Why is the 8 bore illegal for waterfowl/migratory game?

[OH Osthaus]

a tangent here on the topic of big bores and wildfowling.

the newest issue (June 2012) to arrive of the UK's Shooting Gazetee has a letter from a gentlemen who is looking to collect information and submissions from shooters on the 10 bores and bigger that are still in use in the marshes (remember the guage/bore restrictions are not in place there).

his goal is to assemble a book on the topic, that would be something to see, a four bore in action.

not sure if he would include a colonial piece

[George M. Purtill Member #28]

Bob Watcham is a good source for big bore information OVER THERE.
He definitely wants our gun information and communicates regularly with me. I dont think he ever sleeps in his time zone!

he also has a nice catalog of wildfowling books.

Originally Posted by Rick Losey

a tangent here on the topic of big bores and wildfowling.

the newest issue (June 2012) to arrive of the UK's Shooting Gazetee has a letter from a gentlemen who is looking to collect information and submissions from shooters on the 10 bores and bigger that are still in use in the marshes (remember the guage/bore restrictions are not in place there).

his goal is to assemble a book on the topic, that would be something to see, a four bore in action.

not sure if he would include a colonial piece

[charlie cleveland]

yep ray i wpuld like for you to try your gun with the copper 6 s at 70 steps...this will give me a better idea how my guns shoot against your xx full choke... that shooting gazzette magazine would be a good read...a few of our parker people have shot the 8 and 4 bore were there still legal for water fowl... charlie

[Ray Masciarella]

Charlie

I shot it late this afternoon. It was raining so I don't know if that had any effect. I used my xxfull and mod chokes. At 70 yds the mod. did only 5 and the xxfull did 47 in 10" circle using #6 copper turkey loads. So 8 ga does better mod choke to mod choke.

Best, Ray

[Labowner]

I just bought a older Beretta Silver Pigeon 3 1/2 ten with 40th each barrel, haven't had a chance to pattern it. Ray what is the constriction of your XXF choke.

[Ray Masciarella]

The gun I have been talking about here is a Win SX2. I use different chokes with different ammo. The chokes are .665, .670 and .675. Some times Benelli's like tighter chokes, ie .650 to .660. I dont know if the same applies to Beretta's. You have to try a lot of different ammo and chokes to find the best for your turkey gun.

Best, Ray

[charlie cleveland]

ray thanks for shooting and patterning the gun for me... this proves to me that its definatly the choke thats making the biggest differance in the patterns...its gonna be a while before i beat 47 pellets in the 10 inch circle if ever but heh it gives me something to try for...heh ray you are making me almost cross over to the dark side in guns...got one more old gun to try and see what it does... thanks charlie

[charlie cleveland]

george how would you go about talking to bob watcham...i would like to see his list of wild fowling books and info on the big bores... charlie

[OH Osthaus]

Originally Posted by charlie cleveland

george how would you go about talking to bob watcham...i would like to see his list of wild fowling books and info on the big bores... charlie

he listed marshlandbooks@btinternet.com for contact info

[Stepmac]

Oh me oh my, I never try to ascribe meaning to what the government does when it comes to bird hunting/shotguns. Trying to do so will drive you to drink. Not that all gun/hunting laws are all bad, we need seasons, etc...

I am still perplexed about the steel shot requirments. Were ducks really injesting lead shot and dying of lead poisoning? I know "they" say they were, but were they? Have duck numbers improved since the advent of steel shot requirements? Does anyone know?

Until recently I had not shot at a duck since the steel law came into effect. I am probably not the only one to do so.