doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 8 Gauge Loads

I recently acquired my first 8 gauge gun, and I am interested in working up some pressure-appropriate loads for the gun. I am interested in both black powder and smokeless loads. I haven't been able to uncover much online and thought I'd ask the board as I know there are several 8 gauge afficianodos on the forum.

The gun is a high-quality circa-1880 A&D hammerless gun - 8 gauge with 3 and 1/4" chambers. It is a beast, weighing 13.25 pounds. The barrels are in excellent shape. I have measured barrel wall thicknesse and all barrel dimensions are very meaty.

I have both brass hulls (Rocky Mountain Cartridges) and modern plastic hulls (Precision Reloading) on order. I'm now looking for a load to shoot some clays. I'd like to keep the pressures down and payloads in-line with the age of the gun and my desire to be a steward of the gun for the next generation. That all said, I'd like to shoot it!

If folks are hesitant to post anything online, you are welcome to contact me privately via PM or my email kkgeorgi@comcast.co m (remove space in the ".com")

Thanks in advance for the help.

Ken

I have looked through some of my old Union Metallic Cartridge Co. catalogues, and find their 8-gauge shells were only offered loaded with bulk smokeless powder or black powder. I don't find any 8-gauge loadings with dense smokeless powders.

In 1903, 04 and 05, UMC's 8-gauge shell was the "Trap" shell, green in color. Bulk smokeless powder loads were --

5 drams with 1 1/2 ounces of shot
5 1/2 drams with 1 3/4 ounce of shot
6 drams with 2 ounces of shot.

In black powder loads they offered --

5 drams with 1 1/2 ounces of shot
5 1/2 drams with 1 3/4 ounces of shot
6 drams with 2 ounces of shot
6 1/2 drams with 2 ounces of shot
6 1/2 drams with 2 1/4 ounces of shot
7 drams with 2 ounces of shot
7 drams with 2 1/4 ounces of shot.

None of these catalogues mention the length of the shell these loads are put up in. UMC's primed empty 8-gauge paper shell, equivalent to the "Trap" shell, was head stamped "Expert" and was offered in 3 1/4 inch length for $25 per thousand, and 3 1/2 to 4 inch lengths for $28 per thousand.

By 1910, the "Trap" and "Expert" were gone and the 8-gauge offerings were in the "Arrow" shell, salmon color. Bulk smokeless powder loads offered were listed as being in a 3 1/4 inch case --

5 drams with 1 1/2 ounces of shot
5 1/2 drams with 1 3/4 ounces of shot.

There was no offering of loaded extra length 8-gauge shells.

Black powder loads offered were --

5 drams with 1 1/2 ounces of shot
6 drams with 1 3/4 ounces of shot
7 drams with 2 ounces of shot.

The "Arrow" primed empty 8-gauge shells were stamped HANDLOADED on the side and were offered in 3 1/4 inch length for $25 per thousand and the 3 1/2 to 4 inch lengths for $28 per thousand, and all carried the notation "bulk powder only."

Through the 1915-16 Remington Arms-Union Metallic Cartridge Co. catalogue the 8-gauge offerings remained the same as 1910. By the 1918-19 Rem-UMC catalogue only the 3 � inch empties were being offered and the only bulk smokeless load was 5 � drams with 1 � ounce of shot. Black powder loads remained the same.

Ken, not to interrupt the knowledge that Dave is sharing with you, tell me you bought a nice Prussian Daly Lindner eight. I guess I planted the seed when I displayed mine at the first Lindnerfest a few years ago. Well? Bill Murphy

Dave - very helpful. Thank you.

Bill - not a Prussian Daly, but you get partial credit. It is a Schaefer & Son gun. I remember your big Lindner Daly very well <g>.

Ken

Ken, I use and load for an 8 bore. If using plastic cases there are three different Remington Industial cases and each has to be loaded differently. I suppose when you say you have plastic cases on order then these will be re-sized Industrials. Federal, Winchester and CIL all make them as does Fiocchi in Italy. I have loading information for the various ones and have been tested for pressure at the Proof House.

Can you let me know what components you have access to? I use either Hercules/Alliant Blue Dot or Vectan A0, card and felt wads or Italian Gulandi plastic wads, CCI or Winchester primers and mainly Remington, Winchester or Fiocchi cases. Of the Remingtons each can be identified by looking inside; the older type have a sort of grey fibreous base wad, the next have a yellow plastic base wad and the latest are compression formed and all require different data. Lagopus.....

Ken

Just curious--is this the Schaefer from the recent Rock Island Auction (Lot $1632)?? So-called 9 gauge!!!

Best

Berrien

Berrien,

It was the Schaefer from the RIA auction. I heavily suspected it was not a "rare 9 gauge" as advertised, but an 8. Turns out it was an 8 ;-). I am a big Schaefer fan so I was eager to try and acquire this one.

Lagopus,

The 8 gauge hulls from Precision Reloading are Winchesters. They appear to have had their industrial brass resized or removed. I have a call into them to find out for sure. I have access to most of the reloading component brands you mentioned with the exception of the Vectan A0.

I currently load for a couple gauges of shotshells on progressive presses, but this will be my first foray in to the world of "traditional components" (filler wads and cards, etc.)

Best regards,
Ken

CONGRATULATIONS!!! I was the under-bidder; you were wiser!!!

Best

Berrien

You may want to invest in the book 4 and 8 Bore shotguns and loads by Tom Armbrust. Lots of good information.

Phillip - I just put on order in on the book. GMCS also recommended Tom's book.

Ken