The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

The L.C. Smith Collectors Association
[ The L.C. Smith Collectors Association ]

8 Gauge shells

Posted by Harry Kauffman on December 27, 2020, 12:29 am

Looking for a source for loaded 8 gauge shells.

Thanks, Hwk94583@yahoo.com

Re: 8 Gauge shells

Posted by craig larter on December 27, 2020, 4:27 am, in reply to "8 Gauge shells"

Call Tom Armbrust at 815-451-6649. Ballistic Research.

Re: 8 Gauge shells

Posted by Charlie Brooks on December 27, 2020, 10:26 am, in reply to "8 Gauge shells"

Harry; RST had them for sale a while back.The best is to load your own as we do.Charlie.

Re: 8 Gauge shells

Posted by Bill Murphy on December 27, 2020, 10:30 am, in reply to "Re: 8 Gauge shells"

Charlie, were the RST shells loaded by them or were they English shells?

Re: 8 Gauge shells

Posted by Harry Kauffman on December 27, 2020, 2:47 pm, in reply to "Re: 8 Gauge shells"

Where can I find casings?

Re: 8 Gauge shells

Posted by craig larter on December 28, 2020, 2:55 pm, in reply to "Re: 8 Gauge shells"

Precision Reloading has new Winchester Industrial 8ga hull back in stock. They must be swedged to remove the band in the brass so they will fit a 8 ga gun. The cost of a swedgeing die set-up is about $400.
Tom Armbrust will sell you Winchester hulls swedged to size for a slight premium over unswedged hulls.
Then you have two options, reload and roll crimp which is very easy to do but slow or purchase a converted MEC press from Ken Burns which is about $400.
I visited RST this early Fall and they were still developing 8ga shells with no estimated availability.

Re: 8 Gauge shells

Posted by Ken Descovich on December 28, 2020, 4:41 pm, in reply to "Re: 8 Gauge shells"

I talked with RST about a month ago or so and they have me on a list for 8 ga shells when they begin making them again, but they said they are having trouble getting components.

Re: 8 Gauge shells

Posted by Charlie Brooks on December 31, 2020, 1:43 pm, in reply to "Re: 8 Gauge shells"

Bill; The shells we saw were loaded by RST.We thought about maybe buying some to try,but they were loaded much heavier than what we like and load for ourselves.As I recall the RST's were loaded with something like 1.750 ounce of shot.We load 1.125 or 1.250 ounce.We have all the loading stuff to load these shells.My son Chucky shoots a lot of them.Charlie.

Re: 8 Gauge shells

Posted by Tom Archer on December 31, 2020, 2:14 pm, in reply to "Re: 8 Gauge shells"

For what this worth, several years ago the LCSCA and PGCA had an 8-bore 5-stand competition at the Southern Side x Side. It was a simple affair; pay $20 to include six shells and 6 targets, high gun wins. For the competition we managed to borrow 3 or 4 original 8 Gauge Smiths and the same number of Parkers. All guns were laid on a table and each shooter "picked his poison" from amongst the menagerie based on club affiliation. We arranged for a member of the PGCA and the LCSCA to handload shells (which were then generously donated to the Organization), and I learned just before kick-off that some shells were loaded with 1.5 oz of shot, and the others where 2 ounce loads. So I made sure every shooter had some of each to insure fairness; but these shells worked flawlessly in those old Smiths and Parkers, which all weighed about 14 pounds apiece. The shoot was an absolute hoot and was won by an LCSCA member who shot perfect scores to include the shoot-off. The most memorable moment for me was an older gentleman in his 80's. He was not a member of either organization, but told me that shooting an 8-bore double was on his bucket list of things still to do before he checked out. I will never forget the smile on his face afterwards; said it was the most fun he'd ever had with a shotgun! Recoil was surprising mild even with these heavy loads, as this older gentleman had no issues; and even the small females and youths who participated had no issues.

Re: 8 Gauge shells

Posted by Harry Kauffman on January 3, 2021, 8:43 pm, in reply to "Re: 8 Gauge shells"

Tom, do you know anyone that will sell me a few shells?

Re: 8 Gauge shells

Posted by Ken Descovich on January 4, 2021, 6:51 am, in reply to "Re: 8 Gauge shells"

Harry,
Have you talked with Steve Helsley? He might be able to help.
Ken

Re: 8 Gauge shells

Posted by Tom Archer on January 4, 2021, 10:23 am, in reply to "8 Gauge shells"

I don't, but email me at tomarcher@charter.net and I'll make a suggestion.

Re: 8 Gauge shells

Posted by Frank Finch on January 4, 2021, 4:12 pm, in reply to "Re: 8 Gauge shells"

Harry,
Our LCSCA Treasurer, Jim Stahl is also our resident Smith 8 gauge expert. Jim has many Smith 8 gauge guns and reloads his own 8 gauge shells.
You can contact Jim through his email "eightbore@hotmail.com".

Re: 8 Gauge shells

Posted by Harry Kauffman on January 4, 2021, 9:03 pm, in reply to "Re: 8 Gauge shells"

Thanks Frank, I’ll give him a try. I already talked to Steve, Ken, no luck there.

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