Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns light weight 28 gauge

I just purchased a Browning BPS in .410, and am now saving for a light weight 28 gauge repeater.

Not sure if I want a pump or auto. Franchi makes an really nice lightweight 28, or I could get another BPS in 28.

The Franchi would be lighter, and might handle a little better for fast shots.

Anyone have either, or another light weight 28 gauge they like?

I've got lots of time to think on this, and "save up"

Thanks! Virgil B.

Well, Ithaca makes a sweet little 28 ga pump. Unfortunately, Ithaca just bumped up their MSRP on all of their guns.

Called Ithaca to order a 28 a few months ago, Ol biitch that answered was about as helpful as a turd. Hi I’d like to order a 28 gauge. We don’t have any. Ok I’d like to get put on the list. We don’t have a list, we don’t have any receivers and we don’t know when we’re gonna produce anymore... ok then. Worst customer service ever . I’d go bps

May find one on the used market. I like mine. Butt stock is butt ugly, but handles a lot better than it looks. At least mine has some nice wood. They seem well made, reportedly better made than some of the earlier Ithacas, especially those transition versions. I have a first year Ithaca 20 ga. This one is not slicker than that one.

DF

Yep, she is the queen of frustration. I tried to get past her for months and couldn't. Finally gave their phone # to a local dealer, he got through to sales/service, ordered a 28 ga for me, showed up here about 10 days ago. This stupid delay cost me more money because Ithaca just bumped their prices.

Sent PM

I have a Ruger Red Label 28 that is nice for grouse hunting, very svelte.

Saw a Browning Model 12 in 28 gauge on gunbroker earlier today...not sure how the Browning reproduction compares to the original Winchester.

Copy how long did it take? Pm returned

Goes to show you how a different person....on the other end....makes the difference....

Ithaca 37 28 Gauge....Had a feeding firing issue with mine when I first got it...Called and was transferred to repair...Guy was super and said send it back...It was back home within a week...But it came back with an extra entire bolt assembly...Called them and the guy said.."Hmm, well it is yours now, and thanks for choosing Ithaca."

Love those pics.

DF

Thank you....appreciate it....

Benelli makes a light 28 ga semi auto

My fav 28, a Merkel that I've posted before..

Traded for it. Fits me perfectly and is a joy to shoot.

DF

The Browning model 12's are super nice, but they're only available in 26", and I'm a 28" kind of guy. So went for the Franchi.

I've heard good things about the Franchi.

The closest I have is a 1100 with 27" bbl. It's not the slick finished Sporting Clays model, has a dull finish. I traded for it, probably a field grade or such.

It's a nice dove gun, slightly heavier than your Franchi.

DF

If you want an auto, the Benelli Ultralight is about as light as they come.

If you ever handle a Franchi you will fall in love with it.

Nice...

Thanks for all the great replies!

I just got $200. for Christmas money that I can put in my "stash" for a 28,

And I'm thinking on selling my 870 Tactical 12 ga. and adding that money to my next shotgun fund.

Virgil B.

Here is my dog Dolly, a nice rooster, and my 28 ga. Benelli Legacy. It weighs a shade under 5 lbs, and with IC or Skeet chokes and 7/8 oz. Fiocchi Golden Pheasant ammo, a sure killer over my pointing Lab.

Now, that's one cool photo....

Congrats all the way around and thanks for sharing.

DF

Great photo, Bighorn!

A Benelli at under 5 lbs would be GREAT!

But, being retired and on a fixed income, I'm going to have to save for a while, for another shotgun. (Grin!)

Gotta get somewhere, where I can handle some of these shotguns.

Virgil B.

Love the Franchi

SC;

That's a darn nice looking shotgun!

Gotta get one of these in my "hot little hands" (GRIN!)

Virgil B.

I like the looks of the Benelli and the Franchi.

Guess I've have to handle them to see which one I preferred.

My 1100 is heavier than both, but is still light and fast.

I'm concerned if too light, they may be a bit whippy, but maybe not with longer barrels...

DF

Here is a pic of my Benelli 28 ga. Mine has a 26" barrel, and balances very nicely. I don't have any trouble maintaining a smooth swing and follow-thru with it. One very good feature of this Benelli is that it comes with a number of shims to fine-tune drop and cast-off for almost any shooter's needs.

I wanted a 28 gauge to dove hunt with. Had a hard time finding anything in 28 gauge around here in KY. I ended up buying a Tristar Viper G2. Weighs about 5 1/4 lb and has a 28" barrel. I think I gave around $475 on clearance from Zanders. It definitely isn't a Benelli, but it's a nice gun with some really nice wood. Appears to be a copy of a Winchester SX2 gas system. I would buy again if I needed another one.

Good friend has the Weatherby version, both made in Turkey.

He really likes his, no problems, lots of dead doves.

DF

I really like the looks of straight English stocks regardless of those who say they are less functional.

