Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns 28 gauge or .410?

How do the .410 and 28 gauge compare?

Looking to buy a new pump shotgun in .410, and found that 28 gauge ammo is way more available than .410.

How is the recoil difference? Seems like it should be close?

Virgil B.

28ga is much better for hunting IMO. You can even get 1oz loads. Recoil? What recoil?
Go with the 28 and don't look back.

Happy Thanksgiving

teamprairiedog;

Thanks for the reply! The more I think about it, the better I like the idea of a 28 gauge.

I've never owned a 28 before! Must be about time!

Besides that, my son-in-law is also thinking about an upland bird gun in 28 gauge, and maybe we could set up for reloading both guns.

I've never looked at .410 and 28 gauge shells side by side, but they must be pretty close?

Anyone have picture to compare? Thanks!

Virgil B.

They’re not close....The size of the bore it comes out of is the .410's downfall....

However, dig deep for TSS shot and the .410 becomes a player....

If a 410 was named as a gauge, it would be 67 gauge.
Think about the difference between 12 and twenty,
Now think 28 vs 67.

The standard 2 1/2" .410 load is 1/2 ounce. The standard 28 ga load is 3/4 ounce. 50% more shot.

3" 410 shells have 11/16 ounce of shot, but don't pattern anywhere near as well as a 3/4 ounce 28.

The 28 ga is definitely a better killer of game once you get past 20 yards or so, but I thought we were killing pests in the back yard?

Dillonbuck;

That puts in in perspective! Now I can see how the 28 is way more effective.

Virgil B.

I am killing pests, but maybe the better pattern of a 28 gauge would help my connect a little better.

I have a 12 gauge and a single shot .410

Got my mind made up, I "need" a low recoil repeater for killing pests!

It's an excuse to buy another shotgun, and the 28 gauge is sounding good!

Virgil B.

20 gauge...

Have both. Go with the 28 ga.

DF

It’s been a goal of mine to get an example of all popular gauges for awhile. Just recently picked up a new Tristar Viper G2 in .410 to round out the string. Haven’t had a chance to shoot it yet but looking forward to using it along side of the 28 gauge. I guess my suggestion is why fight it and just get both. That way you’ll sleep better not wondering if you made the right choice. Consider it an investment in your health. Dave

Back years ago, I was gun trading, had the choice between a Winchester (Miroku) .410 O/U and a 28. I chose the .410, which eventually went down the road. The 28 ga. value went way up, multiple of what I would have had in it and I sometimes think what if... Back then I wasn’t familiar with the 28, was with the .410.

I now have a 28 ga Merkel O/U which is a much nicer gun than the Winchester. But I may have kept the Winchester 28 ga. I also have 28 ga. Rem 1100 and an Ohio Ithaca 28.

I really like 28 ga. A serious 28 fan needs to reload. I do.

DF

28 and don't look back. I have shot a 28 for almost 40 years. They are sweet and easy to reload. I'll warn you that they are the heroin of scatterguns.

Another vote for the 28 gauge.
I've been shooting them for years and love them
Pheasants fear my Browning Superposed 28 choked Skeet and Skeet. I seem to make the best shots with a 28.
A 410 is great and everyone should have at least one.
But a 28 is a serious bird gun!
Good luck,
Ed

Went to my local gun shop yesterday, and tried to order a BPS 28 gauge.

They said all there distributors were "out of stock"

So, I went by the Cabela's over in Springfield (Or.) just to look at a BPS, and they had a Browning BPS "in stock'" in .410!

It followed me home! $ 649 .out the door.

Still want a 28 gauge, and will end up with one eventually, to go with my new .410

One happy old goat! Virgil B.

The Winchester AA Super Sporting 8's will kill rats and other small vermin dead-dead out to about 25 yards. They are usually a couple dollars cheaper than the typical 2 1/2" field load #6 or #7 1/2.

mag410;

Thanks! I'll watch for Winchester AA Super Sporting 8's when I can find some .410 again.

Virgil B.

