The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

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

8 gauge

Posted by Kris Kehl on January 3, 2026, 9:17 pm

Can 8 gauge Winchester Industrial Low Velocity #2 lead shot modern ammo be SAFELY shot using an LC Smith? All LC 8’s were made with damascus barrels I believe. I know my LC is Damascus. Anyone know what the pressure is on these shells? And what is the max pressure damascus barrels can SAFELY handle?Considering buying ammo.

Re: 8 gauge

Posted by Drew Hause on January 4, 2026, 9:46 am, in reply to "8 gauge"

If you'll scroll down the PGCA Reloading Forum there are several posts by Craig Larter and Mike Koneski, who occasionally look into the Forum here also
https://parkerguns.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=21&order=desc

re: safety of using pattern barrels, please review
https://www.shotgunworld.com/threads/is-my-gun-safe-what-load-was-my-gun-designed-to-shoot.366087/

I've never seen turn-of-the-century 8g pressures published, but it is likely that they were similar to 10g pressures.

Re: 8 gauge

Posted by Brian Sloan on January 5, 2026, 5:57 am, in reply to "8 gauge"

I have a Smith 8ga as well. I would like to trade pictures and information. 7048802561 or brianosloan@gmail.com

Re: 8 gauge

Posted by Bill Murphy on January 7, 2026, 4:31 pm, in reply to "Re: 8 gauge"

Reverend Drew, the poster has industrial shells. Shooting them in a sporting gun is a no-no.

Re: 8 gauge

Posted by Kris Kehl on January 8, 2026, 10:42 pm, in reply to "Re: 8 gauge"

Agree. I believe I read on the Winchester site their 8 gauge shells are not to be fired from ANY firearm.

Re: 8 gauge

Posted by Drew Hause on January 9, 2026, 6:19 am, in reply to "Re: 8 gauge"

Only if you've got one of these Kris

https://industrialcartridgesa.com/8-gauge-kiln-system/

Re: 8 gauge

Posted by Kris Kehl on January 9, 2026, 9:45 am, in reply to "Re: 8 gauge"

Does it require a plug?

Re: 8 gauge

Posted by Steve Arnett on January 9, 2026, 3:51 pm, in reply to "Re: 8 gauge"

Drew,thanks for posting that cannon!

Re: 8 gauge

Posted by Drew Hause on January 9, 2026, 5:10 pm, in reply to "Re: 8 gauge"

Time for an 8 gauge kiln gun competition at The Southern Steve?

https://athlonoutdoors.com/article/remington-masterblaster-industrial-gun/

Re: 8 gauge

Posted by Drew Hause on January 11, 2026, 8:36 am, in reply to "8 gauge"

While we're on the topic of 8g guns, this is a Twist barrel (what could they have been thinking?!?

) British single originally 8g that was reproved 1925-1954, surely after honing as the bore is now 7 gauge - .873-.887. Chamber is 3 1/4".

Turn-of-the century British 8g loads were 6 Drams “Schultze” Bulk Smokeless and 2 oz. shot, at 3.66 tons = about 11,200 psi. Proof was with 18 Drams B.P and 2 1/4 oz. but I don't have the pressure - typically 30% higher than the service load pressure.

It passed Nitro proof for 2 1/8 oz. shot.

Re: 8 gauge

Posted by Charlie Brooks on January 11, 2026, 12:54 pm, in reply to "Re: 8 gauge"

My father told me about how his grand father loaded his brass shells for his 8ga.When he ran out of powder and shot to load,he would cut open two 12ga. shells and dump the powder and shot in one 8 ga load.I think he was using smokeless powder.My oldest son has the gun and shoots it.The bores are too good to have been shot much with black powder.The gun was in constant use until 1948 by my great grand father.In his old age,I was told he would dump a basket of corn in the yard and wait for the geese to come in with most of their heads toward the center of the pile of corn before shooting them.He was know to have killed as many as 10 geese with one shot from his front porch on the Eastern Shore of Md.Back in the day they shipped large amounts of ducks and geese to Baltimore's Lexington Market for sale.My father remembers their being 98 dreessed geese in the house at one given time.If these old guns could talk I bet they could tell some interesting stories.

Re: 8 gauge

Posted by Kimball Ferguson on January 14, 2026, 10:09 am, in reply to "Re: 8 gauge"

Pastor Charlie,
Thanks for sharing this story and other by phone the other day. real history by word of mouth.
Happy 2026.

Re: 8 gauge

Posted by Craig Larter on January 15, 2026, 5:42 am, in reply to "8 gauge"

There is a small group of guys that shoot 8ga Damascus guns on a regular basis. We have dedicated 8ga competitions at Hausmann's, The Spring Southern and Rock Mountain. Loaded shells for kiln guns will not fit in sporting guns due to a ring at the base of the hull that prevents it from chambering. There is no one currently commercially loading 8ga for sporting guns in either the US or UK. Your only option is reloading. Components and recipies are readly avaliable. If you want to persue reloading first search the subject on the Parker forum and if it still sounds like something we want to do contact me at superfoxcollector@gmail.com and I can help you get started.

Re: 8 gauge

Posted by Mike Koneski on January 31, 2026, 12:58 pm, in reply to "8 gauge"

Kris, you can only find 8g industrial hulls unless you are lucky enough to find commercial hulls. If you do, buy a lottery ticket!! The industrial hull first must be swaged to remove the rims that prevent them from being inserted into a commercial gun's chambers. Once swaged and sized you can load them with one of the many 8g clays loads we developed over the past year. We load them with 1 1/2 oz of shot and most of the velocities are in the 1200 FPS range. Some a little faster and some slower, but they are very reasonable. Same for the pressures. They have all been tested and are very safe to shoot in these beefy guns. Most shells for these guns back in the day were anywhere from 6 to 8 dram equivalent with charges well over 2 1/2 ounces.

Re: 8 gauge

Posted by Kris Kehl on February 1, 2026, 4:19 pm, in reply to "Re: 8 gauge"

You said “we”. Do you have such shells available. I’d love to be able to say I shot an 8 gauge.

Re: 8 gauge

Posted by Brian Sloan on February 3, 2026, 1:50 pm, in reply to "Re: 8 gauge"

I know its not the same but I had tunes made for mine by Loius and shoot 12ga shells. It shoots really good. Also i have some loaded shells if you just want to fire off a 8ga round.

Re: 8 gauge

Posted by Kris Kehl on February 5, 2026, 9:41 pm, in reply to "Re: 8 gauge"

What are tunes? I may get with you on a couple of shells. 8 gauge would be tough on your woodcock in NC!

Re: 8 gauge

Posted by Brian Sloan on February 6, 2026, 10:58 am, in reply to "Re: 8 gauge"

Sorry.... tubes. You put them in your 8gauge chambers and then you can use 12ga shells.

Re: 8 gauge

Posted by Craig Larter on February 10, 2026, 1:17 pm, in reply to "Re: 8 gauge"

Kris. I would like to see a few pictures of your gun. I run a Facebook page dedicated to 8ga SxS's take a look.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/486961669421911

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