In my experience, 28ga guns in general tend to throw tighter patterns than expected given the known constriction of the choke. Shoot a one-ounce load at 1,220 fps out of a 6-1/2 pound 20 gauge and youll experience a bit more than 17 foot pounds of recoil energy. The .410 lagged behind by a large gap at 0.37 percent and the 16-gauge just ahead at 14.57 percent. The small bore skeet class, for which the 28 gauge is legal, has played a major role in keeping the 28 alive for the past century. #7 1/2 is probably a pretty good compromise for shooting most upland game and #9 gives the pattern density to break clay targets at reasonable ranges. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Instead, we saw that kind of performance at 50 yards, making the 28 gauge an absolute killer. The preserve owners son took pity on me and said, The birds are all paid for. If you can mount, point and swing a gun fast and instinctively, you can effectively negate the advantages of larger-gauge guns because you can get on the birds faster, before they open the range, than you can with a much heavier gun. Looking to turn his passion into inspiration for others, AJ was first published in 2004 and went on to write his first book The Urban Deer Complex in 2014. Put simply, Ive never shot another gauge better. The Remington Model 870 Wingmaster is a fine 28-gauge pump. But inside 35 yards, I have noticed little difference between a 28- and 12-gauge as long as Im shooting bismuth or tungsten. Loading a 28-gauge load up to 1 ounce will offend puristsbut it will put more pellets on your target. From my experiences shooting a 28, it simply patterns well enough to kill ducks cleanly. Hmmm dead on???? Go Premium to recieve the follwing benefits: Already a subscriber? That includes plenty of experts, lots of writers (experts and writers arent always the same thing), hunters, shooters, and the random member of Congress. And how has it changed over the last 100+ years of shotgunning science? My main gig is ruffed grouse here in NW Wisconsin and dragging a 12 through grouse/woodcock cover is too much of a workout, period! . According to the 1888 book Modern Shot Guns, A 28-gauge double gun with 26-inch barrels should weigh under 4 lbs. That is much lighter than its more popular cousins. Add to quote; Share Only show this user. While that introduction was absolutely the catalyst for the popularization of the gauge stateside, it has a much older history. 7.5 Diamond Shot, Kents premium lead shot. Forgive me if you're a pump gun fan because this list is heavy with double-barrel and semi-automatic actionsthe best platforms for this wonderful sub-gauge, in my opinion. 20-, and 28-gauge, plus .410. A.J. Where the 28 has a disadvantage is in pellet size offerings. And as far as taking gauges seriously, the 28-gauge appeared in a lot of writing of the time. To way over-simplify their findings: The bigger the bore, the better it patterned, and we could discern no magic .55 inch, ounce payload relationship. The 3/4 ounce target load at 1200 fps generates 12.8 ft. lbs. Almost any pattern from any gauge has a central core that is dense enough to fold birds or crush targets. 23" barrel Briley XFULL .523 Apex 1-3/8 oz 9.5's Example Patterns. The pattern density was there, but the pellet penetration and energy needed to kill a duck was not. While we had to use binoculars to spot our 410 patterns from the bench, we could see our 28 gauge patterns with the naked eye. No doubt about it, the 12 gauge with its heavier shot charge enjoys a performance advantage beyond 30 yards but inside that distance the 28 gauge will hold its own with anything you'd want to shoot from your shoulder. Browning, Charles Daly, Ruger, and Weatherby O/U field guns are also available in 28 gauge, and while certainly not inexpensive they are more affordable than most 28 gauge doubles. Yet in the field, the 28 does seem magical. You likely already have a 410 collecting dust in your safe, and you can turn it into a turkey gun with a box of fancy shells. It scored an average of 210 pellets in a 10-inch circle. My only wish was that I started earlier in life! For the 12-gauge, I used a Browning Auto-5, shooting a 1-ounce 2-inch load of No. How Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. Bismuth Cartridge offers a nontoxic option for the 28 gauge and several companies offer excellent loads with lead shot. The heavier the shot charge, the more powder needed to drive it fast enough. The idea behind the square load has to do with pellet deformity. If others arent on the bandwagon.woe to them! I started shooting the 28 after a rotator cuff surgery and havent put it down. All proved effective. Listen to more articles onApple|Google|Spotify|Audible. Every year I try to get to Argentina for some incredible dove shooting and the very best combination I have come up with for that is a 12 gauge Krieghoff Model 32 over-under with Briley 28 gauge tubes. There are myths of its origins, a collective misunderstanding of the square load, and a devout following by some of the greatest shotgun experts and writers. Its still a popular option for todays hunters. He started collecting guns on his 18th birthday and eventually found his passion for side-by-side shotguns, inspiring him to travel the world to meet the people and places from which they come. Updated Apr 20, 2021 2:51 AM EDT, We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. The ban on lead shot had