Now let’s cut to the chase . If you’re in any state hunting Turkey deer squirrels rabbits or even flying birds as long as not Federally regulated . How many state game wardens do you think are going to ask you if your gun is larger than a 10 gauge especially if it’s a double . Not that I’ve ever heard of an 8 in any thing other than a double or single . So carry a couple 10 gauge handloads to show the bunny warden if you get checked and more than likely they’d never be the wiser . Just saying by no means do I advocate this deception :whistle::rotf:

Actually the 10 gauge 3 1/2” factory loads I have are of a heavier payload than my heavy 8 gauge loads . Well almost all the 8 gauge slugs I cast are maybe an 1/8 of an ounce beaver put as to my shot loads heaviest I go in the 8 is 1 3/4 ounces . I would also say my preferred 8 ga buck load of ten 000000 buck is a bit less then the eighteen 00 in the 10 3 1/2” factory load .

Let’s just say the feds and state agencies across America say they’re going to restore our rights and allow the 8 bore for any lawful hunting purpose. How many orange hats will run out and buy a vintage 8 bore to use in the marsh or hump around the uplands? Few will spend that cash. Same for gun-makers. How many will tool up and lake 8 bore guns? Few if any. Maybe some bespoke makers, but that wouldn’t even be a blip on the radar. Changing the law would not have a negative impact on the resource.

If I were a “traditional” duck hunter slogging thru the marsh or flooded timber etc , I’d have a difficult time talking myself into carrying one of the big bruisers and to be honest I’d most likely frown on carrying my heavier 10’s . To me the whole 8 thing is being able to honestly say I’ve done this that or the other using one .

It would be a great experience shooting some high flying snows during the conservation season with a 8ga. But getting bureaucrats to do anything is near impossible especially at the federal level. But I still get much joy owning, shooting clays and loading shells for the big 8's. I have shot ducks over decoys with a 6 frame 36" 10ga PH and Grade 3 TLH 10ga 36", they are just too big a gun for ducks over decoys in a marsh.

thanks mike I thought the grant 8 ga had to be a Spanish ten bored out to 8 ga....I really liked the price and the gun....charlie

I’ve killed a turkey and numerous clays with my 8. Pretty sure clays are fair game anywhere. I’ve hunted deer with mine and that day will come I hope

Arizona had the " no larger than 10 gauge" wording in their regulations until our own Phil Carr met with the Game and Fish and talked them into changing the wording. In 2015 you could hunt with the 8 gauge excluding waterfowl and migratory birds. I have been using one ever since for turkey. Thanks Phil!

The problem with those conversions are while the breech is big enough to be bored out for the 8 ga cartridges, the barrels dont have the wall thickness to bored to true .835". So you have to get a bit creative they are bored to around .815" give or take. Even then they still seem to have problems with bulging. I think youd want a 10 gauge with a minimal wall thickness of .100" so when you bore it out to 8 ga youd have the .040 MWT which is what i see on alot of 8 and 10 ga doubles.

Seems like you could use one of those magnum 10 gauges and have a set of 8 ga barrels made for it of course that would set you back about 10k. I knew a gunsmith who used to bore out the H&R single shot 10 gauges to 8 ga, he proofed tested them to 21k psi. He stopped doing it though because who wants to spend $600 on reboring a barrel on what was then a $200 gun.

civil disobedience, do you really think a game officer or judge is going to put you in hand cuffs if your shooting bismuth and not exceeding the limits with a 8 gauge. I have been checked once in 50 plus years of waterfowl hunting, when I pulled a SxS out of my gun case the officer said put it away. They were most concerned about autos and pumps with no plug. Just say'n.