8 Gauge

T.A.Sharps · November 20, 2008, 03:27 AM

Simple shotgun question...

Is it illegal to own an 8 Gauge, or just to hunt with one?

Dave McC · November 20, 2008, 09:26 AM

Hunting with one is verboten.

The 8 gauge was the darling of market hunters, who used stuff up to a 2" bore.

These cannons decimated wild flocks and the Govt banned them for hunting after agitation by conservationists. The 3 shot rule on waterfowl started then also.

You can own and shoot them at targets, though ammo is quite scarce. Try Ballistic Products and similar places for components.

Most commonly, 8 gauges are used in factories, where they are used with slugs to clean out slag from furnaces. These are more like artillery than shoulder arms.

T.A.Sharps · November 20, 2008, 04:44 PM

Hmmm,

What about as a home defense shotgun?

New_Pollution1086 · November 20, 2008, 04:48 PM

sounds fun...

T

zippy13 · November 21, 2008, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T.A.Sharps

What about as a home defense shotgun?

How about a M-90A, it comes 8-ga...

You didn't mention where your home is located -- the M-90A may not be legal in your jurisdiction

Lavid2002 · March 16, 2009, 09:51 PM

Quote:

How about a M-90A, it comes 8-ga...

I think a semi-auto 8 gauge would be a little more forgiving than a single shot

knight0334 · March 29, 2009, 10:31 AM

sorry to bump an old thread...

You may own and hunt with a 8ga, however you cannot use them for federal migratory birds. Some states may also prohibit them for state regulated game. You will need to check your state's game laws for what they may or may not allow.

oneounceload · March 29, 2009, 10:31 PM

I have never seen a state that allowed anything larger than 10 gauge, and for most upland birds, anything larger than a 12 gauge. 8 gauge, as mentioned above, is now an industrial gun, mounted on a tripod, used to blast slag off the boiler/furnace walls.......we used them at a power plant after we wore out three 870's........

impalacustom · March 30, 2009, 02:52 AM

You can hunt with an 8ga in Missouri at least you used to be able too. I knew of a guy who did and got one of his shells.

zukiphile · March 31, 2009, 09:32 AM

American Rifleman did a piece on an 8 gauge SBS about 20 years ago. They manufactured shells from industrial stock.

IIRC, they persuaded someone to shoot it. It stripped the leaves off a tree, and the shooter declined an opportunity for a second shot.

SavageMOA · March 31, 2009, 09:47 AM

Quote:

How about a M-90A, it comes 8-ga...

Haha nice Halo reference there.

B.L.E. · March 31, 2009, 07:08 PM

I have shot at clay birds with someone elses muzzleloading 8 gauge. It's not too bad if you only put about 1 1/2 ounces of shot down the barrel since the gun weighed about 11 pounds IIRC.
A solid hit turns those birds into smoke even at the handicap yardage.

With a 1/8 pound of shot in the barrel, (2 ounces) I'm sure you will notice the recoil.

To visualize the size of the bore, pull a U.S nickel out of your pocket. That's about .835 inches in diameter, the same as the 8 gauge bore. A dime measures .710, slightly smaller than a 12 gauge which is .729 inches.

thehemi · March 31, 2009, 10:29 PM

My shoulder hurts just thinking about it.

RCPractitioner · April 5, 2009, 12:08 PM

8 guage

OLNfan · April 5, 2009, 12:28 PM

In my province its illegal to hunt with and its listed as a restricted firearm. (we have non-restricted, restricted, phobitied) non-res= hunting rifles/shotguns ... Restrcited= pistols-semi auto miltiary type rifles and the odd guns like this 8 gage In canada we are not aloud to carry restrcited firearms in the bush, no sidearms no pistols no ar's no nothing.....and prohibted is anything fully autoamtic (unless your military,police, along those lines.

B.L.E. · April 5, 2009, 12:39 PM

November 20, 2008, 03:27 AM	#1
T.A.Sharps Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2007 Posts: 675	8 Gauge Simple shotgun question... Is it illegal to own an 8 Gauge, or just to hunt with one? __________________ " ...Said I never had much use for one. Never said I didn't know how to use it..." "Your reality, sir, is lies and bladerdash, and I am delighted to say I have no grasp of it whatsoever!"

