Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns 28 gauge....

23" barrels makes this one very short for grouse in the brush. Also done very well on chukars in the open country.

That’s a little dandy too!! I’m a cheap azz when it comes to scatterguns.... grin

My two fav 28s..

Outstanding wood on that Franchi. Don't think I've seen one with that much grain and pattern.

Was that by chance, or did you get to pick?

Bet it's quick; it looks fast sitting still...

DF

Just dumb luck. I had been wanting a English stocked Deluxe 28 but by the time I got serious about ordering one, they had been discontinued. I figured eventually a used one would show but had never actually seen one. One Saturday, with nothing much to do, a buddy and I drove 2 1/2 hours to Mid South Guns in Wagram NC, a trip we make once a year. They are usually a treasure trove for neat stuff. They just happened to have a used English stocked 28 but it had a hideous recoil pad on it and the stock had been cut. I passed, but at least got to finally handle one. It was so nimble and lively that my plan was to call Benelli on Monday to see if a new replacement stock was available.
Neither of us spent any money, so after we left Mid South I suggested we drive another 30 miles to Jim's Pawn Shop in Fayetteville. As we walked in, I was disgusted that their inventory had become largely Tacti-Cool. Not expecting much, I walked to the counter where the used long guns were and my eyes instantly were drawn to the straight stocked Franchi. I couldn't see the figure of the wood from the angle it was at and figured it was a 20ga anyway but asked to hold it. When the guy handed it to me, I was in disbelief. When I finally regained my senses and came out of my reverie, I pulled my wallet out so fast I sprained my wrist.

Great snag.

DF

Dirtfarmer, Thanks for the info. That closed pistol grip and the pad are the reasons that I don't already own the new 37. My favorite shotgun grip is a Prince of Wales. I hunted a straight stock Winchester one season, years ago. I did very ok with it, but like the PoW a little better. I could like your Franchi.

Jack

You can get a straight, English style grip on the new Ithaca.

DF

Good score. I almost drove over there Friday.

I got distracted at Hyatt shopping for Shrapnel.

I have owned two, a Citori and a Bernadelli SxS. They did nothing for me that my 20 gauge SxS do so went down the road.

I have the same gun Jud. Hard to drag those fine wood guns through cedar swamps, beagles on a lead going after snowshoe hare. Mine fits me perfect and seems to almost hard to miss a target. Good luck with it.

That place is awesome!

I love/appreciate good wood, but for what I’m wanting the express will be $$$....

Awesome pic of the M37R ,not many would give it a second look with the grenade launcher on the frt end but on a 20 ga that might enhance swing control. I have its twin in 16 ga with a 28" full solid rib, love that on sharptails. At the gunshop where I found it ,I asked where it came from, they said some gomer kid with his ballcap on backwards,pants halfway down his ass inherited it from gramps and traded it for a Benelli Nova and paid boot. Sometimes fortune does shine on my butt.

+10

Bought my wife a Remington sporting 28. Ammo is a little expensive. But seems to work a little better than the cheap stuff I buy for my 20 guage for dove and quail. 6’s on blues and 71/2’s on bobs. Hasbeen

This is my Benelli Legacy 28 ga.- Awesome little shotgun. Weighs in at a bit under 5 lbs, but balances and handles beautifully. I shoot the Fiocchi Golden Pheasant 7/8 oz. loads with #6 plated shot, which works great on pheasant and chukar. For dove, any 3/4 oz. load with 7.5 shot works well.

OK, now I want one of those, too. As I get older I can't stand heavy guns like I used to. I have a Remington Model 17 that will be getting more use. It is 97 years old, but still works.

They kill very will. I have 1 28 gauges, both over/under. I will use them even for pheasant in the early season.