Sould it be illegal to hunt with 8 gauge?

Originally Posted by Milton Starr

realisticly though without anyone procducing at least 1 model of 8 ga i doubt this will work to well .now if i think if we sent some emails to someone like mossberg who make some doozy of guns right now (muzzlebrake shotgun an 22) ask them to make a 8 ga pump 3 1/4" or someone else just sends lots of emails

-- I think you are on the right track, Milt- I have a Mossberg 835 pump- it is my "Black Ops" foul/fowl weather go-to waterfowl shotgun- But even if M'Burg said OK- you still need ammo-- Remington produces both shotguns (and rifles) and ammo.

From a practical side of things, even if the Feds rescinded the ban against the 8 ga. for migratory bird hunting, the weight of such a cannon, even with the modern metallurgy of today, and the cost of shells in non-toxic loads, even lead loads- for such a small potential market- I'm not 100% sure it would be viable.

IMO, waterfowling today, with the non-toxic regs, $1500 Binellis, expensive stamps, decoys- for a newcomer to get started and fully into the program, could be some major dollars- not like in my boyhood in the late 1940's- a Model 12 with a plug, a Olt call, tan coat and Jones cap, maybe hip boots and some Herter's decoys, duck stamp and some No. 6 lead loads- you were pretty much all set.

I would appreciate any sportsman today who hunts with a vintage 10 bore double, and in a perfect world, see no reason why such a gent couldn't use a vintage 8 bore as well, if he is lucky enough to have one in shootable condition- But realistically speaking, I don't see this as a priority issue today. I am a Sponsor member of DU, but can't speak for their BOD- if DU were to get behind this movement to reinstate the 8 gauge, perhaps it might happen- we can always hope so!