GH 8 Guage

[John Havard]

Out of curiosity, what were 8-gauge shotguns used for back in the day? Were they primarily used by market hunters? Can anyone offer a bit of insight into this?

[Don Kaas]

Contrary to the popular myth that breechloading 8 gauge guns were used primarily by "market hunters", most (and certainly virtually all of the relatively rare and expensive Parker guns) were used by well heeled sportsmen for pass shooting waterfowl. They are still used in Britain today for that very purpose. See John Sullivan's recent book on the famous Carroll Island Club, "Big Men and Big Guns" for more references. For some reason, they are often confused with "punt guns" which a shoulder fired 8 gauge Parker certainly is not. While I am sure there were exceptions, when you total the number of 8 gauge guns made by Parker, Smith, Lefever and a handful of other makers they were very, very rare even during the "golden age" of waterfowling of 1880-1920. Even the fairly cheap Shattuck single barrel 8 gauges are rarely seen. Considering their low numbers and cost to buy and feed them statistically not many "market hunters" could have used them. Both Askins and Buckingham decried the symbolic regulatory banning of the 8 gauge in 1918 for waterfowling as illogical. This silly ban remains in effect today when a 3 1/2" 10 or even 12 gauge repeater can legally hold and shoot the equivalent of 3 eight guage loads. I doubt these subsistance types were buying highly tariffed Westley Richards or Tolleys either. During the breech loading era, the market hunters gun of choice was the 10 gauge hammer double and later the A-5/M11 automatic. I have owned six 8 bore guns over the years. I currently have #120227 and #6 frame DH with 36" Damascus barrels and its original skeleton buttplate (the original owner in the Hudson valley must have been a big, hard man himself).

[charlie cleveland]

have you shot the 8 ga very much don...charlie

[Don Kaas]

Charlie, The big DH doesn't get out much. I've shot it here on the farm but it might be used in anger at an undisclosed location on the Atlantic seaboard this winter...

[Ed Blake]

Read NB's "Are We Shooting Eights Gauges?" I doubt the modern game warden would be able to recognize an 8-gauge even if someone dropped it on his toe.

[charlie cleveland]

what loads do you shoot in the old 8 don....ive shot some 3 ounce loads in destreys old loomis..but most time i stick with 1 3/4 to 2 1/2 ounces ive put a few hundred rounds through the loomis and parker and the old guns have not shown any wear or wood damage even with the pumpkin balls ive loaded up... some of them game wardens no there stuff..but some are young and learning.... charlie

[Bill Murphy]

Ammunition recognition goes down a bit when the headstamp says "10 gauge".

[Don Kaas]

I have some Gamebore BP 2 oz loads and some of Tom Armbrust's 2 1/2 oz loads. Considering how much it cost, I would hate to have the DH confiscated. Nevertheless, the tiny bit of libertarian in me tells me it would be a victimless crime. I could kill my limit of ducks, brant and geese a WHOLE lot quicker (and cheaper...) with my Benelli SBE II loaded with 3 rounds of 2 oz. Hevi-shot than I could with a ponderous damascus 8 bore...a Whole lot quicker...

[Bill Murphy]

Those metallic "10 gauge" stickers for the bases of eight gauge shells are cheaper when you buy more. If I see a game warden with a bore micrometer, I'm out of there.

[Autumn Daze]

Now thats funny..... But how do ya explain the lead shot?...