I only recall making one tremendously long shot with an 8 gauge, a duck that fell dead around 80 yards. I never had the opportunity to try it at long range that many times though. I once saw my friend Captain Barry kill a pair of greylag geese (a clean right and left) at 80 yards minimum with his Tolley 8 bore shooting AAA size shot.
I killed a duck with a double 4 gauge at over 80 yards on a driven shoot once. I walked it off and it was something like 82 big steps plus the bird was up in the air as well so no telling the true yardage. It wasn't graveyard dead but it certainly wasn't going anywhere.
These shots were luck, not skill I assure you. If you put enough shot on the fly you're bound to hit something once in awhile. I don't try shots like that with anything but heavy artillery, of that you can be certain. Even with a magnum 10 gauge I usually stick to 50 yards and under.
Destry
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I was as virtuously given as a gentleman need to be; virtuous enough; swore little; diced not above seven times a week; went to a bawdy-house once in a quarter--of an hour; paid money that I borrowed, three of four times; lived well and in good compass: and now I live out of all order, out of all compass. Falstaff - Henry IV
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