Featuring a bore diameter of .835 inches, the 8 gauge shotgun packs a real punch. Since the beginning of the 20th century saw advances in smaller gauge shotguns, the 8 gauge is rarely used.
Hunting
In the late 1800s, the 8 gauge shotgun was popular for hunting duck and other waterfowl. Though it is illegal for hunting in the United States, it still enjoys occasional use in the United Kingdom.
Banning
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As shotguns and shells became more efficient in the beginning of the 20th century, the 12 gauge shotgun became more effective for hunting and the large, clumsy 8 gauge became obsolete. It was banned for waterfowl hunting in 1938 by the Federal Firearms Act.
Industrial Use
Remington makes a large 8 gauge shotgun called the MasterBlaster, intended to clean and remove build-ups in industrial kilns, mines, silos, boilers and quarries. Remington also makes special zinc slugs for this application.