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How much less leathal is the 28? What's the break down of what you lose when you take the 28 vs. 20ga.?

I am thinking of an autoloader in 20 for upland birds. I've always shot O/U's but when you work hard and climb canyons for chuckars and huns, it is nice to have a third shot.

I am looking at the benelli legacy and see that they have a new 28 Legace. It's under 5lbs. shells weigh less etc.

I need to make an educated decision.

Thanks Gentlemen,

Mark


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nothing wrong w/ the 28. just a smaller shot pattern. with higher cost $
i'd go 20 unless you reload

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Agree on the higher cost of ammo thing... will say that I have been amazed at the killing power and really low recoil of my 28 gauge...

IIRC Mule Deer wrote an article about the 28 gauge a few years ago... you might send him a PM or post this in the Ask The Gun Writers section...


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Gauge has nothing to do with the size of a shot pattern. It may have an effect on the density of the pattern, but even then that's determined by the amount of shot in the load. Ie: you couldn't tell if a shot pattern was fired by a 20 or a 12ga. if both were choked identically and fired the same amount of shot.

I personally would go with the 28, but I've used mine for thousands of shots at skeet and sporting clays so I'm prejudiced. One thing to consider is the general availability of 20 gauge ammo vs. the spotty availability of 28's. Something to consider when you've driven 200 miles to hunt and discovered your 28 gauge shells are back home on the porch and all the local hardware store has to offer are 12's and 20's. Don't ask me how I know.


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It's really a matter of personal preference. One of the big attractions of the 28 is the light weight when it's chambered in a gun built around an action properly scaled to size. That said, I'd still stick with a 20 for chukar or pheasant. The 28 is a great choice for quail, etc., assuming you limit shots to 35 yards or so.


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I shoot both, and like both .
I use the 20 more than the 28 for geese and ducks, but do not feel under gunned in a decoy blind when I have the 28 gauge loaded with Nice Shot.
I love the 28 for its lightweight frames ( my SXS weighs 5lbs. flat), but if i am doing a lot of duck and goose shooting I prefer the 20 O/U.
In the uplands the 28 is my goto even for wild pheasants when it is loaded with 7/8oz of nickel plated shot going about 1,300 FPS.
Hand loading is a must if one is going to make the 28 a versatile gun in my neck of the woods, but if I could buy Factory Hevi Shot for it I would.
I have shot birds that were missed by guys shooting 3" 12's - the key is they MISSED and I killed them!
Put the shot string where it is supposed to go and stuff will fall dead.
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Gauge, choke, and load size all have to do with the pattern you will get. Your not going to get an 1-1/8oz 28ga load to start. 1oz 12ga will have less fliers then the 20ga. Also the shot collume will be longer with the 12ga. the longer the shot cup the more contact by the shot traveling out of the barrel.

I have chukar hunted in the middle fork of the salmon in ID. I can tell you this the 28ga legacy would be an awesome gun for the job. Both the 20ga and 28ga will kill them stone dead. Shells is an issue or I should say could be an issue for the 28ga. 20ga I have never been to a WalMart, gunshop, sporting goods shop that didn't have 20ga. Not the same for 28ga. With the 28ga I would shoot a tighter choke like light Mod over dogs, in the 20ga I would shoot skeet or IC.


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I was shooting a 28 when nobody even knew what the shells looked like. About 30 years. Most of that shooting has been on the northern great plain, all of it wild birds. They kill further than most shooters can reliably point them.

As to shell availability, there are more choices for 28 now locally than 16. Walmart has several to chose from. B&P will put a case on your porch very reasonably considering the high quality (freight paid). They are cheap to reload, less powder and shot.

The only real downfall is that they are a nasty blend of a love affair and an addiction. ;-{> A beautiful sxs 28 goes so well with a classic pointing dog that you may never return to reality, fully.

PS I also have a sxs Pedro Arrizabalaga in 20, so I make the comparison often. It's kind of like comparing Ardbeg to McCallan, you never want to stop the adjudication process.


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I shot both a 12 and 20 gauge Remington 11-87 for years quail hunting. A couple years ago I bought a Franchi 48 deluxe in 28 gauge (5.8 pounds I think). I have hunted with it for the last couple years and can tell no difference between it and the 20 gauge I hunted with for so many years.

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I don't own a 28 gauge and can not be much help to the OP but for some of the side bar... RST sells a number of 28 gauge loads, will do mix and match sizes when you call and order a case and they DO sell the Nice Shot in the 28, but not in waterfall size shot unless you are comfortable shooting ducks and geese with #6... I have no experience in these matters but would believe someone if they said they used #6 over decoys.

The 2 3/4 #6 and #7 1/2 copper plated for $15 a box seems like where I would go if I was in your boat... $150 for a flat... don't shoot trap with the gun and imagine how long 10 boxes would last just hunting... several seasons I would imagine...


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I just realized, the RST shells might not work so great in an autoloader due to the light recoil...


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Love the 28, have one in a Winchester 101 Pigeon Grade that I use on quail, but I usually reach for the 20 for pheasant hunting, especially late season.


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I'll be danged if I can see any diff in killing power between a 28 and the 20 with standard length shells....if anything the 28 seems to fold up birds with more authority.....and I know , that observation is not logical .

there is a difference if you consider 3" 20 ammo , but they are nasty kickers in a light 20 double .

my conclution, I like the 28 better , and if I need 1 1/4 of shot , I'd rather shoot it out of a 12 than a 3" 20 .

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I have shot skeet for many years and almost every year most of my buddies as well as my 28 ga averages were higher than all of the other ga.'s
That being said, I just ordered a new Browning Cynergy Sporting 28ga this morning.
I love my 20's and have more than a few, but see no real drawback to the 28.
The bird does not know if it was shot with a 12,20, or 28.


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Thanks gents.

Mark


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Every time I shoot a rabbit with a 20 in late season snow I wish I had brought the 28 out that day hoping for less meat damage, I do worry however in the thickest stuff for pheasant because sometimes i have to shoot through a lot of brush. Both are fun and both have their place.


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I regard to shells, I had no trouble finding skeet loads (7 1/21300) in both Win and Rem in Walmarts in both IA and AK ($10/$11 box respectively). What I can not find is an H&R/NEF single barrel gun for my youngster. Any ideas on a source?


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For more information on 28ga shooting, just Google " 28ga Society ".

Its a forum where ALL members are experienced 28ga. lovers
and they are happy to share their knowledge of 28 gauges.
And it's FREE !

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Thanks!


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No luck on the 28 ga. society. "currently not ..."


"It's not the arrow, it's the Indian."
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