I have a chance to pick up an 8 guage side by side made in england by Blake I think. The rifle is cased and in very nice shape I have been told. I know the ballistics of the 8 but have no idea of the value of this rifle. Can you guys help me out a bit. I am not familiar with this maker.
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Speckmisser
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Hey Judson,
Might try posting this question in the Big Bore rifles forum as well.
I dunno anything about the 8 ga, except I guess in Scotland and Britain the BIG bore guns are popular for shooting waterfowl. I can only imagine the damage a solid projectile in 8 ga would be capable of!
Might try posting this question in the Big Bore rifles forum as well.
I dunno anything about the 8 ga, except I guess in Scotland and Britain the BIG bore guns are popular for shooting waterfowl. I can only imagine the damage a solid projectile in 8 ga would be capable of!
jmabbott888
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Judson, make sure you check the gun to make sure it is for "ball" use. Dads got a JP Garrough & Sons 8 bore that is a SxS hammer gun & under the forearm states "not for use with ball". I'm not saying the one you are looking at is the same but it would probably be worth a look. The other thing is the brass is a real pain to find, don't waste your time with the loaded newer rounds, they have an extra "ring" (for lack of a better term) around the base that won't allow the shell to chamber. You can still get turned brass shells that will fit. Good luck & be safe.
Thank you guys for the info. I was told the gun is fully rifled and is a true 8 gauge double rifle, however I have to check it out. Any of you ever shoot one of the beasts? It is suposed to fire a 1250 grain conical bullet with 250 to 375 grains of black powder at around 1500 to 1650 feet per second. That would put it in the 6500+ foot pound energy area. Most of these guns weigh in at 15 pound pluss so I would think recoil would not be all that bad, more of a big shove then a sharp jab like you get from some too light modern rifles.
Speckmisser
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Judson,
I'll have to wait for your report on recoil, as I've not fired anything over 10 ga. Even that old monster Ithaca goose gun would rock my world, but a bolt-action scattergun is probably a much different story than the double rifle.
I've recently developed a fetish for the doubles, but so far my budget hasn't allowed me to indulge (probably a good thing). I'll live vicariously through folks like you for a while.
I'll have to wait for your report on recoil, as I've not fired anything over 10 ga. Even that old monster Ithaca goose gun would rock my world, but a bolt-action scattergun is probably a much different story than the double rifle.
I've recently developed a fetish for the doubles, but so far my budget hasn't allowed me to indulge (probably a good thing). I'll live vicariously through folks like you for a while.
I read an article about the 4 and 8 bore double rifles. The 8 bore is supposed to produce slightly more recoil energy than a 460 wheatherby without a brake. The recoil is said to be more of a shove rather than a kick. The 8 bore is getting hard to find and is a werthy adition to any collection. I do not know anything about that particular maker. Sorry.
One thing though, I have never seen an actual 8 bore double rifle for less than 14 thousand that was in good or better condition. One 8 bore I recently seen sold for 45000 dollars. Good luck
One thing though, I have never seen an actual 8 bore double rifle for less than 14 thousand that was in good or better condition. One 8 bore I recently seen sold for 45000 dollars. Good luck
