThompson]

poor little deer better not come for a snack tonite....your throwing some pretty tight patterns now.....charlie

Hopefully we’ll see Tuesday evening ! That was at thirty yards I have half a notion to try out to forty but hold a touch higher and a touch right .

[CraigThompson]

I ordered the .775" roundball mold for punkin ball loads in the hammer 8 . The nammerless 8 I have has a slightly more open bore as it was made for buckshot or atleast the factory letter stated it was to shoot close with buckshot . SO I think I might order a pair of roundball molds from Tanner a .785" to try in the hammer gun and a .795" to try in the hammerless gun .

[charlie cleveland]

my slug mold is .835 my bores on the old parker lifter is .842...some body wacked off about 7 1/2 inches of her barrels they are 27 1/4 inch now...I ve got to get her shooting better only good for 30 yards now would like to get her shooting out to 40 yards I would be happy with that range....charlie

[CraigThompson]

Ordered the .785" and a .795" just a couple minutes ago . Lets see if I get them in time to use in the early September antlerless season :whistle:

[charlie cleveland]

I aint had time to shoot my old 8 but soon real soon... I hope ypu get those slug loads shooting good....charlie

[CraigThompson]

I aint had time to shoot my old 8 but soon real soon... I hope ypu get those slug loads shooting good....charlie

These are punkin (round) balls . I doubt I ever buy another slug mold , I have the one that’s to big for the chokes in my tens and I can patch it up enough to work inside my parameters . One of those molds comes from the maker then you send it to the hollow point guy to make a base plug . By the time it’s done you’ve got over $200 invested . I’ll just make do with the slugs I already have . These roundball molds from Tanner’s in the UK are about $45 each plus shipping .

[CraigThompson]

The new punkin ball molds arrived in NYC yesterday now how long will it take to make the six hour trip to central Virginia ! I went out about an hour ago to try 000000 buck , .775” punkin balls and .775” slugs . Shot them all at 28 yards . Decided on 000000 buck for the right barrel and the slugs/punkin balls are about the same out the left barrel . First pic is buck second is slugs and the last is punkin balls .

[CraigThompson]

Oh yes failed to mention these were shot in the slightly more open PH 8 rather than the tighter hammer gun .

[Milton C Starr]

The new punkin ball molds arrived in NYC yesterday now how long will it take to make the six hour trip to central Virginia ! I went out about an hour ago to try 000000 buck , .775” punkin balls and .775” slugs . Shot them all at 28 yards . Decided on 000000 buck for the right barrel and the slugs/punkin balls are about the same out the left barrel . First pic is buck second is slugs and the last is punkin balls .

I was looking at a 10 ga pumpkin ball/ tri ball load recently, somehow they stuffed three 1 1/8oz round balls into a 10 ga hull . Definitely more weight than I would want to fire out of a 10lb gun lol . I have some buckshot loads planned for the 8 gauge but ive been procrastinating on it .

[charlie cleveland]

looks like the pumpkin balls shot really well...deer would be down for the count if hit ....charlie

[CraigThompson]

looks like the pumpkin balls shot really well...deer would be down for the count if hit ....charlie

I suspect they’d be down inside thirty yards with any of the three .

[CraigThompson]

I’m pleased and slightly surprised . Last year when the three molds I ordered from the UK arrived in this country they sat in Chicago for three weeks before they turned them loose . This year the pair came in country Sunday in NYC and were in my PO Box this morning . Three DAYS beats the heck out of three weeks :cool: Already cleaned them with gunscrubber and sooted with a match , might just cast a few tonight .

[charlie cleveland]

those molds look good...the round ball mold I have came from the uk...I heard the fellow I got mine from had passed on....I was really impressed how well these molds are made...charlie

[CraigThompson]

those molds look good...the round ball mold I have came from the uk...I heard the fellow I got mine from had passed on....I was really impressed how well these molds are made...charlie

These and the ones I purchased last year came from the company of the guy that passed . His wife and son take care of it now . As well as the .775” balls shot in my PH I’m thinking I might have wasted the $100 it cost me to get these two larger molds .

[Chris Robenalt]

Craig, I've been studying the grain of the stock on that 8 ga. Years back, my friend/PGCA member brought this 8 ga down for all of us to shoot during one of our dove hunts. Both guns have identical fiddleback stocks. I know he sold his. Any chance of them being the same gun? It's a beautiful gun and quite the experience to shoot!

Chris, AZ

[CraigThompson]

Craig, I've been studying the grain of the stock on that 8 ga. Years back, my friend/PGCA member brought this 8 ga down for all of us to shoot during one of our dove hunts. Both guns have identical fiddleback stocks. I know he sold his. Any chance of them being the same gun? It's a beautiful gun and quite the experience to shoot!

