Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns 28 ga. Grouse and Skeet recommendations??

I am considering a 28ga. for grouse and target/skeet/etc.

What are some recommended guns to look at? I like all styles and am not set on one type...pump or O/U. etc.

If you can find an older Rem 1100 in 28g, they are really light to carry and swing/move great for what you require.

My buddy loaned us his when my oldest daughter was learning to shoot. It was a fixed skeet choke, cycled great, light if any recoil and the trigger was awesome.

I have the Beretta 686 in 28 ga and it is a delight to carry and shoot . When it comes to the 28 ga a good SXS or O&U is hard to beat. Ruger Red Label is another good O&U in 28 ga.

I bought an 870 Remington this spring in 28 ga. Pattern surprisingly well with Remington or WW sporting clays 7 1/2's. I use modified choke for 16 yd. trap, and will use improved clynder for Blues and Mtn. quail this fall. E

I have a lovely little SKB 685 that is too pretty to hunt with, but is one of my favorites on a sporting clays course.

I've also got a Franchi Veloce, that is meant more for my hunting days. Weighs little, carries great, and will do a fine job on doves/grouse/pheasants.

As mentioned in a post above, the Ruger Red Label has a pretty good reputation in the 28 gauge market as well.

You're gonna be hooked on the 28 gauge!

Try to find an Ugartechea sxs boxlock extractor gun and a 28 ga. rehab. program for yourself. I have never recovered. Been an addict for nearly 30 years. On second thought, forget the program and spend the money on MEC grabber in 28. Just be happy.

My wife's 28 ga. Stevens 512 O/U seems to kill blue grouse just fine. Cheap, light, swings well, points well, seems to pattern well. I don't really know how well it patterns, she told me to keep my hands off her gun, once I shortened it for her, so I use a Verona 503 for grouse, quail, and early season pheasants. No new 500 model Veronas at Dick's/Gander Mountain/Cabela's any more, but mine has killed lots of blue, ruffed, and sage grouse and a bunch of quail and pheasants.

Is the 870 frame a 20ga. frame or is it a true 28 ga. frame size?

My buddy has an SKB 28 O/U, but I'm not sure what model it is. I don't care for it, feels like a 2x4 to me, I think he said he screwed up as that particular model was built on a 20 frame.

I've handled quite a few of the Beretta O/U 28's, and like them a lot. Tempted to pick up a Quail Unlimited one that Cabela's in KC has, but I won't.

One of the new Ithaca 37's in 28 would be sweet, special order, and cost accordingly, but they look good, and built on a true 28 frame.

Many good choices mentioned and all will work. If you can swing it look at the Spanish Doubles: AyA, Arrieta, Ugartechea. In a 28 they are special and will only increase in future value.

If you would go that way, don't let light weight and short barrels call to you beyond reason. Go with a little forward weight with at least 28in tubes and you will probably shoot better.

Good points battue. Let me add GARBI, Arrizabalaga, and Victor Sarasqueta to the list.

One thing to know is that Basque makers braze their barrels rather than solder them. That does add strength but requires more heat. More heat actually can have an adverse effect on the regulation of smaller bores (28 & .410). If you buy one, ALWAYS check the regulation of the barrels at the patterning board while it can still be returned!

I especially concur with battue's advice on barrel length. I was blessed to own a 30 inch Arrizabalaga 28 at one time. The barrels were like the graceful long legs of a gorgeous woman and beautifully deadly.

The Rem 870, 28 is a true 28 ga. frame, smaller than the 20 ga. frame. E

Had an 870 express 28 at one time too and if you are a trombone man it is a lot of gun for the shekel.

Mark,

It's on the "new" (1970's new) "Lightweight 20 ga." frame.

Before that, 20 ga 870s were on a larger frame (12 ga?)

Since then the 20s, 28s & .410s have all been on this frame.

But the 28 ga is the lightest (because the .410 has a thicker walled barrel, .410s run at higher cups) of the three.

My ex-G/F had a 28 ga 870 Wingmaster with both Skeet & Mod. barrels and it was one sweet little pumpgun.

Mark,

If you'd settle for a repeater, finding one of those 28 ga. 870 Wingmasters would be a pretty sweet deal on the lower priced end of things.

Next in line would be finding one of the late model Winchester 101s in 28 ga. w/Screw-In Winchokes. Those were built on their own extra small 28/.410 frame.

The earlier 101s in 28 ga. as well as the Beretta 685s & 686s were built on 20 ga. frames (not that there's that MUCH difference in the frame sizes)

There are higher grade Beretta O/U models (usually with lots of "E"s & "L"s after them) that are built on a 28 ga. frame.

I have one of the early 28ga Win. 101 Field Guns (pretty rare).

If you'd like to try it out, you know where to find me.

Iike the Rizzini shotguns, but am having fun at this time with a CZ Bobwhite.
Just got a set of 28 tubes fitted in my Westley Richards SXS as well!
Franchi also builds a great upland and skeet gun.....
Cat

I prefer O/U 28ga guns. I have a Browning Citori Superlight with 26" barrels and a Berreta 686 Silver Pigeon S with 28" barrels. The 686 S is built on the small frame. I like the 686 best. I would like to get a Rizzini with 29" barrels. The weight is a factor, especially if you like skeet, I do. You really have to get the gun moving quickly and keep it moving. It is hard to push a shotguns that is too light. For upland game, it is a different story. I shot a 687 with 30" tubes but for me, that seemed a little bit long. Fit is important with shotguns. No matter how expensive or nice the gun is, you will never shoot well if the shotgun does not fit properly. There are a lot of shotgunners that like 1100s and shoot them well. If an autoloader is what you enjoy, get an 1100. The 28ga Remingtons that I have shot have had 25" or 26" barrels. If you've never shot skeet with a 28ga SxS with double triggers, give that a try.
Good luck, there's a bunch of nice guns to choose from.

26" autos are the equivalent of a 30" O/Us sighting plane when you factor in the receiver length.

Shooting light guns is all about being smooooth, and long barrels help you to do so. Actually shooting any shotgun well has to do with being smooth. It's just harder with a lightweight that stops and starts easily.

While gun fit is important, knowing how to really "look" at the target makes up for imperfections.

Among my collection of 28's the Parker Repro is tops. AYA #2 is outstanding and so is the Ruger Red Label. Don't overlook the "new" Ithaca 37 in a true 28 size.

I went with the ruger red label with longer barrels. she is a sweetie. love that gun.