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:

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

Looks like a lot of fun!

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:

Oh Mills, it was.

Jolly

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:

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

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.

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.

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 ?

Correct

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

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

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 .

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 .

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.

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

RST 8 Gauge Ammo
 

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

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 .

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 .

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:

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

Four gents shot for score.

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 .

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