Cartridge comparison
6 Bore vs 8 Gauge
6 Bore and 8 Gauge are both in the reference; see the full spec comparison below.
Side by side
| 6 Bore | 8 Gauge | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Rifle | Shotgun |
| Introduced | 1870 | 1860 |
| Bullet diameter | 0.919″ | 0.835″ |
| Case length | 4.913″ | 3.25″ |
| Max pressure | 25,400 psi | — |
| Recoil | 970.7 ft·lb | 20–30 ft·lb |
| Effective range | 300 yd | 75 yd |
| SAAMI | Not SAAMI standardized | Not SAAMI standardized |
| CIP | Not standardized | Not standardized |
| Obsolete | Obsolete | — |
Highlighted cells hold the clear edge where both sides have a number. Every figure is a range maximum from the reference; typical loads run lower.
Case profiles, to scale
Drawn to the same scale, so the proportions are true. Physical size varies with your screen.
