Dogs and Doubles

Ammo for an 8 gauge…

by Gregg

A bunch of ammo for an 8 gauge shotgun. I know, it doesn’t seem very impressive. But I challenge you to find some 8g ammo, especially modern stuff loaded with Bismuth. Try and you’ll understand why seeing a pile of it is so unusual.

8 gauge ammo
8 gauge ammo

Eight gauges went out of favor in the US at the end of the 19th century. In 1918, they were outlawed for waterfowl and other federally-listed migratory game birds. Once they were outlawed, use plummeted and ammo makers stopped offering shells. Now any 8 gauge ammo is hard to find. Collectors covet it and their the ones you tend to snap it up.

Today, many states have outlawed anything bigger than a 10 gauge shotgun on any kind of game animal (This is pretty dumb, actually. A 10g 3 1/2″ magnum throws just as much lead as an 8.) So unless you’re shooting pests like pigeons and starlings, an 8 gauge is just plain illegal for hunting.

That doesn’t mean people don’t use them. Some states allow them, some people just use them, and big bores like 8s and even 4 gauges are still legal for waterfowl in the UK. That’s where these cartridges came from. They were loaded for an American big-bore collector in the ’80s. I guess the guy had 6000 rounds made up for him. Yeah, 6000. I don’t know what he was shooting, but that’s a lot of shells.

8 gauge ammo
8 gauge ammo
8 gauge ammo
8 gauge ammo

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71 thoughts on “Ammo for an 8 gauge…”

  2. I bought a lifetime supply of this ammo. I may never shoot one round of it, but I felt that “I needed it.”

  7. Steve-

    Thanks for your email.

    I don’t want to sell mine.

    But this is the guy I bought it from:

    Gary Herman
    845-868-7028
    dsafari@optonline.net

    I spoke with him a couple months ago and he still had more.

    Do you have any 8g shotguns?

    Gregg

  8. contacted the fellow and the bb shot is 3.50 per round, comparable to 10 ga. bismuth locally. thanks

  9. Yeah – it’s ain’t cheap. But it’s the only modern 8g ammo I’ve seen in the US. I doubt you ever see any again.

    Gregg

  10. gregg, if you locate info on 4″ gevelot, or 4″ fiocchi in the 8ga, post it. i had seen image on a british site but can t duplicate the search. was modern stuff.

  13. Mike-

    The dealer I got the stuff from was selling it to collectors for $3.50 a shell. Pricey, but a lot cheaper than some double rifle ammo.

    Thanks for the comment.

    Gregg

  14. Ekey loaded it for sale in uk,one batch was sent to USA bismuth cartridge co .in the eley cataloug it listed it in no 1 no3 and bb size

  16. i dont have any for sale i had a friend in UK send me a couple of rounds for my collection. i load shells for 8 ga in lead shot or tungsten Matrix

  18. Would like to find one 8 ga brass shotgun case for dimensional purposes.

    We use the cases for seismic work in S America and want to have some cases made

  22. gadcustomcartidges.com, medford, WI, 715/748-0919 is your source for empty 8ga brass,$15; reloaded 8ga paper in nitro or black powder and he will load your brass for $40.00/25. havent talked to him in a year, but the website is current. this is seemingly a never-ending topic, so call them up. remember, industial csgs have a step, or band and may not chamber in your gun

  28. You can try reloading brass 8g shells. A couple companies out there offer them and the supplies to reload them. Try googling to see what’s out there.

    And be sure the check the chamber length in your Davenport. 8 gauges came in many different chamber lengths.

    Gregg

  30. rockymountaincartridge.com has a nice length chart on its brass hull data sheet, check it out , they offer a little reloading kit too. thanks to gregg for that link!

  32. Mine 8g ammo is not for sale. But if you look at some of my earlier replies you’ll find contact info for someone who did have some for sale.

    Thanks

    Gregg

  33. I have an abundance of Remington 3oz lead slug brass head rounds I would be interested in getting rid of

  35. I think those are industrial slugs used by foundries to clean their kilns. If they are, they are not for sporting guns.

