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Joined: Jul 2009
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Campfire Member
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OP
Campfire Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 300 |
I would like to know what you fine gents think about the 28 gauge in an upland bird hunting application. what sort of limitations should i expect from it, is it adequate for pheasant? would you ever attempt a turkey hunt with one? basically I would just like to know all i can about it, I am looking into a mate for my Ithaca 37 in 16, and have always been a 1 off kind of guy, so a new manufacture 37 in 28 just seems natural. what are your thoughts?
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 709
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
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Slightly light for pheasants. O.K for Chukar's, Quail, etc. Not easy to find ammo on the road, so you better stock up. I head shoot turkey's so it would be O.K, but again a little light. It's a lovely gun to shoot, though, so if you are one of those who like to go on the fringe, try it out.
Better to be over the hill than under it.
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,695 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2008
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That should be a nice combination in the Ithaca 37. For me a 28's a 30/35 yard gun for doves, valley quail and chukars. I've seen other hunters kill and wound pheasants with them.
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,205 Likes: 26
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,205 Likes: 26 |
A few of years ago I decided to use a 28 here in Montana, putting it aside only when it started to fail on bigger upland birds. It never did. Took a bunch of wild pheasants neatly at ranges out to 40 yards, and also some sage grouse, my longest kill 47 yards on a big male of six pounds or so. No problem at all on mountain grouse, whether ruffs or blues, and of course it also worked great on Huns and doves.
A 28 pointed right with an appropriate load for the game works very well out to the ranges most people can consistently take upland birds. I wouldn't choose it for 50+ yard shooting of wild pheasants, but that's a pretty specialized game. One thing many hunters don't realize is that as the bird gets bigger the more likely it is to be hit by multiple pellets.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Joined: Nov 2002
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 33,790 Likes: 11 |
I had one for a while, a pretty nice little Bernadelli SxS, and found that it did nothing other than weigh an inconsequential bit less than my P&G SxS 20 did so off it went. Of course it cost more to shoot too as I did not handload for either the 28 or the 20.
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,249
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Campfire Regular
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I have a nice Ugartechea 28 ga, a 5-pounder with 27 in. barrels. I have used a lot of 7/8 and 1 oz loads with 5's and 6's on South Dakota pheasants. A couple of trips, I was the only one not using a 12 ga and the only one that never lost a cripple. You would honestly have to kill me to get the little 28 away from me, my favorite shotgun. The Win. loads with an ounce of 5's are my choice for pheasants.
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 28,277
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2001
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I wish that Remmy would make an 870 Special Field, with a English grip, 21" tube and chokes. I'd be a buyer...grin
Dober
"True respect starts with the way you treat others, and it is earned over a lifetime of demonstrating kindness, honor and dignity"....Tony Dungy
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Joined: Nov 2010
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
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I think one would enjoy the 28 more if he handloaded. I have MEC 600 Jr's set up for 12, 20 and 28 ga. I've had progressive loaders before, but like the single stage presses better. They're easier to set up and less prone to dump a load of shot or powder on the floor. And, to me, they're fast enough.
They can often be found on Ebay for under $100, ready to go. I think it's easier to have one set up for each gauge than try to change out dies, etc. That's too much trouble and the presses are too cheap, IMHO, to go that route.
I like the older, pre '82 ones with all steel dies. I add a Pro Check for $9 from MEC and that upgrades older presses to the latest technology. All steel dies + Pro Check, the best of both worlds.
DF
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Joined: Nov 2010
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
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I wish that Remmy would make an 870 Special Field, with a English grip, 21" tube and chokes. I'd be a buyer...grin
Dober Hadn't thought about it, but that WOULD be super cool... DF
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Joined: Jul 2001
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,205 Likes: 26 |
Yeah, I have my 28 and .410 MEC's set up for one gauge only.
The 28-gauge 870 is an okay gun but would indeed be better if it was shorter and lighter. I sold mine after purchasing my 5-pound 2-ounce Fausti SXS 28.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Joined: Nov 2010
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,219 Likes: 9 |
I recently traded for a Merkel 28 ga. O/U with solid rib and some really nice wood. It fits me and is a keeper. I can actually hit pretty well with it, and I'm not the best shotgunner. I'm left eye dominant, right handed and too old to learn to shoot left handed. It's the old dog/new tricks sorta deal... DF
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 32,044
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 32,044 |
Merkle 28 ga is about as good as it gets
A Doe walks out of the woods today and says, that is the last time I'm going to do that for Two Bucks.
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,707
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Posts: 1,707 |
I've taken quite a few pheasants with handloaded 28's using 7/8oz of #6's and feel it's adequate, especially if you're hunting over dogs. Seem's to me that more birds hit the ground running when taken with my 28ga. as opposed to my standard 12ga payload of 1 1/2oz of #5's handloaded into Federal Gold Medal hulls... to be expected I suppose. It's not the gun I choose for late season birds or hunting in 30mph winds, but they certainly can be used effectively in the pheasant fields.
One of my 28 gauge guns is a Ruger Red Label, and it's a joy to carry. I've never felt my 12ga guns were too heavy, but it's definitely noticable when you pick one up after carrying the little Red Label for a while.
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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This thread is only operating at half-value without some photos of the 28's being mentioned.
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. --Winston Churchill
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Joined: Jul 2001
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,205 Likes: 26 |
KDF,
One of my favorite all-around handloads in the 28 is 7/8 ounce of hard #7 shot. That's about 260 pellets, very close to the same number of 6's in a 1-1/8 ounce load. The 7's penetrate very well and result in noticeably more pattern density than 6's.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Joined: Nov 2010
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,219 Likes: 9 |
This thread is only operating at half-value without some photos of the 28's being mentioned. I traded with Puglisi Gun Emporium for this one. DF
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,718
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2005
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Thank you 'farmer! That's a beauty.
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. --Winston Churchill
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Joined: Nov 2010
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
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Closer shot.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Does Merkel have a dedicated 28ga frame, or is your built on a 20?
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. --Winston Churchill
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I wish that Remmy would make an 870 Special Field, with a English grip, 21" tube and chokes. I'd be a buyer...grin
Dober Funny you say that....I have a 28 gauge 870 Express I've thought of trying to convert to a Special Field. Stock would need to be custom, barrel chopped from 25 to 21, threaded for tubes. Oh well, maybe another day.
I enjoy handguns and I really like shotguns,...but I love rifles!
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