8 gauge shotshell pics!
- Thread starter Third_Rail
- Start date
chris in va
New member
Wow. Looks more like a howitzer round.
novus collectus
Moderator
Is that for a punt gun or something? I'd like to fire the shotgun that goes in just once. (after I get health insurance) 
Third_Rail
New member
Commercial bird/duck hunters used large gauge shotguns to harvest meat for sale.
Punt guns are even bigger.
Punt guns are even bigger.
novus collectus
Moderator
It was a joke or an exclamation. An example of my wonderment since I have never seen an 8 guage before.
Third_Rail
New member
So there.
If I can ever get my hands on one, I'd love to have a 4 gauge shell in my collection.
The 8 ga. was a monster by any definition! Guaranteed to loosen every filling in your mouth! Yes, they were used for commercial harvesting of game to the point of nearly depleting most species of wildlife in many areas - it was that efficient. The 8 ga. was probably the single biggest reason for states creating regulated hunting seasons. It's destructive power was also the reason the government restricted shotgun bore size to 10 gauge.
novus collectus
Moderator
Or it was that the states were tired of their citizens getting detached retinas.
Last edited:
fwcofficer
New member
I'd like to see (and feel) the cannon that its launched out of!!! Yikes!
A couple things about the 8 gauge.
Parker made several thousand 8 gauges and a smattering of 6 gauges. Most of these went to market hunters, who used them to pick off cripples after use of the punt gun. Punt guns ran up to 2" in diameter, were fastened to boats and resembled artillery more than shoulder fired arms.
Market hunters varied greatly, like any other group, but man for man they were tough as heck. Many worked outside all year, fishing, crabbing, oystering and hunting as the seasons changed.
And they could shoot well past the commonality. Such men, combined with the heavy doubles and slow powders of yesteryear, meant the recoil forces were just something to deal with.
One such man, in his seventies when I was a boy, handled a 10 gauge double and shot it like Jupiter hurling lightning bolts. He had his dad's punt gun mounted on the living room wall, and could seduce geese from over the horizon when he called.
We see few large gauges these days because they were regarded as tools, taken care of but not pampered. After they became illegal for geese, many rusted away in barns and boat houses.
Often loads like this one were used to flock shoot on rafts of geese, with lighter loads used for single birds. One loading I saw was 1 3/8 oz of 3s for big ducks like canvasbacks or geese over decoys.
Parker made several thousand 8 gauges and a smattering of 6 gauges. Most of these went to market hunters, who used them to pick off cripples after use of the punt gun. Punt guns ran up to 2" in diameter, were fastened to boats and resembled artillery more than shoulder fired arms.
Market hunters varied greatly, like any other group, but man for man they were tough as heck. Many worked outside all year, fishing, crabbing, oystering and hunting as the seasons changed.
And they could shoot well past the commonality. Such men, combined with the heavy doubles and slow powders of yesteryear, meant the recoil forces were just something to deal with.
One such man, in his seventies when I was a boy, handled a 10 gauge double and shot it like Jupiter hurling lightning bolts. He had his dad's punt gun mounted on the living room wall, and could seduce geese from over the horizon when he called.
We see few large gauges these days because they were regarded as tools, taken care of but not pampered. After they became illegal for geese, many rusted away in barns and boat houses.
Often loads like this one were used to flock shoot on rafts of geese, with lighter loads used for single birds. One loading I saw was 1 3/8 oz of 3s for big ducks like canvasbacks or geese over decoys.
Third_Rail
New member
Wait, so they're illegal for sporting use, but legal to own? Or did the GCA do away with that?
chris in va
New member
pigeon shooter
New member
People over this side of the pond still use them but most are home loaded shells also some use 4 bore shells at an amazing price £400 or $764 dollars for a bow of 25
Larry Ashcraft
New member
My son works at Cherokee Power Plant in Denver. They use the 8 ga to clean the slag out of the boilers.
8 ga shotshell
The 8ga shotshell looks large,but in reality the shot load was from 1 3/4 oz to 2 1/4 oz ,in the early 1900s, no difference than todays 10 an 12 ga mag loads. Modern 8 ga loads are 2 1/2 oz, ive shot several 8 ga guns, the amount of recoil depends on the weight of the gun. My current 8 ga weight is around 11 pounds.8 ga are legal in some states for turkey hunting ect
The 8ga shotshell looks large,but in reality the shot load was from 1 3/4 oz to 2 1/4 oz ,in the early 1900s, no difference than todays 10 an 12 ga mag loads. Modern 8 ga loads are 2 1/2 oz, ive shot several 8 ga guns, the amount of recoil depends on the weight of the gun. My current 8 ga weight is around 11 pounds.8 ga are legal in some states for turkey hunting ect
Last edited:
steelersfan0000
New member
That would be a big gun