    Thanks

    Gregg

  38. I would like to get 1 or 2 cases from you if you have any left. Email me total price per case and money info. And if you have any 8 or 4 ga shotguns for sale thanks for your time…

  39. Sorry, but I’m going to send all of it to auction this spring. Stay in touch with me an I’ll let you know where it goes.

    Thanks

    Gregg

  41. Hi Danny,

    Sorry, but I don’t. It does come up from time to time at Ward’s Auctions, so you may want to keep an eye on their upcoming sales.

    Do you have an 8g?

    Gregg

  42. No kidding! I can’t imagine the recoil of a 10 gauge. Much less an 8 gauge???

    Jesus.

  43. It’s not bad, at all. 8 gauges are big, heavy guns – usually 11-12 pounds or more. All that weight absorbs a lot of a recoil.

    Shooting heavy, 3″ loads through a lightweight 20 gauge is far worse.

    Thanks for the comment.

    Gregg

  44. All, I have a Strong Signal Cannon (New Haven, CT) in 8ga and I’ve been going crazy trying to find blanks for it. I talked to the very brusque guy in Wisconsin and he doesn’t do 8 ga any more. I’d buy hunting loads, pull out the pellets and fire them as blanks and then reload the hulls. I’d really love to have a brass cartridge in 8 ga. My other choice is a removable 10ga sleeve. Any thoughts?

    Thank you

  46. I shoot 8 and 10 ga,shells are loaded with 2 to 3 oz lead, or tungsten matrix,hulls are winchester,remington,eley,dominion,fiocchi,ect paper or plastic. i use fiber or plastic wads’the 8 ga is light weight and has a heavy recoil.

  49. Have these shells been modified for use in sporting guns? Or are they the true industrial shells with the little rims around the middle of the brass?

    Remington Industrial Shells should never be used in any kind of 8g shotgun or sporting weapon.

    Thanks,

    Gregg

  50. If anyone has 4, 8, or 10 gauge rounds for sale I would like to buy a few rounds of each. These are purely for display since I do not own any of these gauge guns.

    Thanks, Ron

  51. Ron-

    Google phrases “ammo auction” and “shotgun ammo auction” to find auctioneers who feature shotgun ammo. There are a couple of them out there. Once you find them, check all their upcoming auctions for the shells you are looking for. You’ll find them.

    Good luck.

    Gregg

  55. Sorry — I missed you comment on my blog.

    How much 8g ammo are you looking to buy? Are you a collector, or are you planning to use it?

    Thanks,

    Gregg

  56. Hi 8 ga modern ammo is hard to come by, Alan Myers in UK loads it,in USA 2 amenent co loads some in black powder I load most of my 8 ga.components are available RH

  57. Hi *ga ammo is hard to get,Alan Myers UK loads it,and 2nd Amement co has 8 ga black powder loads I load most of my own.Components are easily available Rh

  58. Thanks for the heads up. Yeah – modern 8g ammo is almost impossible to find. I know collectors who have the old stuff, but they’re not selling it.

    Gregg

  59. Hi, I’m looking to buy 8 gauge shells as a collector, old, new, fired, unfired, I’m not picky, I just want 1-3 of those big shells to have as a conversation piece in my collection, do you know where to get them or how much they will cost?

  60. I have just under one thousand 8 gauge Remington and Winchester kiln gun rounds if anyone is interested.

  62. Hello ide check wards auction sight or sold usa auction sights.ive found them a gun shows as well. I use mainly industrial 8 ga hulls. years ago I had 15 boxes loaded in uk.in later years I load my own.

  66. Steve,
    If they are reloadable I’m interested in about 100 hulls in Remington. Please text me at 8153541020.
    Thanks,
    John

  67. Steve,
    I’m interested in about 100 hulls in Remington to reload. If possible text me at 8153541020.
    Thanks,
    John.

  68. If any one has any 8ga hulls that they would part with, please contact me at 8153541020. Text or call
    Need them to reload myself.
    Thank you
    John Pierson

  70. Hi, Oscar.

    I would watch online ammo auctions. If you google “”vintage shotgun ammo auction” you’ll find some companies that specialize in old ammo. That’s the best place to find the stuff.

    Thanks for the comment.

    Gregg

  71. Pingback: 8 Bore Shotguns For Sale – borwap

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