8 Bore Wishing

[Mike of the Mountain]

Originally Posted by charlie cleveland

what do you think about that first 8 ga on this list anyone....charlie

That Grant is a Spanish made gun.

[6pt-Sika]

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

[Craig Larter]

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.

[charlie cleveland]

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

[Mills]

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

[WHO]

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!

[Milton C Starr]

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.

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Milton C Starr

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.

You’re kinda missing the point . Sure you can do all your suggesting and have a usable gun , but most people me included wouldn’t go to the trouble or expense . This is more about using something that was made in the 1880’s to early 1900’s because you already have it and load for it . And want to say you tried it for X Y and or Z .

[Milton C Starr]

Originally Posted by CraigThompson

You’re kinda missing the point . Sure you can do all your suggesting and have a usable gun , but most people me included wouldn’t go to the trouble or expense . This is more about using something that was made in the 1880’s to early 1900’s because you already have it and load for it . And want to say you tried it for X Y and or Z .

I mean purely from a stand point of the converted guns.

[Roundsworth]

A few years ago, Minnesota DNR decided that shotguns larger than 10 gauge were not authorized for hunting turkey. I wonder how many 8s there are in the entire state. Tom Armbrust made a bunch of 1-1/2 ounce loads for me a few years back when I intended on using my 8 for turkeys. Tom's loads, at 1200 FPS, are tame compared to all the HEAVY 12 and 10 gauge loads, specifically made for turkey and waterfowl. I wonder how many people in our DNR have even SEEN a real 8 bore shotgun, let alone firing one. Someone on our gubmint payroll had too much time on his/her hands!