Home Forums Birds & Dogs Upland Game The 28 gauge?

Travis,

I can almost always find 28 ammo somewhere around here, but they tend to be scarcer in small towns in eastern Montana. When I do find a deal, I often buy a case.

But the 28 is also really easy to handload. I don't do a lot of shotshell loading any more, but probably load more 28's than anything. One excellent load that I've used on a number of wild roosters with great success is 7/8 ounce of hard #7's, which are the same size as the English #6 shot that Brits favor for driven pheasants. Plenty of pattern density and penetration even on roosters flying directly away at 35-40 yards.

Thanks John.

I do not shoot enough shotgun to reload. I just buy a case or two every year. I would likely just do the same for the 28. All I shoot now are 20's.




Travis

I've hunted with 28 gauges since the early 70's. As a young man, a Remington 11-48 28 gauge bored skeet killed everything my Red Setter locked in on while I was attended the University of Idaho and hunting the Palouse in Washington and well beyond that.

Before I had my first 28 gauge (the 11-48), I had lusted after a brand new Charles Daly 28 over and under while I was in the Air Force during the 60's stationed in Charleston S.C . At $345 it was like 4 months rent (I was married) and out of the question. However I did find a mint one years ago and quickly snapped it up.

Like the 28 so well, I have too many....pumps, auto's and O/U's. The only thing I used a 12 gauge for is spring turkey and even then it's overkill when only shooting under 30 yards, and generally usually closer.

The little 11-48 is one sweet little 28. In my opinion the best gauge out there if you know and adhere to it's limitations. They are an absolute waterfowl killer over dekes if again, you keep it's range in perspective.

If I recall Phil Harris, who hunted with Bing on the old American Sportsman show during the 60's hunted with a 28. I also believe Jack O'connor was fond of a Remington 11-48 in 28 gauge that he had.

Buy one....you won't regret it.

Travis-
If you get a 28ga, just go down to Bing 'n' Bobs and have them fix you up with a case of good plated hard stuff.

The worst part of hunting with a 28ga is remembering to hold your pinky in the air while drinking your roadie.

Travis,

I probably wouldn't handload shotgun shells myself if somebody wasn't paying me to write about it now and then.

You funny....thanks for the chuckle.

I bated you a little. I have had the same problem with the second barrel and double triggers in dirty, dusty country where the sand and sage brush blows. I thought the problem of not firing the second barrel was unique to the country but maybe not. Never the less, have converted to 16 ga Model 12s, Benellis and a restocked, 100-year-old Fox with double triggers when hunting there, solving the problem.

I try to only use 6s on upland game. They work well with a tight choke on wild-flushing, hard-to-anchor blue quail and even better on easier-to -knock-down pheasant. They even work on the Huns you have up North in my limited experience.

Depends on how a gun feels to you.

I just handled a few 28 ga SXS and while they were light and handy I would not trade one for one of my 20's or the 16ga.

I have shot my Bernadelli and done well on pheasants. It weighs 5# 13 oz with it's 27.5" barrels and double triggers and since I got the birds I like it.

However after getting the newer to me Ugartechea 221-20 3" out at 5# 9 oz and 24.5" barrels I would take that the next time.

The LOP on the Ugar, to the right, is shorter and it feels faster to shoulder.

Full choke and 5's are all I carry.





Travis

If you buy a 28 and don't reload be prepared to find 6s and 7.5s on the shelf....

Odd...

He has a Howa Alpine to buy and report on before this.

I would suggest a case of Fiocchi 7/8 oz (1300 fps FYI) of 5's or 7 1/2s since you don't like the best shot size--6's. On wild birds under the best of conditions a case might last you three years,..or five.

I'm curious as to how anybody could tell the difference between the above and Fiocchi 20 ga. 1 oz of the same shot size at 1245 fps.

Pretty much have used only 6 shot out of the 28's. Always worked extremely well.

Yeah, 6's and 7's work great on pheasants in the 28 (or any gauge), but they work better if they're hard. They don't have to be plated, but high-antimony shot definitely penetrates deeper than "standard" shot, because it doesn't flatten out when it hits.

Hard shot costs more, whether in factory or handloads, but using hard shot a size or two smaller than standard shot provides a denser pattern and penetrates just as deeply. But I know a lot of people who refuse to pay for better shot, just like many people refuse to pay for better rifle bullets.

Hard shot leaves the barrel rounder too and flies truer, giving a better pattern.

7s were made for the 28. ;-{>8

????



Travis

I have that same gun, and mine has virtually no recoil. And I agree it's really too heavy as a 28ga. But I just shoot it so damn well. I prefer 7.5 for doves and quail & # 6 shot for pheasants.

Like I mentioned earlier, I REALLY want one of the little Benneli Ultralight 28ga autos.
At only 4.5 lbs, it would be ideal to carry all day long chasing pheasants or West TX quail, IMO. I'll probably give in & buy one for next year.
I'd also LOVE to have one of the little Merkel SXS's in 28 ga, too.

And I don't reload for my 28 gauge, either. I just buy a case or two of Winchester AA's every year.