8 bore

The term "8 bore" refers to a large-caliber, smoothbore firearm, typically a shotgun, that was historically used for hunting large game such as waterfowl and for market hunting. The "bore" designation refers to the approximate diameter of the barrel, expressed in terms of the number of lead balls of that diameter that would weigh one pound. An 8 bore shotgun would have a barrel diameter roughly equivalent to that of eight lead balls weighing a pound.

8 bore firearms were significantly more powerful than smaller gauge shotguns like 12 or 16 gauge. This increased power came at the cost of significant recoil, making them challenging to shoot accurately. The heavy weight of these guns further contributed to the difficulty of handling them.

While once relatively common, 8 bore shotguns are now rare and are primarily of interest to collectors. Due to their immense power and potential for causing significant damage, their use is often restricted or prohibited in many jurisdictions. Modern shotguns typically use smaller gauges and higher pressures to achieve similar performance with less recoil.