Been looking at a beretta SP in 28 ga., maybe the perfect grouse gun....
any of you folks a fan?

Great guns if the fit is right. Went to a dealer awhile back fully intending to buy one but after shouldering the Beretta and a Citori 725, I walked out with the Citori. Both great guns and I prefer the classic styling of Beretta but the Browning just fit better. Point being, I would keep and open mind and try different brands and go with what fits you the best. 28 Ga is my favorite, I just wish the ammo was cheaper.

I am not a double fan, but have a little 870 28 ga.for a couple years I used it a great deal for our western blue grouse and some on sage grouse.. I enjoy it a great deal.. just got away from shooting it. But I remember two sage grouse shot at 40 steps.. Both came down stone dead.

Have several 28's, auto, pump and O/U's. As was mentioned above, what fits you and suits your likes. Nothing better than 28's.

I'm probably one of the few dissenting voices.I tried a 28 for a while, just wasn't all that impressed. The 686 I had was beautiful but it was a 20 gauge frame as many 28 guns are, so weight and size was pretty much the same. Maybe if it was a 28 frame I would have liked it better. Shells more expensive and harder to find. I think recoil was about the same as a 20. I sold it and stuck with 12s and 20s.

57, I like my 28, but it is more of a toy than a serious hunting gun.. I often wonder under what conditions the guys that swear by 28's hunt... Like shooting deer with a .223 it can be done, but I wouldn't want if for my main deer rifle.. I like my 28, but not as an all around gun..

Well I would agree for a little more challenge busting clays or out for a not-so-serious walk to see what you can scare up it would be nice. I have read that the 28 is an efficient shell with the shot column being square for bore size making for good patterns. I'm sure there are those who are far better shotgunners than I who can make the 28 a serious game getter.

This could well be the perfect grouse gun IMO..

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/11168392/Re:_Parker_/_Winchester_20G.#Post11168392

Thanks John,
To be sure I have knocked down a few grouse with the afore-mentioned gun.
However, I still prefer a 28G. The 28 has the same pattern at 30 yds. as a 12G.

I have a 28G Merkel 280EL….a 28G on a true 28G. frame. I love it . Wood rivals
the Parker.
I also have a 28G. Franchi 48AL, very light and fast…..the only shotgun I ever got a triple with. Pretty hard to get a triple with a SXS.

Now , I just sold a Beretta S 686 28G. O/U . Nice gun, but a little heavy for a 28, as mentioned earlier. But the S686 trigger guard would bang up my middle ( social) finger when I shot it.
I have a couple more 28's , when one cannot knock a feather off you ain't gonna like 'em…….….still gotta hit 'em.

I would like to take a close look at SP as the OP started this … the Franchi is very light. I doubt the SP would rival that.

I have a number of 20's….but I hunt all upland birds with a 28 most of the time.
Best,
Chuck

shoot 28ga in my model 12's and my 4 bbl skeet guns all the time.
federals are the best.

I like 28s. My first kill with a 28 was a wild -flushing blue quail. I shot and it landed dead 59 paces from where I fired.

I am a big 28 gauge fan however I don't attribute any magical properties to it (although it may have some ). I have hunted doves, woodcock, grouse, and pheasants with it and have had no issues killing game. All but the doves were hunted with pointing dogs and my shots were typically less than 30-35 yds (usually much less). I have used several 28's in informal clay shoots where hitting at extremely long distances (60-80yds) is paramount and I have had just as much "luck" as people shooting 20's and 12's (the perfered gauge as of course you have a bigger payload).

I rarely am without my Remington 870 or Weatherby Orion in 28.

Just my 2 cents!

PennDog

I am a SXS double fan for upland. I see those neat 28 ga now in the shops.

For your comparison my Ugartechea 221 20 ga 3" is 41" long and has 24.5" barrels.

It weighs 5 lb 9 oz

It's the one on the right.

I like 28's.... of course I am a better shot on here than in the field.

I have never felt a 28 hurt my shooting. If anything the light recoil helps me. A .410 is a different story, though.

In response to the first question about the Beretta SP in 28 ga.., I love them! As I grow older, I enjoy the lighter weight and the factory loads today are outstanding!
If you do your part, they will do theirs. PennDog is 'spot on'. I've been shooting them for 20 of the past 50+ yrs. I've been shooting and hunting. Whatever you prefer, enjoy your time shooting!
Brittman

I have a Beretta SP V in 28 ga
It is a terrific dove gun and I have shot a few pheasants with the 28, but you really have to pick your shots and pass us birds that are easy to kill with a 12 ha.
Beretta makes some 28 gauges on the 20ga frame and some on a "baby frame" that is scaled to the 28 gauge. I much prefer it over the 20 ga frame guns.
If you shoot a lot of 28 gauge, reloading becomes a very good thing to do. I load mine on a MEC sizemaster.

I have a Beretta Silver Pigeon 28 gauge with 28" barrels. It's my favorite upland hunting gun. Winchester 1 ounce loads of #6 are deadly on pheasants. This gun is on the "baby" frame, not the 20 gauge frame, and is a joy to carry and quick to get in to shooting position.

The only time I haven't preferred it was when I was trying to use up some paper 12 gauge shells and when it was raining, in which case I use a cheaper gun.

Since ammo is expensive, I handload 3/4 ounce in AAs for skeet. I shot a round of sporting clays with it last year and did surprisingly well.

Good to hear Indy, I just yesterday bought that same SP.

No complaints with mine. A joy to carry, 28" baby frame, feed it Win #6 1oz and #8 3/4oz.

Cheers, Scott.

Well I finally found one, a slightly used SP1 w/28" barrels...kinda seems like a good grouse gun.

I have a CZ O/U in 28 gauge that I like to shoot at doves. I have taken a few pheasants over the years with it as well but more often use a 20 or 12 for ringnecks.

Personally, and FWIW, I feel the difference between the Beretta "baby" frame 28's, and the 28's on the 20 gauge frame is negligible. I have two of each, a Black Onyx and a Quail Unlimited on the 20 gauge frames, and a SPI and a 687 EL Gold Pigeon II Sporting on the baby frames. The only way I can tell the difference in the frames is to get out my calipers and measure! LOL! Even the firing pin holes are same distance apart on all of them! But I realize I am a peasant, and defer to those individuals with a higher level of discernment. Regardless, they are all great shotguns.

Stud, I'm quite pleased with my new 28ga., but I'd agree with you as I have a SP1 20 ga. as well, likley not a big difference in handling, but for me they will serve different "needs".