Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns 20/28 ga Semi for Preserve Pheasant and Quail?

I'd like to find something fairly light and mostly recoil free for shooting some preserve birds

At one time it seemed like there were a few 28 ga semi-autos, but I haven't seen many lately. What should I be looking for?

Hard to beat an older Remington 1100.

I bought a used Beretta A400 28 gauge a few months ago. Really like it. I also have a Mossberg SA-28 (also imported as Tristar). The Turkish made Mossberg cost less than half the price of the Beretta and I like it at least less than half as much as the Italian gun.

Have seen good things out of the tri-star line. A few guys I take out on preserves shoot them and I can say I have ever seen a jam.

Saw a new sbe3 used for the Iowa opener. Even on wild birds with prairie storm it was pretty impressive but very high $$$

For preserve birds I think they would be great, however we in South Dakota this week and 3” 12s are the rule when wind is howling.

Franchi 48 AL in 20 or 28. 28 is my favorite. Some new ones out with 3” chambers, but if you need a 3” 28 ga, you’re just as well off with a 20 ga.

I shoot pheasants with a 20, wild ones, 2-3/4" shells. I see no reason for you to drop down to a 28, not alot of gains there, but no reason not to shoot a 20 at all.

I have a TriStar 28, no issues with it and highly recommend, if that's your fancy.

BK

What does your TriStar weigh?

If you want the best and the lightest, the Benelli Ultralight is ultimate lightweight 28 ga.

My Remington 1100 “Sporting 28”, which is basically a fancied up 1100, has been ultra reliable and bullet proof for many, many years. But it’s by not by any means “light”.
And the recoil is barely noticeable at all.

That all being said, nowadays I mostly use my Benelli Montefeltro Silver 20 ga.
It kills just as well, and feels about half as light as my 1100 28 ga if I have to carry it all day.

I should add that I bought some Winchester High velocity 28 ga 7 1/2 from Academy that would be great on quail and dove. I would have no issue using it on close flying pheasant as well. They had 20 ga high brass Monarch there for $9.99/box. hard to beat for that price. I’ve killed lots of skeet with it and have no doubt it would be hell on quail and close flying pheasant in a preserve. You can’t go wrong either way.

Not BK and not a 28, but my bronze 20.




It doesn’t like cheap promo loads (fails to eject or fails to drop a fresh shell from magazine). But AAs, or STS’s and hunting loads it does fine.

I’m tempted to buy one in 28 as well.

Trigger sucks even after swapping the spring with the highly touted mcarbo replacement.

I think I'm leaning towards the Beretta A400. 20 or 28 ga is still up in the air.

I gotta re-arrange some funds and make some room in the cabinet. I've spent more money in the first 6 months of retirement than I did in 5 years prior...

And that's not counting the divorce!

I would go with the 20ga as the 28 ga ammo can be expensive and hard to come by when hunting away from home. I love my Remington 870. Bought it in 1982 and its still going strong.

I handled the A400 28 gauge yesterday at a gun store and like it a lot. It pointed nice and felt very well balanced. If I was in the market for an auto 28, I would strongly consider the Beretta.

Point taken...

I've never much been one to buy ammo at a disadvantage. And if I left home without ammo ready it would be a blunder on my part...

I have both an 28 and 20s and if only one was a choice I would go with the 20 and go with a gas gun. Of the gas guns that I have taken to far away places, the Beretta is by far my favorite, factory full adjustable stock, extended choakes, 3" chambers standard, chrome lined barrel, factory different length barrels for different applications. The sporting gun is a bit pricey, but has nice wood and longer ported barrels, standard.

I own and shoot a Benelli Legacy model 28 ga., very similar to their current offering of the Ultralight. With Fiocchi Golden Pheasant loads, it is all you need for pheasant, chuker, quail, etc. At 5 lb., it is a joy to carry in the field. My 12 ga. guns are gathering dust in the gun safe since I got the Benelli.

Point well taken, and I've given it some consideration. No particular reason, other than cost, that I'd be limited. I kinda want a 28 because I want a 28, if that makes any sense at all.

In my current physical condition, I don't see me doing much hardcore hunting. I wanna try something new... And if I hunt with a 28 and feel like I need a 20, then, well... I NEED a 20. Whole nuther level of priority...

I really like my 5-1/2# Beretta A400 Xplor 28 ga with 28" barrel. I shoot it about as well hunting and at skeet as I do any of my other shotguns, and I usually struggle with very light guns at skeet. The fit and balance of the Xplor 28 is excellent for me. I use a skeet choke for early Ruffed grouse, IC for later season, and Mod choke for open country sharptails and chukars plus big blue grouse with #6 shot. I've had mine 3 years.

I also have a Beretta AL391 20 ga that weighs a bit over 6-1/2#s with a 28" barrel. Fine shotgun from back in 2005. I shoot it almost as well at sporting clays as my 12 ga Beretta A400 Xcel Black 30" target shotgun. It carries well...but not as nice at the Xplor 28 ga. If I had to get down to one shotgun, it might be the one left!

I have the viper g2 that comes in at 5lbs.