just come to pass and shotshell makers hadnt yet determined that speed was the key to making steel deadly. Some of them flushed a little wild, yet I dont remember any of them hitting the ground alive. In 12 gauge, the 3-inch version has a 2 1/4-ounce load, while a 3 1/2-inch runs 2 1/2 ounces. Not surprisingly, I did notice that the light 34 ounce load did not fill the 30 inch circle and there was one hole in the pattern. The 20-gauge comfortably continues to hold the number one spot. Almost 10 percent of upland hunters preferred the 28-gauge to other gauges, making it the fourth most popular gauge overall. Maximum between flyer pellets was 54 inches, but almost all the pattern was concentrated within a basic spread of three feet. At a bore diameter of 0.55, a oz lead payload column height is about an inch (1/.55 = 1.8); not very square, said Adam Moser, Director of Product Engineering at Federal Ammunition. Trim and easy to swing: A well-built 28 should balance between your hands but be just a bit muzzle-heavy to help stay on track during crossing shots. A smaller, denser pellet penetrates better than a lighter, larger pellet. With 1/8 oz #9.5 TSS 54 pellets, total is 149 pellets. Is it superior to its bigger cousins, the 20, 16, and 12-gauge? I shot a 7/8-ounce 2-inch load of No. Our first hit was a little low, but we still managed to lay down a 73-pellet pattern in a 10-inch circle. It was shot string that was the final evidence Brister needed to make a case for the 28-gauge. I fell in love with the 28 gauge on the spot, and here are some the reasons you should, too. A square load is an equal amount of powder and shot by volume. Shooters get better pattern density because these shotshells utilize smaller pellets that weigh as much as larger-diameter steel or lead. No matter what you call it, the 410 is a favorite of small-game hunters, and with the right ammo, its a great option for youngsters chasing long beards. Thank you for the kind words. Great read. Fiocchi lists no fewer than 22 loadings in 28 gauge, ranging from a high-velocity ounce and one-ounce hunting loads to 11/16 ounce and 7/8-ounce Golden Pheasant loads in shot sizes No. This is true for my ic/mod fixed choke Merkel and my auto Beretta and Weatherby with screw in chokes. At 150 pounds soaking wet, I have found a love for the 28-gauge shotgun. Ron Spomer. It does what it does because it is so easy to shoot. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Uncertainty is one of the great allures of hunting. The gun sports a distinctive bronze receiver and is available in both 28-inch and 26-inch barrel lengths. The practical range is from 10 to 25 yards for lead and 15 to 30 yards for steel. The 20 is also much more versatile as a hunting gun. The Benelli Ethos 28-gauge semi-auto weighs just 5.4 pounds, while Benellis Ultra Light semi-auto takes weight all the way down to five pounds. Did a pattern test yesterday with my newly acquired Mossberg International Youth SA-28. Both are capable of killing waterfowl at that distance without any measurable difference. Size 8 and 9 shot are offered by Remington and Winchester; Federal offers 8 1/2 and 9. The second shot hit the target square, delivering a 97-pellet TSS sandwich right in the kill zone. A representative for another large manufacturer told me the company had done some testing of the 28 gauge around pattern efficiency versus bore diameter, and concluded there was no technical superiority of the 28 gauge over anything other than the .410. (Of course, the fact that its gorgeous wood came from Remington's custom shop had no influence on her choice.). To hear some people tell it, the 28-gauge shotgun is imbued with magical powers, and if you listen to these fans long enough, you might come away convinced that you could use a 28 to down a crossing pterodactyl with a snap shot at 50 yards using a -ounce load of No. Like the .410, the 28 is probably at its best with #7 1/2, 8, and 9 size shot. Winchester currently lists 13 28-gauge loads, including four one-ounce high-brass game loads, two high-brass ounce game loads, two steel shot loads, four ounce target loads and a new Super Sport sporting clays ounce load. Get the latest articles, films, podcasts, and exclusive offers for the upland obsessed curated to your email each week. Shot sizes are 6, 7 1/2, and 8. No such load is available on the market. Under certain circumstances I too am inclined to ignore tradition and pick 28- gauge guns that are heavier than my Parker and AyA doubles. My first over-and-under shotgun was a stunningly beautiful 12 gauge that weighed more than nine pounds. 5 shot (213 pellets). #bcoreview #tristar #bluecollaroutdoors here is the pattern test of the tristar g2 viper 28 gauge with BOTH the indian creek .525 & .520 with apex ammunition. Smaller pellets that weigh as much as larger-diameter steel or lead but inside 35 yards, the. Federal offers 8 1/2 and 9 shot are offered by Remington and Winchester ; Federal offers 8 1/2 9. From 10 to 25 yards for steel you should, too 73-pellet pattern in a 10-inch circle put down. Killing waterfowl at that distance without any measurable difference & Stream newsletter and get the latest articles, films podcasts... Some of them flushed a little low, but the pellet penetration and energy needed to kill ducks.! Pattern from any gauge has a much older history, and 12-gauge as long as shooting. 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