Chris, AZ

If you mean Mr. Phil that’s who I got the hammer gun from :cool: I’ve had possession of the brute a little over a year and I’ve had it at three or four places where most of the folks have never seen much less shot an 8 gauge and almost all had big eyes when I handed the gun to them . To be perfectly honest I’m finding I can shoot the slightly more open PH than I can the longer barreled hammer gun . The last targets were shot with the PH .

[CraigThompson]

Picture of the hammer gun and the ever so slightly lighter PH . With that being said both are over 12 pounds .

[Chris Robenalt]

I knew it, I never forget a gun Craig, especially one like that. I think Phil had 2 ounce loads of 7 1/2 that we were shooting dove with. It's not a gun you just throw up and shoot, that's for sure. No recoil at all. It's was a first for me, Dale and the late Dr. Spratling. I'll never forget that day. It's good knowing it remains in the PGCA family and has a good home!

Chris, AZ

[CraigThompson]

I knew it, I never forget a gun Craig, especially one like that. I think Phil had 2 ounce loads of 7 1/2 that we were shooting dove with. It's not a gun you just throw up and shoot, that's for sure. No recoil at all. It's was a first for me, Dale and the late Dr. Spratling. I'll never forget that day. It's good knowing it remains in the PGCA family and has a good home!

Chris, AZ

I was shooting 1 1/2 ounce loads at first at sporting clays then I switched to 1 3/4 ounce loads . I do have a box of 2 ounce loads sitting in my 8 gauge stash at the moment I loaded with 7 1/2’s . Also loaded a couple boxes of 1 3/4 ounce 6’s to be used at a Pheasent tower shoot last season . Killed a couple roosters on the first peg and then I used a 12 gauge for most of the other shots . So at present I have a box of 1 3/4 6’s and two boxes with 4’s . Hopefully this season both my cannons can bowl a deer or two over . Be kinda neat to get one with buck one with punkin ball and one with a slug .

[Phillip Carr]

Yeah Chris I thinned the herd a little. I still have my WC Scott 8 gauge. Not sure if I brought that one out for a shoot.
For anyone wondering Dove and an 8 gauge?? These were Eurasian dove which are not considered Migratory birds. Pigeons are also fair game.
Actually when I worked with the AZ Game commission to get the 8 gauge approved for hunting in Arizona they approved it for all game except Bison and Migratory birds.

[CraigThompson]

Friday I cast about twenty of the .795” ball , twenty of the .785” ball and ninety of the .415” balls . Think Tuesday I’ll load eight of the .785” balls and four of the .795” balls . The ninety .415” balls will give me enough for ten rounds of 000000 buck . If I have a modicum of success with the punkin balls in my pair of 8 gauge guns I might look into a couple round ball molds for a couple of my 10’s . Doubt I go any lower but one never knows .

[CraigThompson]

I knew it, I never forget a gun Craig, especially one like that. I think Phil had 2 ounce loads of 7 1/2 that we were shooting dove with. It's not a gun you just throw up and shoot, that's for sure. No recoil at all. It's was a first for me, Dale and the late Dr. Spratling. I'll never forget that day. It's good knowing it remains in the PGCA family and has a good home!

Chris, AZ

I took both those 8 gauge guns to an informal private 5-Stand deal in Fredricksburg VA back a month or so ago as a friend had asked if I’d bring them along . And I had two hundred or so shells . Turns out my friend has an 8 gauge single hammer Jones underlever he’d never fired . So he shot his and seven or eight of the other eleven fellows there all fired an 8 for the first time . Was kinda neat watching folks that thought the guns would pound the heck out of them smile after the fact .

[CraigThompson]

Loaded some of the .785” balls some of the .795” balls and some of the 000000/.415” as well . Both were shot at 30 yards with about a grain more of Universal Clays than I used in the previous loads . First was from the right barrel with 000000 the second was from the left barrel with two shots of the .795” balls . Also used the Italian Gulianni wads with the buckshot loads today .

[charlie cleveland]

very good patterns do you think the gudual wads helped....I have used them with buckshot in the 8 ga but could tell no difference...what do you think...charlie

[CraigThompson]

very good patterns do you think the gudual wads helped....I have used them with buckshot in the 8 ga but could tell no difference...what do you think...charlie

Not really I think the only way they helped is being maybe 1/8” lower in the bottom of the shot cup and it seems to give a slightly better roll crimp . This time I also put a tiny bit of lubrication on the top edge of the hull before hitting it with the roll crimper in the drill press .

