The mighty 28 gauge

[merkelman]

How many of you out there are 28Ga fans?  I made it a point to hunt upland birds this year with the 28ga and only the 28ga.  Some would say that 3/4 oz. of shot is tough to work with...I say just the opposite.  It pushes you to point more accurately and become a better scatter gun shot.  On a side note, I have a great recipe for a 7/8 oz. load that mimics the Golden Pheasant product.  The big difference is the cost.  At 15.00/box it can become a hunters nightmare.  A box of my special recipe comes to about 5-6 dollars per box for 25 rounds.  Obviously this will vary with components costs.  I have also gone to a lead/copper plated lead shot.  It does make a difference...less deformity which allows for better penetration.  Nickel plated is obviously preferred, but again, very pricey. 

Let's talk about the 28ga firearms these days.  I am a big fan of the Merkel 28ga guns as they have always build a VERY solid platform.  I recently started investing in the Dickinson/AKUS side by side, Estate model.  What most don't know is AKUS is the premier Turkish shot gun producer of Turkey.  You could say they are like the Beretta or Perazzi of Italy.  I acquired my first Estate back about 9 months ago.  Being a shotgun enthusiast, I took the gun apart and went through all the action/Barrel, etc.  The fit and finish is excellent.  In fact I had a very reputable gun smith do the same.  He was beyond surprised at the trigger plate action and the workmanship was very sound.  His comment to me, " these are nothing like the CZ/Huglu guns that seem to hit a certain price point, but the quality is just not the same."

I now own three of these scatter guns, two in 28ga and one in 20ga.  While the 20ga is a bit heavy compared to an English/Spanish gun, the quality is there.  Most would say, any new gun will perform great out the box, but what about the longevity?   John Herkowitz, owner of Pacific Sporting arms has been consistently testing the AKUS products for the past 4-5 years.  He has even submitted the firearms to gun smiths from Purdey and H and H.  They all have come back the same...quality steel, excellent fit and finish, and the pricing is out of this world affordable.  I am not trying to sell any guns here, nor do I represent Pacific Sporting Arms or AKUS.  But, for those of you out there looking for a quality S x S, I urge you to look at the Dickinson/AKUS line.

[nwwanderer]

Pleased with my Remington (sabatti) o/u.  Collared doves really dislike it

[Ridgeratt]

 

[Magnum_Willys]

My dad searched for years to add a 28 ga to his model 12 collection. Finally saw one in the classifieds called  and toldem he would take it sight unseen and be there in an hour. Of course he got there and some guy had given em an extra $50 not to wait. Heartbreaker. 

[jetjockey]

I’ll wait about 10 years before I get excited about Turkish guns.  Until then, I won’t touch them. With that said, the 28 is an awesome round.  RST loads 1oz at 1200+FPS.  That’s all a buddy of mine shoots for pheasants.  Hell, that’s more punch than the 2 1/2” 20ga shells I shoot in my LC Smith 20ga, and it’s a hammer on pheasants.

[merkelman]

Jet,  next time you are in Cabela’s, go take a look.  You will be surprised!!! I was a na sayer as well...

[Hairhunter]

 Best Grouse round ever made! I have a T/C Contender with a 16 1/2 inch  Barrel I made, improved modified choke, 1 oz.#6 loads. Had to pay the NFA $200 tax stamp,but I love it.

[jetjockey]

Jet,  next time you are in Cabela’s, go take a look.  You will be surprised!!! I was a na sayer as well...

I’ve looked at them a bunch. I wasn’t impressed , but I wasn’t unimpressed either. Nice wood but horrible looking bluing IMO.  There is potential though......40 years ago Spanish guns were crap, and now they are one of my favorites.

[Wacenturion]

"I say just the opposite.  It pushes you to point more accurately and become a better scatter gun shot."

Been saying that since the early 70's when I fell in love with a sweet little Remington 11-48 in 28 gauge.  Very seldom missed behind my setters or even over decoys in close.  Been shooting 28's ever since and never looked back.  The only 12 I have is a special 22" barreled laminated Winchester 1300 special turkey.   

Have several now.....auto's, O/U's and one pump.  My favorite is a sweet little Miroku Charles Daly bored sheet and skeet that I lusted over as an airman stationed in Charleston S.C. during the mid 60's.  It was $375 and way out of reach.  Found a like NIB one early 90's and snapped it up.

Below a Franchi Veloce and a Browning Citori Upland   

[C-Money]

28 gages are very effective. Fun to shoot!

[merkelman]

Jet,  next time you are in Cabela’s, go take a look.  You will be surprised!!! I was a na sayer as well...

I’ve looked at them a bunch. I wasn’t impressed , but I wasn’t unimpressed either. Nice wood but horrible looking bluing IMO.  There is potential though......40 years ago Spanish guns were crap, and now they are one of my favorites.

they offer rust blued and hot blued...the rust blued option is fantastic. I compared it to my Perazzis and Merkels with no noticeable difference. 