It hit the walnut jackpot on this one.

For sure. Nice wood.

DF

My favorite 28 is a Kassnar Churchill with 23" barrels IC/M. Awesome grouse gun.

What does that Franchi 28 weigh?

Had one for a while, shot more quail with it than any other gun.

IIRC, about 5#s

A delight to shoot...

5.4 lbs

I also have te franchi deluxe 28ga and it is fast light weight great gun you fall in love the first time you pull up with one

The Browning M12 28 ga is a great gun. Shot one for years and killed many pheasants with it.
Currently, my go to 28 ga is a Skeet/Skeet choked Browning Superposed. A Deadly shotgun that Pheasants fear!
I had a Remington 11-48 28 ga Skeet years ago. I wish I had it back. It was a great bird gun that was a dream to carry and shoot.
Nothing like a 28 gauge.......Enjoy!

I have an older CZ O/U in 28 gauge that I like quite well. Good dove gun and early season pheasants. I think it was around $750

Thanks Battue. Love the gun, the dogs, and the essence of Autumn you captured. Made my day.

Thanks,

They were two good days....and my minds eye can still recall them vividly.....

As per my post on a CZ, I found a nice lightweight 28 gauge!

Six lbs. even. Always liked an O&U and found this one "in stock"at Cabelas.

Actually had my choice of two of them, and got the nicer of the two.

One happy old goat, Virgil B.

I currently have three light weight 28 ga shotguns. 1st is a Fab Arm Elos B I bought from Coles in Naples Fl. It is my go-to upland gun, and at 5.5 lbs it is a no brainer for walking the quail fields all morning. The 2nd is a Beretta BL-3 fixed choke, mod over imp cyl. and is 6 lbs. I've not done much hunting with it but have shot some wobble trap and it performs well. It was one of those guns you see on a used rack and couldn't pass up. The third is a Beretta a400 Xplor that I bought for my wife thinking I could get her interested in clay shooting, that was a short lived endeavor so now it is my back up upland gun and last year I bought a Carlsons extra full extended choke to see how good a turkey caller I am. I found out when I got an 18# gobbler to come within 30 yards that a 28 ga with #6 shot will put him an the table just as well as my 12 ga did in the past. There are a couple more 28 I would like to ad to the stable. I think the Benelli Ethos in 28 ga 3 inch chamber might be interesting and Fiocchi had started making 3 inch shells for it. I also think a nice side by side with a case colored receiver to match my Fab Arm would be nice as well. Last but not least I have always wanted a 28 ga pump and after ready this thread I am focusing on the Ithaca 37, thanks for the push in that direction.

My old Iver Johnson single shot 28 ga is pretty light. Dont really use the 28 much, but its a neat old gun.

I'm really happy with my decision to buy the CZ O&U.

It's a GREAT little gun! Have killed three bluejays, and 6 "rodents" with it so far!

Virgil B.

??????

Maybe he likes them grilled and wrapped in bacon...But the Feds could care less....

I think he was confused and meant starlings...

I will say that the Franchi 48 I had handled very well. It is like a wand. I loaded some 9 1/2 TSS Turkey loads and you would be surprised at the recoil the little gun has

Jill, with valley quail, 6# Perazzi MX28-B.

Sorry I’m too stupid to figure out how to post a photo here.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/galleries/15943799/jill-quail

The bluejays around here peck the little song birds and chase them away from my feeder,

And, also eat up all my Hazel nuts! So, they get shot.

Had "rodents" getting in my eves, then falling down in the walls and croaking. I shoot every one I see.

Virgil B.

https://www.fws.gov/birds/policies-and-regulations/laws-legislations/migratory-bird-treaty-act.php

Scroll down and see which are included....

Always considered bluejays "pest birds" because the eat up hazel nuts, etc.

Looks like I better leave them alone!

I think it's a good idea to consider the possibility that a gun might be too light. A light gun fits some shooters but not others. I had a 20 ga. Beretta BL-4 that weighed 6 lb and was the perfect upland gun for somebody, but not for me. It was like driving a Miata while wearing my size 13 boots. So someone else has it.

6.5 pounds is about my minimum, and my favorite field gun is an old LC Smith that weighs 6.5#.

If I bought a semiauto for bird hunting, I would look at a Franchi AL-48 12 ga. They are like the 20 and 28 ga. guns, but a pound heavier. Load them with 7/8 oz loads and go hunting.

That's just me. The boots and guns that fit me might not suit you at all.

My sporting clays club rents guns for target shooting, just as the indoor shooting range rents pistols. Good way to try a few on for size.

My gun weight minimum is 6#. Below that weight I find my shooting drops off badly. Some folks shoot light guns very well, but I’m not one of them. My pet 28 gauge weighs 6# on the button, and I wouldn’t want it lighter.

Virgil, I'm glad you found a gun you like. Not much is better than a shotgun that really suits you and puts birds in the grass. Good shooting!