[CraigThompson]

Loaded a few more today ! But cut back to the 40A bushing got Universal Clays rather than the 41 bushing I used the other day . I also used the older Remington Corrugated hulls . I’m finding just a minute bit of lubricant on the case Edgar turns out a far better roll crimp . Loaded four of the .785 and six of the .795 . Then when I did the 000000 I put ten pellets and 1 1/2 scoops buffer . Made five with ten pellets and one with eight pellets . The one with eight got 1/4” of 10 gauge nitro card in the shot cup with everything else staying the same . Maybe I can try a couple later this evening on paper .

[charlie cleveland]

them roll crimps look good to me...charlie

[CraigThompson]

Some of the punkin balls in the older Remington hulls have me hang fires . But the ones that went off correctly looked okay from the left barrel . The 10 pellets of 000000 has a bit of a push to it but the two I shot from the right barrel looked decent enough . Incidentally these were shot at 30 yards . This was with slightly less powder and a more stable rest . 785’s then 795’d then two targets of buckshot , the 795 has four shots the two at the bottom were hang fires .

[CraigThompson]

Took a slight turn today . Loaded some punkin balls with fiber and card wads . Card over the powder then a few fiber wads . They seem to fit very well . I’d picked up a bunch of 8 gauge stuff couple months ago so why not try it . Loaded two with the .795” ball , three with the .785” ball and four buckshot with the Gualandi wad . All in nice new Remington hulls . I’ve also found putting just a skoosh of white grease on the end helps quite a bit in the roll crimping process .

[charlie cleveland]

looking good....charlie

[CraigThompson]

Shot all the roundball loads and didn’t care for the results . Shot 000000 buck in the right and left barrels as well . The buck loads looked very decent at 30 yards . Tommorrow I’ll load some more punkin balls with the SP-8 wads in new hulls then try two out the left barrel of both .785” and .795” . And hopefully we can go from there . With the buck the right barrel was fired at the one with the yellow bullseye and the left barrel at the one with four bullseyes .

[charlie cleveland]

them deer better look out now it looks like your getting good patterns .....charlie

[CraigThompson]

Tried the DH today just for kicks and giggles :whistle: Two .795” punkin balls with three wraps of masking tape out of the right barrel . A bit high but I can deal with and a load of 000000 buck out the left barrel , that’s 10 smaller roundballs of .415” . :cool:

[CraigThompson]

Incidentally as usual the pics turned to the left ninety degrees . Both pics should show that loads a bit above POA but windage in pretty decent order .

[CraigThompson]

Decided to try the .775” 730 grain conical slugs again . But this time using International Clays 31 grains . A Remington hull , Chedright primer , Remington SP-8 wad and four 1/8” 12 gauge cards . Also put four wraps of plain old masking tape to build the diameter a bit and hopefully cut down on barrel leading . If I get home this afternoon before dark I’ll try three from the right on one target and three from the left on a second target . I’ll set my box at about 27 yards I think .

[charlie cleveland]

looks like those conical slugs would do good I hope so I would like to try these...do you cast your own conicals or is there some where a fellow could purchace them....charlie

[CraigThompson]

looks like those conical slugs would do good I hope so I would like to try these...do you cast your own conicals or is there some where a fellow could purchace them....charlie

I have a mold that’s .775” for the 8 and another that’s .730” for the 10 . Both are about 730 grains . I’ve got several other molds I’ve used in the 10 gauge . I loaded six more of the .795” round balls pushed with International clays and having three wraps of tape .

[CraigThompson]

Shot the punkin balls first two from the right barrel on one target and two from the left on another target . They didn’t show me enough to warrant a picture ! Then I did the same with the .775” 730 grain slug . Right then left .

[CraigThompson]

Also got my pot fired up today and cast 500 of the 000000 buck and about 35 .795” punkin balls .

[Milton C Starr]

Craig ive thought of loading up some .820 patched round balls for my 8 gauge as it mics out at the muzzles as .840/.840. I would say it would make a interesting close quarters hog load except im not sure how ideal 36" barrels would be in that situation.

As well raccoons are now considered a pest or varmint in GA so I wonder if they are no longer limited to #2 shot as I believe my T and F shot 8 gauge loads would work wonders on them.

[CraigThompson]

Made up six loads using the .775” 730 grain conical slug today for trial in my DH 8 in anticipation of the gun season in WVA . Bores on my DH 8 measure .805” at the muzzle in the right barrel and .800” in the left barrel . Started off by adding hot melt glue to the cavity in the bottom of each slug , then but six layers of masking tape around each slug then trimmed the excess at the bottom . Used new unfired REM hulls primed Cheddarcheeserite primers , used Universal Clays and a #39A bushing or 33.5 grains by the table . Pushed in an SP-8 wad and added five 10 gauge 1/8” cards then the slug pushing down slightly with the loader . Put a little tiny bit of white grease on the edge of the hull and roll crimped . Plan on trying two from the right barrel then two from the left on different targets then finally one from each barrel at the same target . Hopefully they’ll hit a pie plate at 30 yards consistently .

