Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns The 28 Gauge for Upland Birds

I have hunted grouse for years, and am now starting to pursue pheasants as well. Didn't grow up with pheasant hunting, so I have a lot to learn and experience yet.
Ever since handling a few different 28 gauge shotguns, I can't seem to shake the idea of hunting with one. I realize most any question I ask is very subjective, but I'll ask anyway.
For grouse I prefer a 26" barrel due to heavy (sometimes awful) cover. I use one of several 20 ga shotguns, one has a factory 25" barrel (Mod 12), one has a 26" barrel (SKB o/u).
Question : I'm considering an Ithaca M37 28 ga, what length barrel compliments the gun better, a 26" or 28" barrel ?

Regards, Vic

Barrel length mainly effects pointability.
A short barrel is nice during the early season when the leaves are still on the trees. Once the leaves drops the shots get longer. 26 or 28 doesnt make much difference. A 28" break open gun will be shorter over all than a 26" pump or auto. I hunt the thick stuff with my 28" 12g O/U and 20g SxS. Fit and swing is more important than barrel length.

Barrel length is a personal thing. My favorite wild pheasant shotgun is a 25" barreled sxs. My shotgun for shooting pheasants over hunt test dogs is a 30" O/U. With pump actions my waterfowl 870 wears a 21" barrel and my sxs waterfowl shotgun has 29.5". All work just fine for me as they balance well and the stocks are fitted to me.

My 870 alongside a 26" sxs, they fit and balance about the same.

I don't think you could go wrong with the 26". Are you eyeing a Sandusky, Ohio gun perhaps?

Yes, checking them out. They appear to be a well made shotgun.

Have the 37 28Gauge in a 26inch and with 4 inches of receiver it balances nicely. I doubt if 28inch would improve it much, and I like long barrels.

They are as well made as the first 37's and perhaps better.

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Superb.

I’m about as big an Ithaca 37 fan as there is, love everything about the design. And I’ve handled some Ohio guns and even met the owner once upon a time, very nice guns and guy. But I can’t get over the pistol grip shape of the stocks on the new guns. Is it just me or do they look like the grip is twice as big as an original 37 stock?

And to the OP, yes a well fitting 28 makes a fine upland gun. I’ve been halfway looking for a 28 that suits me for the last year but haven’t pulled the trigger on anything yet. I have hunted with or shot clays with several and they are pretty neat. Kicks like a 410 but kills like a 20.

Nice photos, battue! Keep 'em coming.

I also am a huge fan of the 28 gauge shell...

Brittman

Agree on the shape of the grip when it comes to looks. However when shooting, it doesn’t seem to get in the way. A nice Prince of Wales grip would have done much for appearance.

I see that Ithaca offers their 28 gauge pump with either a pistol grip stock or a straight "English" stock.

The 26" new Ithaca is a sweetheart, as is the 20 gauge Ultrafeatherlight if you can find one.

My 28 is 23" IC/M and it's killed a lot of chukars, quail, and grouse.

Nice looking SxS. What make is it?

It's a cheapy Churchill, not the high dollar ones.

My 28 ga.is a little Remington 870.. Lovely little grouse gun.. Also shot sage grouse and a few quail... Haven't shot it at all the last couple years.. Need to get it out and use it.. have almost 2 flats of ammo...

We only hunt quail. I bought my wife a Sporting 28. It’s a fancy 1100. Best money I ever spent on a shotgun.
Hasbeen

now my 28 ga model 37 itch, is back!

I like 26 inch barrels on my upland shotguns.

So, some of you use a 28 for hunting pheasants, what do you consider a "maximum range" for a 28 gauge pattern ?