Milton:

If you have not viewed the youtube video that PGCA Member "OH Osthaus" posted a while back about the E. M. Reilly 8-bore used for wildfowling on the marsh in Scotland, it is well-worth seeing -- or even revisiting, as I just did.

William Wykes, his dog "Jake" and the 8-bore connect with a Goose, leading it by an estimated 14 feet.

Granted he's a robust-looking young fellow, and all of us aren't; but it is the best kind of outdoor story. His enthusiasm for the whole panoply -- the legacy 8-bore; the wetlands; the weather; the traditions involved; right down to the ritual cleaning of the gun, is inspiring.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u9oyRDslU8

Thank you I will give it a watch , have you seen this video of this english gentleman hunting with his Tolley 8 gauge ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJS8PBqdF8g

I may get the chance to try the 8 gauge out on coyotes this year .
I know alot of people use 12 gauges and some 10s so I figure the 8 gauge should be able to work .

A update , I got the tracking # today for shipping so I think it should be here sometime next week . Im surprised they didnt charge me shipping considering the shipping weight is 20lbs lol .

Well I just got the 8 gauge in today and took some quick photos .
I will get some better ones when the thunder storm goes away , this thing is so long it would probably turn into a lightning rod :rotf:. I thought a 16lb gun wouldnt be heavy , I was like well ive owned 11lb 10 gauges whats another 5lbs haha . I was wrong this thing takes some arms to shoulder ! The bores have some what looks like surface rust in them but nothing major . I looked down them with a gun light and didnt see any pitting just light rust . Not dents in the muzzle and such .

It has some what I would call mild engraving nothing too fancy .
Though I was showing it to a guy who collects antique guns and said that most market guns hes seen dont have engraving on them .

There is some engraving on the trigger guard .
The proof marks have HL stamped in 3 different spots .
Im not sure what that stands for . I was thinking heavy load because of the dual key way lugs

Belgium proof - which you knew -

if i was to guess the HL might be the barrel maker's mark

it doesn't fit what I see as a belgium inspector's mark

Looking close at the underside of the barrels , It doesnt appear to be laminated or damascus . There are some lines but they dont look like the pattern of any damascus or twist I have seen and there is only 1 type of steel as I can see. The marks look like tooling marks instead of what ive seen on any twist or similair construction of barrel .

The stock it self feels like it weighs at least 7lbs if or somewhere around that .
Id say the barrels feel probably around 8lbs or more . I dont have a scale to weigh them , just comparing their weights to a standard 7lb hunting rifle .

The rib seems better attached than the 2 Birmingham 10 gauges I owned .
I paid 1099$ for it much cheaper than any of the other 8 ga muzzleloaders I have seen . Though If i pickup a 8 gauge sxs cartridge gun this winter I doubt I will shoot this muzzleloader anytime soon . It needs a few things done to it and theres not a double gun smith anywhere close to me . There is a small dent about 5" back from the muzzle on the left barrel. Not sure how much of a issue that is . One of the lugs needs repairing . The left hammer is a little loose , the screw is tight and all it just has some side to side play in that left hammer . Overall I am happy with it feels pretty solid and heavily built . Im glad no cas shooter has cut the barrels off of it :rotf: .

Was that your video of the EM Reilly 8 bore ?

The 8 gauge doesnt seem much bigger than the 10 gauge really .
Even though it weighs 7lbs more haha .

The dual keyway lugs are for saftey through redundacy. There were cases of the single lug guns loosing the key and the barrels tipping foward and rotating to allow the capped nipples to hit the ground with the disasterous result of shooting the sportsman. Hence the double lug.