Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 32 gauge ?

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Americans have no reservations for having twenty different commercial 30 caliber cartridges and 100 different factory loadings suitable for white tail deer...

So why hasn't the 32 gauge shotgun taken off here in the States ?

Some who have tried it say the 32 gauge outperforms the 410 bore both using 1/2 ounce loads.

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Probably hasen't gained a following due to no manufacturer being willing to make the huge expenditure to tool up to produce guns and ammunition.

Yup. You could make the same argument for the 14 gauge. Heck, we couldn't even keep the delightful 16 viable.

Im starting to see 28 gauge shotguns more and more often.

Probably isn't popular because we don't eat songbirds. I understand that the main use for the 32 in Europe is for shooting things that are best shot with #12 shot. Hummingbird tongues, anyone?

Although, I do see a real need for return of the 24 ga. to fill the gap between the 20 and 28.

Back in the early '90s, American Arms imported their inexpensive Italian made Silver o/u in 32ga and 24ga. I bought one of each. Both performed well on doves. In a moment of weakness, I let a guy talk me out of them a few years ago and have regretted it ever since. I didn't use them much and they were rather crude, which is how I rationalized getting rid of them, and I am much more of a rifle nut. He offered a rifle I was dying to get hold of, so I got a rifle I really wanted, but I truly regret parting with the two odd-ball scatterguns. Naturally, he traded them off later so I can't get them back... If I had the money, I'd commission Fausti to build me a pair of high end doubles because they do offer the 32 & 24 in their custom line.

I'd guess the 28 ga. pretty well already has the bases covered in the .410-20 ga. tweener market- and 28 gauges aren't exactly flying off the shelves, good as they are.

Midway sells both 24 and 32 gauge

28 gauges are awesome, I am glad I discovered what I think is the best shotgun round for teaching kids there is. Why the 410 is still around baffles me.

If we could use pistol sized shotguns then there would be a place for the 32.

28 gauges are awesome, I am glad I discovered what I think is the best shotgun round for teaching kids there is. Why the 410 is still around baffles me.

If we could use pistol sized shotguns then there would be a place for the 32.

Thinking my last date was close to that.grin