[CraigThompson]

Just came in from shooting two shot groups at 28 yards two from the right on one target and two from the left on the other . Think I’ll try them again just for chuckles and if they do as well or better I’m ready from West by God Virginia !

[charlie cleveland]

I got my old lifter 8 ga shooting pretty good at 25 steps but past 30 it was no good...have not tried the tape method yet but will soon as I get caught up cleaning all the storm damage we got a coupla weeks ago....I want even mention all the bush hogging....yes I m behind...charlie

[CraigThompson]

I got my old lifter 8 ga shooting pretty good at 25 steps but past 30 it was no good...have not tried the tape method yet but will soon as I get caught up cleaning all the storm damage we got a coupla weeks ago....I want even mention all the bush hogging....yes I m behind...charlie

That tape while perhaps not The Best choice does two things . First it tightens the slug to the choke and second it has the bearing surface of the slug covered to cut down on lead smears in the bore . I’ll trust it out to thirty yards but not so much past that .

[CraigThompson]

Set down today to load six more to try on paper again then I thought to maybe add ten more for actual use on living creatures . So I loaded sixteen total . Hopefully this afternoon or tommorrow I can try a pair from both barrels at 28 yards again .

[charlie cleveland]

those really look good I hope they shoot well and accurately...I bet this will bring any thing down you shoot at.....charlie

[Arthur Shaffer]

Just a note I posted about before. I don't really have a lot to use them for in KY, but when I got an early Scott (1872) Jones underlever hammer single, it had a non-choke barrel which is not unusual in that period. The chamber was a perfect fit for unsized industrial shells. I found that an .810 roundball was a tight push through fit in the barrel when placed in a Gualandi wad. I cut the shotcup back so it reached just past the center of the ball and loaded some of the 2 oz balls in the shotcup with a 7 gauge over powder wad below. I lubed the ball and stuffed some lube in the front of the ball just over the centerline. The hulls were cut so the length could be partially star crimped or roll crimped down against the ball (similar to a Paradox load). They were scary accurate at 30 yards. I didn't do any further work because I had no real use for them and didn't want to waste a lot of 8 gauge components.

That made me believe that unchoked big bore barrels may be preferable for slug/ball loads. Just maybe pushing sub-bore projectiles through a choke is a compromise. Either a tight naked slug with a seal wad behind or a tight encased ball or wad though the same unchoked barrel may be a better combo. These of course would require a slug or ball tailored to the bore. I was lucky to be able to buy them from a supplier.

If any one has an 8 or 10 gauge with no choke, it would be an interesting avenue to address. A lot of the slugs mentioned in this thread are very close to the bore diameter of the 9 gauge barrels which seems to be the dominant size used on early 10's. Many of these guns had no choke. I own a couple. That would be an easier and cheaper platform to experiment with.

[CraigThompson]

Just a note I posted about before. I don't really have a lot to use them for in KY, but when I got an early Scott (1872) Jones underlever hammer single, it had a non-choke barrel which is not unusual in that period. The chamber was a perfect fit for unsized industrial shells. I found that an .810 roundball was a tight push through fit in the barrel when placed in a Gualandi wad. I cut the shotcup back so it reached just past the center of the ball and loaded some of the 2 oz balls in the shotcup with a 7 gauge over powder wad below. I lubed the ball and stuffed some lube in the front of the ball just over the centerline. The hulls were cut so the length could be partially star crimped or roll crimped down against the ball (similar to a Paradox load). They were scary accurate at 30 yards. I didn't do any further work because I had no real use for them and didn't want to waste a lot of 8 gauge components.

That made me believe that unchoked big bore barrels may be preferable for slug/ball loads. Just maybe pushing sub-bore projectiles through a choke is a compromise. Either a tight naked slug with a seal wad behind or a tight encased ball or wad though the same unchoked barrel may be a better combo. These of course would require a slug or ball tailored to the bore. I was lucky to be able to buy them from a supplier.

If any one has an 8 or 10 gauge with no choke, it would be an interesting avenue to address. A lot of the slugs mentioned in this thread are very close to the bore diameter of the 9 gauge barrels which seems to be the dominant size used on early 10's. Many of these guns had no choke. I own a couple. That would be an easier and cheaper platform to experiment with.

This was last year with a.795” roundball and four wraps of masking tape . The second picture was 2021 with the PH 8 I used to posses and 000000 buck they’re .415” and ten of them in the shell .