sxs 8 gauge muzzleloader

[Milton C Starr]

Originally Posted by Daniel Carter

I had the good fortune to know a market hunter when I first started hunting. He was a cousin to my hunting partner and a taxidermist that would mount and sell the birds we shot and we could pick up the meat the next day. He told us of baiting a pond near his house morning and night then using 2 10 doubles, 2 barrels on the water rested on a log the second 2 as the survivors rose then shooting the cripples with a Winchester 97 with an extended magazine. He gathered them up and sent them to Boston on the morning train getting payment on the return train.He did this twice a day until '' the law came on them. An 8 would have made his work easier

Reminds me of the hunters who would have 8 gauge shells made with 10 gauge headstamps so they could still use them for waterfowl .

I suppose even back when they were legal 8 gauges were not common.

[Milton C Starr]

A update , I got the tracking # today for shipping so I think it should be here sometime next week . Im surprised they didnt charge me shipping considering the shipping weight is 20lbs lol .

[Milton C Starr]

Well I just got the 8 gauge in today and took some quick photos .
I will get some better ones when the thunder storm goes away , this thing is so long it would probably turn into a lightning rod . I thought a 16lb gun wouldnt be heavy , I was like well ive owned 11lb 10 gauges whats another 5lbs haha . I was wrong this thing takes some arms to shoulder ! The bores have some what looks like surface rust in them but nothing major . I looked down them with a gun light and didnt see any pitting just light rust . Not dents in the muzzle and such .

It has some what I would call mild engraving nothing too fancy .
Though I was showing it to a guy who collects antique guns and said that most market guns hes seen dont have engraving on them .

[Milton C Starr]

There is some engraving on the trigger guard .
The proof marks have HL stamped in 3 different spots .
Im not sure what that stands for . I was thinking heavy load because of the dual key way lugs

[OH Osthaus]

Belgium proof - which you knew -

if i was to guess the HL might be the barrel maker's mark

it doesn't fit what I see as a belgium inspector's mark

[Milton C Starr]

Originally Posted by Rick Losey

Belgium proof - which you knew -

if i was to guess the HL might be the barrel maker's mark

it doesn't fit what I see as a belgium inspector's mark

Looking close at the underside of the barrels , It doesnt appear to be laminated or damascus . There are some lines but they dont look like the pattern of any damascus or twist I have seen and there is only 1 type of steel as I can see. The marks look like tooling marks instead of what ive seen on any twist or similair construction of barrel .

The stock it self feels like it weighs at least 7lbs if or somewhere around that .
Id say the barrels feel probably around 8lbs or more . I dont have a scale to weigh them , just comparing their weights to a standard 7lb hunting rifle .

The rib seems better attached than the 2 Birmingham 10 gauges I owned .
I paid 1099$ for it much cheaper than any of the other 8 ga muzzleloaders I have seen . Though If i pickup a 8 gauge sxs cartridge gun this winter I doubt I will shoot this muzzleloader anytime soon . It needs a few things done to it and theres not a double gun smith anywhere close to me . There is a small dent about 5" back from the muzzle on the left barrel. Not sure how much of a issue that is . One of the lugs needs repairing . The left hammer is a little loose , the screw is tight and all it just has some side to side play in that left hammer . Overall I am happy with it feels pretty solid and heavily built . Im glad no cas shooter has cut the barrels off of it .

[Milton C Starr]

Originally Posted by Rick Losey

Belgium proof - which you knew -

if i was to guess the HL might be the barrel maker's mark

it doesn't fit what I see as a belgium inspector's mark

Was that your video of the EM Reilly 8 bore ?

[Milton C Starr]

The 8 gauge doesnt seem much bigger than the 10 gauge really .
Even though it weighs 7lbs more haha .

[OH Osthaus]

Originally Posted by Milton C Starr

Was that your video of the EM Reilly 8 bore ?

no, my antique muzzleloaders are a 14 and a 15 gauge

[Milton C Starr]

Originally Posted by Rick Losey

no, my antique muzzleloaders are a 14 and a 15 gauge

Got any pictures of them ? I might start collecting sxs muzzeloaders .
I talked to a double gunsmith today who specializes in black powder doubles .
He said he recommends removing the breech plugs on these old guns unless absolutely needed .

I found a nice little 24 ga double muzzleloader that I think would go good with my 8 gauge .

I think the brass fittings on this 8 gauge are not original to the gun .
I can see its inletted for a straight metal grip . Or perhaps they just inletted it out like that because it was quicker .

I think it will make a decent turkey gun . Since it doesnt have chokes I was looking at some 8 bore round balls . They weigh about 2oz which is the same as the amount of shot I planned on loading .