[Bigshooter]

I love the 28 gauge.  I have a red label and an old Iver Johnson single shot.  I like the 3/4 loads for ruff grouse and the 7/8 and 1 ounce loads for blue's and pheasant.

[snake]

Had a buddy who's dad hunted pheasant with a 410 and claimed to shoot them in the head only.

[T-Bone]

I own three 28 Ga.'s: a Weatherby SA08 Deluxe semi-auto, a Stevens 555 O/U and a CZ Bobwhite SXS. My Stevens 555 is the blued receiver version and I use it the most.

The 3/4 oz. in lead #6 shot has killed everything from roosters to grouse to Ca. quail for me and I hunt over a flushing dog. Recently, I killed a rooster "stone dead" with one shot of the new Bismuth 7/8 oz. #6 shot load. I only wish Kent would load the Bismuth in #5.

The 28 Ga. and the 16 Ga. are my two favorites for the uplands.

[T-Bone]

Although the 3/4 oz. load has done it all for me; these seem very interesting for the late season:

http://www.aerostaroutdoors.com/product_info.php/cPath/21_105/products_id/282

[Wacenturion]

My absolute favorite load was a Federal 3/4 oz. load of 6's  and if I recall Winchester did have a one oz load of 6's as well.  Shot both.  Still have several boxes of the same Federal shells, but in 7 1/2's for quail and doves.  One box I purchased at the B&I in Tacoma years ago.

[fethrduster]

I've never owned one, but they look like they would be perfect for quail.  My Husqvarna 16 hammer gun only weighs 6lbs even, so I don't really see any advantage to it.  Would still be fun though. 

[101521]

Couldn't agree more with the 28 being an effective gun. A lot of people don't understand the shot cone on a 28 is better than a 20 but think they are getting more bang for their buck. I'd have to look at the load I shoot out of mine, but it's phez killng machine. I have a Browning Superposed that my father bought new for $175 back in '67 I believe it was. I really only use that gun when I know the country I'll be in and it's flat.  Talk about a sweet shooting gun. I think I shoot the 1oz 6's made by Winchester. 

[tlbradford]

I am waiting for a SxS or a O/U to show up that I like, but am not actively searching.  There really is no advantage to the 28 when compared to a 20.  Nothing wrong with it at all, but I don't want anything lighter than a 20 when shooting upland.  Felt recoil is about the same.  With those two factors being most important to me, give me the extra shot in a 20 all day.

[tlbradford]

Had a buddy who's dad hunted pheasant with a 410 and claimed to shoot them in the head only.

We all strive for a head and neck shot, but most shots over a pointer are moving away and make it difficult.

[fethrduster]

Had a buddy who's dad hunted pheasant with a 410 and claimed to shoot them in the head only.

We all strive for a head and neck shot, but most shots over a pointer are moving away and make it difficult.

Truth.

[jetjockey]

I am waiting for a SxS or a O/U to show up that I like, but am not actively searching.  There really is no advantage to the 28 when compared to a 20.  Nothing wrong with it at all, but I don't want anything lighter than a 20 when shooting upland.  Felt recoil is about the same.  With those two factors being most important to me, give me the extra shot in a 20 all day.

Sure there is, speed!  Speed to the shoulder is much faster with a properly framed 28. With all but 1 exception, I’ve never felt “felt” recoils when squeezing the trigger on a bird.  Since RST makes 1oz 28GA loads at 1300fps (hotter than most 20GA loads), I’m a firm believer in the 28.  This coming from a hard core 20ga fan.

[Fishnfowler]

I grew up shooting a 28, my Dad made me shoot it for years, thinking it would give me some skills.  Perhaps that's why I've never felt attracted to them.  I've owned and shot all the gauges for all the birds.  I even used to shoot decoyed geese with a 410, those we shot in the head.  My go-to gun for quick shooting is a 5-1/4# 20 gauge shooting 7/8oz loads.  I pretty much only take this gun out after quail.  Everything else gets the 12 gauge.  For upland I shoot a light Uggie, and a heavy gun for waterfowl and dove.  I am a fan of patterning my guns and I'm betting the 1oz 28 gauge load at 1300 doesn't pattern as well as 7/8oz at 1200.  I'd speculate that the 3/4oz load going 1150 gives a more even pattern than the other two I mentioned.  Regardless, I recommend those shooting sub-gauge guns to load their own with high antimony, (magnum), shot to avoid deformity and holes in the pattern at the edge of range.   As to speed when shouldering the gun, a balanced gun that fits will come up fast enough for any of us.  FWIW, I generally shoot 1oz loads in my 12 gauges except for geese and chukar.  Both of them get 1-1/4 and 1-1/8 respectively.  Even the ducks get an ounce of tungsten.  I give the chukars extra because I hate them.  Lastly, I've got no hate for Jason and his 28 gauge fetish, the dude is my friend.  The rest of you 28 gauge lovers are a bubble off plumb. 

[Backstrap]

I have 16, 28 and 410 Wingmasters which have never been fired. I guess I was on a Rem 870 kick for a while... But yeah, it was a 28 that knocked the *censored* out of Dick Cheney, so they must pack a good punch.

