4-bore, 8-bore ?

I recently read the terms 4-bore and 8-bore. They were relating to the size of the barrel/bullet. Can somebody tell me how they translate to caliber or gauge?

Thanks

 

"in theory" the gage (bore) is determined by how many lead balls the size of the bore it takes to make a pound...therefore, a 16 gage/bore will pass a one ounce ball

 

The Mathematical Shooter

 

Wow, no wonder the postings were talking about huge kicks from the 4-bore guns.

 

YEAH!!! The 4 bore...the ORIGINAL quarter pounder..

 

oooooh thats GOTTA HURT!!!

 

Birmingham 4 Bore brought to El Reno Ok. Rendevous

I attended the rendevous in El Reno OK once a million years ago in another lifetime. A guy by the name of Phil "Blue Jacket" Sanders brought a Birmingham 4 Bore to the shoot, As I remember it took 200 Grns of powder and shot a .999 Dia x 2.00" long Mini Ball (???). It hurt like heck but everyone there just had to shoot it. I carried a bruise on my should for weeks, but At least I hit the gong with it across the valley. Just over 100 yds. Those that were not prepared for the kick were knocked off their feet or over if kneeling. I leaned into it and remained standing, as did others that leaned into it.
I'd Shoot it once again just for the bragging rights. LOL

This particular gun was used as an Elephant gun in Africa before it came to the US.

 

Try a 4 bore with the 300-400 grain loads that the big game hunters use. Ouch!

 

The problem with those 4-bore guns is that inner city gang bangers like to hide them in their wastebands then use them to rob liquor stores!!!

 

At a pawn shop near home they used to have a 2 bore. Said it was the largest soulder rifle ever made. It had a falling block action and weighed something like 30 pounds. I think they said it was a 1.325 caliber or something like that.

 

Those big guns are meant to be held against your crotch to absorb the massive recoil.

 

English and American terms

I have often heard the term 'bore' used for describing the size of a weapon by English sources (the James Harriot books use the term when describing shotguns and things like that, as do the books of H. Rider Haggard), and 'gauge' is often used by those of us on this side of the pond. From what I have read, the 2, 4, and 8 bore rifles were used by the big game hunters in Africa, prior to the advent of smokeless powder.

That being said, I'd love to say I shot one, but I'm not sure I actually want to go shoot one.

D

 

Yep, if you ask me what sort of shotguns I own I'll say "12 bore." You yanks insist on confusing shotgun barrels with railway tracks

 

Go buy/borrow a copy of Unintened Consequenses. There's some pretty good stuff on 4 bores in there.

 

I've seen pictures of Mike Venturino firing either an 4 or 8 bore by the look on his face he wasn't enjoying himself I have an 8 bore cast slug and dropping it on your foot is gonna hurt big time. I think it weighs 2 oz.

 

2 BORE EQUALS 3550 GRAINS. 1 BORE ABOUT 7000 GRAINS.

4 BORE ABOUT 1800 GRAINS.

s

 

Hey Fosbery

That's not all we "yanks" mess up (our beer comes to mind), but I think thats a topic of another forum.

D