Been using my CZ 28ga for quite a few years now. It’s my favorite gauge for pheasants and grouse.

Anyone have any "leads" on where to buy Winchester AA or other .410 shells "in stock" right now?

Thanks!

Virgil B.

Cabelas has some. It’s hit or miss though.

Just checked Cabela's two days ago, will check again in a few more days.

Thanks! Virgil B.

I check 4-5 times a days. Websites post stuff and within an couple of hours they are gone. I use 3 different ammo search engines. It doesn’t last long once it’s posted. Good luck.

Was in Cabela's yesterday and they had .410 "in stock"

They only had AA 2-1/2" #9 shot, but better than nothing!

Got two boxes!

Virgil B.

Yeah, can’t be to picky these days. I usually like to shoot 115gr 9mm. But have been grabbing whatever I see.

when you get your 28ga, go one eisle over and get a mec600jr while youre at it. reloading will save you tons of money with 28ga.

Exactly. The simple MEC is the way to go.

DF

Thanks for the tips on a reloading tool!

Now, All I "need" is a 28 gauge shotgun to go with it!

Being retired, I have to "budget" money for new shotgun for a while.

Virgil B.

i'll sell ya my model 12 for 10 grand. just lmk!

+1

Went back to Cabela's yesterday, and they had .410 slug loads!

Bought the last tow boxes they had.

Now, I need to shoot some on paper to see how they work.

Virgil B.

Don't know if its your thing but you can get the 410 in a handgun too.

+1 on a Mec 600. I’ve got one set up for 3” 410 shells.

I agree with the above statement. 28 gauge much better as a hunting shotgun.

I really enjoy .410s but the 28 is closer to a 20 than .410. I have a 28/410 Beretta 682 2-barrel set. Switching to .410 barrels from 28 probably costs me 30 targets out of 100 at our local sporting clays course.

To me, a 28 gauge is to the 20 gauge what the 16 gauge is to the 12 gauge. For all intents and purposes, it is just as effective at clays or on game. You are right about ammo availability as well. Even during these times, i have no trouble finding Winchester AA in 28.

Never understood the allure of a .410 bore, but that's just me.

I've got both and mostly use them for shooting training birds over my dog's. Haven't found much in the way of wild birds in central Oregon in years! Shooting pigeons fr them I don't see a lot of difference in the two. In the 410 I shoot 3" shells for the extra shot, have never shot at a bird with 2 1/2" shells. You know which's one's the best? The ne you shoot best. Think about it if you were 12 yrs old and dad got you a 410 and it's all you ever had to shoot, you'd learn to shoot it well or simply quit shooting. Read a story about Pres. Eisenhauer some time back and it claimed on quail hunt's all he'd shoot was a 410. In fact the writer was pretty sure he could wipe anyone's eye with it. Before I got my new 28ga, all I carried hunting was another 28ga and every other trip that 410. Ya don't have to worry about wearing a gun out hunting birds in central Oregon!

28 gauge hands down

has anyone tried the 3" 28 gauge shells

Since getting a .410 in a BPS, I decided I NEEDED a 28 gauge also!

So, I have my 12 gauge 870 Tactical on consignment at a local shop, and am in the "looking' mode for a 28 gauge now.

Can't decide whether I want an auto or another pump?

Virgil B.

When I bought a sporting 28 for my wife. My hunting partners told me how expensive the 28 was to shoot. I immediately bought her a case of shells. And told them if she was fortunate enough to shoot that many at quail , I would be happy to buy some more. Hasbeen

Never owned a 28vs but have the Stevens 22/410 O/U that used for many decades. Neither of I have had trouble killing small game with it. I take it to a local sorting clay range once or twice a year (shooting singles only ofcourse) and do about as well as with my 12 ga. The list of critters this 410 has killed includes
Doves
Quail
Cotton tails
Squirrels
Jack rabbits
Grouse
Pheasants
Ducks (Prior to steel s hot)
1 goose that I know of

Always seems to work just fine.

Nothing against 28 ha at all just don't see a need or want for my purposes.