20 vs 28 vs .410

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Arseno

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Fredericton, NB
Hey guys!

Looking for some insight from y'all with more experience with various shotgun gauges than I do. I've been shooting 12 gauge for upland game for about 10 years, but looking to downsize to something a little more "sweet". I have a soft spot for .410, but looking to hear the advantages of using either a lightly loaded 20 gauge, vs. a standard 28 gauge vs. a 3" .410 for upland hunting and skeet purposes.

Thanks!!!!
 
As much as I enjoy shooting skeet with a 410, I don't hunt with one. My go to upland gun is an English stocked 28 Gauge SxS, and it does well, hunting over my pointer. Something to be aware of, is that many lower priced 28 gauges are built on 20 gauge receivers, so there is no point having a 28 gauge built on a 20 gauge receiver.
 
Logan370 said:
I think 20 gauge is the most versatile for what you are looking for.
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I agree with you. I have used quite extensively these sub gauges for rabbit hunting mostly and not enuf upland birds. Although I love my M-37 Ithaca in 28 gauge it is a little more range restricted than the 20 gauge 2 3/4 inch chamber. You might not experience this range loss for a long time in the boreal forest with the 28 even with one ounce lead birdshot.
However once you step out into a farmers field chasing sharptails or pheasants you are gonna wish you had at the very least a 20 gauge stoked with Prairie Storm shotshells.
The 410 is a fine little bunny gun and you can harvest them at a full thirty yards providing you have a full choke. But I am not a fan of 410 on anything that flies.

My two bits only.
 
Like Brutus says, depends on your definition of upland. In the bush of NB and eastern Canada, the 28 would be great all season long, on the Praries, the 28 is good for about the first 2 weeks.
The world does need more 28 gauges.
 
billboy said:
Like Brutus says, depends on your definition of upland. In the bush of NB and eastern Canada, the 28 would be great all season long, on the Praries, the 28 is good for about the first 2 weeks.
The world does need more 28 gauges.
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Your 100% right honestly ... the only time we need range in NB is when we hunt logging roads, which you can spot grouse at well over 100 yards
 
Grew up hunting snowshoe hares and ruffies with a single shot .410 w/ full choke. Worked great!
Have used the 20 ga and 12 ga some. Too much gun for ruffies on the ground at short range in the thick bush.
Have the 28 now and am loving it on ruffies, ptarmigan and blues out to 35 yards!
Need to get to the range and practice more on the flying taragets!
 
BlackRam said:
Grew up hunting snowshoe hares and ruffies with a single shot .410 w/ full choke. Worked great!
Have used the 20 ga and 12 ga some. Too much gun for ruffies on the ground at short range in the thick bush.
Have the 28 now and am loving it on ruffies, ptarmigan and blues out to 35 yards!
Need to get to the range and practice more on the flying taragets!
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On those blues do you find yourself seeking out the full ounce loads from Winchester or Federal? With #6 lead I found Mod choke about the best for pattern density with about maximum range the 28.
 
I hunt in NS for upland birds and my go to gun is the 20ga . it is a 6 lb 9 oz over under. and a joy to carry in the field . and the 20ga has lots of hitting power .
 
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Use a 28 for early pheasants shot a pile of doves with both 20 and 28 .really didn't notice any differance both killed pretty well.The 28 is a sweet gauge and I truly like it.Now benelli is making a 3" in 28.I wonder ...
 
Well - If you intend to shoot a fair amount, then the cost of ammo is a consideration. 28 g and 410 are ridiculously expensive, unless you reload. I enjoy using a 28 for bird hunting and the odd round of skeet.
 
The 20 is the most versatile but I really like the 28 and have been using one for many years. The velocity and shot size of the 28 is the same as the 20 so there's really no reduction in range if your choked tightly, the only difference is the reduced payload but 1 oz loads are available for the 28 if you feel that helps. I shoot a 410 on the range but I would never consider it for the upland birds that I hunt, it just doesn't have enough payload for long range kills and in the hands of most shooters is a recipe for many wounded birds.
 
I use 28 for upland in NB and I think it's perfect for grouse, but the ammo is pricey as others have said. One other consideration would be waterfowl, if you hunt them, I've came up on ducks in beaver ponds lots while hunting upland game and would much prefer a 20 gauge if hunting an area with occasional shots at waterfowl. Not as many shot options in non toxic 28 gauge as there is in 20.
 
I like the 410 for upland and bunnys however i hunt in thick bush for my grouse hunting and stump piles for bunnies so shots are close. Ontario northern grouse are not fast flyers. For doves i use a 20ga as non toxic shot isnt cost effective in 28 or 410
That said i think 20ga offers the best balance but i do have some 12ga double guns that weigh in less than my 20ga
I find the actual gun is the determining factor for me not the gauge for most part
 
I prefer the 28 gauge for upland birds, but a couple points made above - shells are expensive if you do not reload - going to cost more than 12 gauge or 20 gauge - I do not think there are any "cheap" 28 gauge shells made - all more or less "premium" type stuff? Also, many makers put 28 gauge barrel (s) onto same size receiver as their 20 gauge frame - not saving much for size or weight - a properly sized 28 gauge is nice - I prefer the Over/Under style. For hunting, I am left now with one 28 gauge - a CZ Redneck, and one 20 gauge - a Ruger Red Label. I did recently sell a Browning Citori in 28 gauge - the receiver was significantly larger (deeper) than the CZ's - did not have both at same time, but I think the 20 gauge Ruger is similar receiver size to the 28 gauge Citori receiver.
 
Brutus said:
On those blues do you find yourself seeking out the full ounce loads from Winchester or Federal? With #6 lead I found Mod choke about the best for pattern density with about maximum range the 28.
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I am using the Modified choke in my Rem Sporting 28 with the Fiocchi 2 3/4" 3/4oz #7 loads listed @ 1300 fps.
These patterned best of what I was first able to find when I picked up this shotgun, and we have harvested many birds and a few hares with it.
Took a hare with the farthest shot out to 40 yards, but was not as quick a kill as I would have liked, so have stayed less than 35 yards since.
Most shots have been in the 18-30 yard range and it works great there! The few blues have been taken at 30 yards and less and they have been quick, clean harvests.
Would like to get some of the Golden Pheasant ammo in #6 or #5 to try for the odd puddle duck seen on bush ponds, beaver dams and the like while out. Might also help on the blue males and sharpptails further out. Will have to see how they pattern.
Wish I could get Improved Modified and Full chokes for it, but have been told that my shotgun was made in the couple of years that Remington switched choke makers, and they are not available for my gun.
Since the wife is trying very hard to convince me that this beauty is "hers", I have been seriously considering the Benelli Ethos with the 3" capacity for the extra reach.
Have read that people are having good success on early pheasant with these, and if I ever get the chance, would be cool to use the 28 there too!
 
Arseno said:
Hey guys!

Looking for some insight from y'all with more experience with various shotgun gauges than I do. I've been shooting 12 gauge for upland game for about 10 years, but looking to downsize to something a little more "sweet". I have a soft spot for .410, but looking to hear the advantages of using either a lightly loaded 20 gauge, vs. a standard 28 gauge vs. a 3" .410 for upland hunting and skeet purposes.

Thanks!!!!
Click to expand...

Are you a wingshooter or do you shoot them off the ground?
 
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