Everything I do is steel shot only, and I love my super Vinci for that. If they made the Vinci in 20 ga I'd own one.

[wadu1]

Love the 28 gauge, I use a tube set for sporting clays and a Browning 424 30" for clays, skeet, doves and a few ducks. Loaded some #6 Bismuth for decoying ducks and whacked them.

[merkelman]

I grew up shooting a 28, my Dad made me shoot it for years, thinking it would give me some skills.  Perhaps that's why I've never felt attracted to them.  I've owned and shot all the gauges for all the birds.  I even used to shoot decoyed geese with a 410, those we shot in the head.  My go-to gun for quick shooting is a 5-1/4# 20 gauge shooting 7/8oz loads.  I pretty much only take this gun out after quail.  Everything else gets the 12 gauge.  For upland I shoot a light Uggie, and a heavy gun for waterfowl and dove.  I am a fan of patterning my guns and I'm betting the 1oz 28 gauge load at 1300 doesn't pattern as well as 7/8oz at 1200.  I'd speculate that the 3/4oz load going 1150 gives a more even pattern than the other two I mentioned.  Regardless, I recommend those shooting sub-gauge guns to load their own with high antimony, (magnum), shot to avoid deformity and holes in the pattern at the edge of range.   As to speed when shouldering the gun, a balanced gun that fits will come up fast enough for any of us.  FWIW, I generally shoot 1oz loads in my 12 gauges except for geese and chukar.  Both of them get 1-1/4 and 1-1/8 respectively.  Even the ducks get an ounce of tungsten.  I give the chukars extra because I hate them.  Lastly, I've got no hate for Jason and his 28 gauge fetish, the dude is my friend.  The rest of you 28 gauge lovers are a bubble off plumb.

Yep, A bubble off plumb!! 

[nutntoit]

I have never had any experience with 28ga, but I did get the opportunity to shoot a round of sporting clays with a Dickinson Estate 16ga. Wow is all I can say. I have been lusting after one in 16 or 20ga every since. Beautiful guns for sure.

[merkelman]

28ga is a whole new ball game!

[joe_dumy]

The 28ga is on my bucket list for sure. But with the gun I will have to get a loader, wads hulls ect. Wife would kill me at the moment. Guess I got to wear down some of these 16ga and have a couple lined up for the gun Smith before I ask. I too have found magnum loads pattern poorly. But magmatitas still gets me once and a while and I try stuffing a 1/4oz more then the gun was designed for every once and a while. I have found addimg 1/2 a shot size to be more effective for more shot in the air. Like try shot size 6 1/2 For Chukar

[John B]

I love my 28. I originally bought it for quail, but wasn't long before it was my go to gun for every species. I've taken pheasant and chukar, even shot a gadwall with it last year. Last trip out I got the upland grand slam with it.

Benelli now makes a 28 gauge ethos chambered for 3" shells

[merkelman]

I love my 28. I originally bought it for quail, but wasn't long before it was my go to gun for every species. I've taken pheasant and chukar, even shot a gadwall with it last year. Last trip out I got the upland grand slam with it.

Benelli now makes a 28 gauge ethos chambered for 3" shells

Right on...Whisky is waiting for the next outIng. BirdDog 10 year. Gotta try it. Wicked bottle!  Love the cousin to the Benelli, a400 in 28ga.

[John B]

I've seen that on the shelf, haven't tried it yet though!

[sjhgraysage]

Mine is a Verona over/under from Italy. All I have ever shot in it was 3/4 oz loads. Takes some shooting to get used to it, but it sure is fun to shoot.

[merkelman]

I've seen that on the shelf, haven't tried it yet though!

great label

[merkelman]

I grew up shooting a 28, my Dad made me shoot it for years, thinking it would give me some skills.  Perhaps that's why I've never felt attracted to them.  I've owned and shot all the gauges for all the birds.  I even used to shoot decoyed geese with a 410, those we shot in the head.  My go-to gun for quick shooting is a 5-1/4# 20 gauge shooting 7/8oz loads.  I pretty much only take this gun out after quail.  Everything else gets the 12 gauge.  For upland I shoot a light Uggie, and a heavy gun for waterfowl and dove.  I am a fan of patterning my guns and I'm betting the 1oz 28 gauge load at 1300 doesn't pattern as well as 7/8oz at 1200.  I'd speculate that the 3/4oz load going 1150 gives a more even pattern than the other two I mentioned.  Regardless, I recommend those shooting sub-gauge guns to load their own with high antimony, (magnum), shot to avoid deformity and holes in the pattern at the edge of range.   As to speed when shouldering the gun, a balanced gun that fits will come up fast enough for any of us.  FWIW, I generally shoot 1oz loads in my 12 gauges except for geese and chukar.  Both of them get 1-1/4 and 1-1/8 respectively.  Even the ducks get an ounce of tungsten.  I give the chukars extra because I hate them.  Lastly, I've got no hate for Jason and his 28 gauge fetish, the dude is my friend.  The rest of you 28 gauge lovers are a bubble off plumb.

Happy New Year my man!