November 20, 2008, 04:44 PM	#3
T.A.Sharps Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2007 Posts: 675	Hmmm, What about as a home defense shotgun? __________________ " ...Said I never had much use for one. Never said I didn't know how to use it..." "Your reality, sir, is lies and bladerdash, and I am delighted to say I have no grasp of it whatsoever!"

November 20, 2008, 04:48 PM	#4
New_Pollution1086 Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2007 Location: WC - CA Posts: 680	sounds fun... T __________________ "I have ridden the mighty moon worm, and it was good" "Aim Big miss Big, Aim small Miss small" "Don't rush the monkey and you'll see a better show." - T. Boone Pickens

March 31, 2009, 09:32 AM	#10
zukiphile Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2005 Posts: 4,451	American Rifleman did a piece on an 8 gauge SBS about 20 years ago. They manufactured shells from industrial stock. IIRC, they persuaded someone to shoot it. It stripped the leaves off a tree, and the shooter declined an opportunity for a second shot. __________________ http://www.npboards.com/index.php

April 5, 2009, 12:08 PM	#14
RCPractitioner Member Join Date: March 12, 2005 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 95	8 guage __________________ Don't gouge me bro!

November 20, 2008, 09:26 AM	#2
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Hunting with one is verboten. The 8 gauge was the darling of market hunters, who used stuff up to a 2" bore. These cannons decimated wild flocks and the Govt banned them for hunting after agitation by conservationists. The 3 shot rule on waterfowl started then also. You can own and shoot them at targets, though ammo is quite scarce. Try Ballistic Products and similar places for components. Most commonly, 8 gauges are used in factories, where they are used with slugs to clean out slag from furnaces. These are more like artillery than shoulder arms.

March 29, 2009, 10:31 AM	#7
knight0334 Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2006 Location: Brookville, PA Posts: 442	sorry to bump an old thread... You may own and hunt with a 8ga, however you cannot use them for federal migratory birds. Some states may also prohibit them for state regulated game. You will need to check your state's game laws for what they may or may not allow.

March 29, 2009, 10:31 PM	#8
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	I have never seen a state that allowed anything larger than 10 gauge, and for most upland birds, anything larger than a 12 gauge. 8 gauge, as mentioned above, is now an industrial gun, mounted on a tripod, used to blast slag off the boiler/furnace walls.......we used them at a power plant after we wore out three 870's........

March 30, 2009, 02:52 AM	#9
impalacustom Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2009 Posts: 492	You can hunt with an 8ga in Missouri at least you used to be able too. I knew of a guy who did and got one of his shells.

March 31, 2009, 07:08 PM	#12
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	I have shot at clay birds with someone elses muzzleloading 8 gauge. It's not too bad if you only put about 1 1/2 ounces of shot down the barrel since the gun weighed about 11 pounds IIRC. A solid hit turns those birds into smoke even at the handicap yardage. With a 1/8 pound of shot in the barrel, (2 ounces) I'm sure you will notice the recoil. To visualize the size of the bore, pull a U.S nickel out of your pocket. That's about .835 inches in diameter, the same as the 8 gauge bore. A dime measures .710, slightly smaller than a 12 gauge which is .729 inches.

March 31, 2009, 10:29 PM	#13
thehemi Junior Member Join Date: December 4, 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 12	My shoulder hurts just thinking about it.

April 5, 2009, 12:28 PM	#15
OLNfan Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2009 Location: British Columbia Canada Posts: 277	In my province its illegal to hunt with and its listed as a restricted firearm. (we have non-restricted, restricted, phobitied) non-res= hunting rifles/shotguns ... Restrcited= pistols-semi auto miltiary type rifles and the odd guns like this 8 gage In canada we are not aloud to carry restrcited firearms in the bush, no sidearms no pistols no ar's no nothing.....and prohibted is anything fully autoamtic (unless your military,police, along those lines. __________________ "Dear Governor Axtell. I've heard that you will give 200 dollars for my head. Perhaps we should meet and talk. I am at the Juarez village at the border. Send 3 men, and instruct them not to shoot, as I am unarmed. In short, Sir; I surrender. Your obedient servant William H. Bonney. PS: I changed my mind. Kiss my ass."

April 5, 2009, 12:39 PM	#16
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	8 gauge