8 bore


The 8 bore, also known as the 8 gauge, is an obsolete caliber used commonly in the 19th-century black-powder firearms.

Design

An 8 bore is a caliber firearm. Historically it was used to fire solid projectiles from smoothbores, rifles and partially rifled ball and shot guns, as well as shot from muzzle-loading and breech-loading actioned shotguns. Later breech loaders were designed to fire cartridges.

History

Shot loadings

The 8 bore was a popular wildfowling calibre both in muzzleloaders and later cartridge shotguns. 8 bore cartridges were available in multiple lengths including 3-inch, 3¼-inch, 3¾-inch and 4-inch.

Solid loadings

When the Dutch established the Dutch Cape Colony in the 17th century, they soon discovered their muskets were hopelessly inadequate against local game. Within a century the most popular Boer firearm was a flintlock smoothbore musket of about 8 bore with a 5–6 foot long barrel. Early British settlers of the Cape Colony in the 18th century also found specialist firearms were required for the local game. British and European gunmakers responded with various long arms from the enormous 2 bore down.
By the 19th century, the giant 4 bore had been established as the standard elephant gun amongst European settlers and explorers within Africa, whilst the 8 bore was considered the standard for all other dangerous game. Typical 8 bores weighed, and fired a conical bullet at around or an spherical ball at around, both with 10 to 12 drams of black powder, although sometimes heavier charges of 14 drams were used, generally in Africa.
In the late 19th century William W Greener conducted the most thorough research of any gunmaker into the requirements for African hunting. After extensive testing and lengthy discussions with returned hunters and adventurers, including Sir Samuel Baker, he concluded the 8 bore was the largest practical calibre required for hunting dangerous game. Additionally, due to the increased felt recoil of rifled weapons, he recommended the 8 bore as the largest calibre for a rifle, and that firearms above 8 bore be smoothbores.
,.303 British & 8 bore bullets
The most common 8 bore cartridges used paper cases, much like shotgun shells, and true caliber projectiles. A larger version utilising a thin brass case was also available, although it fired projectiles, in reality making it a 7 bore.

Modern uses

In modern times, this size of shotgun shell has a use in cleaning kilns, by blasting away deposits from a distance. This can be done while the kiln is in operation in some instances. Various loadings are in production for different industrial uses.