28 gauges

28 gauge said:
It all depends on what and where you use your 28 gauge.For all around use the modified works best.Now in certain areas or times of the year ,different chokes work better.Improved cylinder early in the season when leaves are thick and shots close.Full for late in the season when leaves are off and birds more gun shy.:)The modified gives you a good compromise for all around use.
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If you have two barrels, and two chokes, you don't have to compromise.
 
The big negative is cost of shells as.comparèd to 20 ga. If your buying one, shoulder one first. A old Rem 11-48 was a slender twig. A Browning BPS, obviously a 20 ga wearing a 28 barrel, was like swinging a 2x6. Current one is a Ithaca pump, screw in chokes, beautiful gun, if a bit long.
 
Had a Weatherby SA-08 Deluxe in 28ga. Absolutely loved it for grouse as it was a properly scaled frame.
 
My local shop has 28ga shells aa for 15.49. The cheapest crap loads for 12ga are 10.99 with gun clubs running 12.49. 3 bucks difference a box. In the grand scheme of things thats really not much
 
I use the 28 gauge for all my upland hunting... grouse, quail, chukar, pheasant, ptarmigan, sharp-tail, prairie chicken & woodcock. Even a bit of early season waterfowling if I have the proper non-tox shot. A single shot 28 is OK, but as others have said the benefits come with a scaled frame gun in double barrel, semi or pump. Good idea to handle one before buying if possible.
 
brybenn said:
My local shop has 28ga shells aa for 15.49. The cheapest crap loads for 12ga are 10.99 with gun clubs running 12.49. 3 bucks difference a box. In the grand scheme of things thats really not much
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Wow! It's not hard to find 12 gauge target ammo for $8.50 a box around here. Not sure what 28's are selling for because I haven't purchased any for years, I'm still sitting on several thousand rounds of factory and do some reloading.
 
The higher cost of ammunition is the theoretical negative advanced by generations of armchair shooters. Unless you’re shooting competitively and burning up hundreds of rounds every week or two the added couple of bucks a box for 28’s won’t ever be noticed. A couple of preseason tuneup trips to the range and a whole season of hunting won’t cost much more than the same routine with a 12, the difference being about the same as the purchase price of a box or two of ammo. All hobbies cost money and the most enjoyable are frequently the most expensive. Funny, I never hear this argument about the cost of magnum rifle ammunition vs standard caliber size. If the added cost of a few boxes of 28 gauge ammo is a reason to shun the gauge then perhaps a different hobby is in order.
 
Cost - pretty much. Last that I looked, daily limit here is 3 and total in possession is 6. So have to do a LOT of missing to use up a box of 25 shells in a season of hunting grouse. So, can be an "optimist" and buy two boxes a year for hunting. Is nice to be able to grab 100 or 150 rounds for impromptu blasting at clay pigeons from a hand powered or spring powered thrower, though. Pretty much have to be the guy who is buying several flats a year before the $$ from one gauge to another amount to a lot, though. Have to consider gas, clay pigeons, etc. for local stuff, plus meals and lodging if travelling for a hunt or shoot. Much bigger dollars there, I think? Not really the kind of hobby where $100 more or less makes a difference whether you do it or not? Even if I limit out (does not always happen - actually, usually does NOT happen), those birds cost us $30 or $50 each, it seems - not counting the shotgun or the truck!!!
 
Ashcroft said:
The higher cost of ammunition is the theoretical negative advanced by generations of armchair shooters. Unless you’re shooting competitively and burning up hundreds of rounds every week or two the added couple of bucks a box for 28’s won’t ever be noticed. A couple of preseason tuneup trips to the range and a whole season of hunting won’t cost much more than the same routine with a 12, the difference being about the same as the purchase price of a box or two of ammo. All hobbies cost money and the most enjoyable are frequently the most expensive. Funny, I never hear this argument about the cost of magnum rifle ammunition vs standard caliber size. If the added cost of a few boxes of 28 gauge ammo is a reason to shun the gauge then perhaps a different hobby is in order.
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Very well said.I fully agree.
 
Must be nice having access to big population centers with cheap or available ammo. Really I have a case of 28, and a.case of 410. That covers me here, where Blues are rather rare.

Good thing, 410 is $28/box, 28 is unobtainable, probably the same or worse. Went to Calgary last month. Cabelas and Bass pro had zero of either. I reload 12, but again, where I now live it's not relevant. Sold a Beretta last month, probably sell more shotguns, if only for the space.
 
Funny. maybe - I did exact opposite - I bought an MEC 28 gauge loading machine set-up and many accessories - so I load my own 28 gauge. Many thousand hulls, primers and wads on hand. Had thought the 20 and 12 will always be available at local stores. Turns out no longer true, all the time. Have got a pair of "L'il Skeeters", I think they are called - slide into the 20 gauge double barrel chambers and let me shoot with 28 gauge in that SxS 20. Our son wanted the 12 gauge - up to him to find ammo, I guess...
 
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I’ll play devils advocate on the 28ga frame size. I have a 686 with both 20 and 28 barrels. Weight wise the 28s are actually a touch heavier than the 20s. I prefer the 28s on the 20ga frame, I can shoot it all day long, it doesn’t tear up birds with the 28ga barrels and to me it feels like a proper shotgun still not a whippy stick.

If I want to shoot AAs price difference is negligible between 20s and 28s atleast here. Canadian tire has 28ga ammonia on the shelf in most lead shot sizes albeit they are extremely expensive, but so are .410 these days.

I have half a flat of Hevi Bismuth 4s here for the 28 and will shoot some ducks and honkers this season and will be happy for the extra weight keeping my swing smooth.if you want a pokey gun for just snapping at woodcock or grouse a baby frame 28 is a good choice but for the average all around gun the 28 on a 20 frame is an extremely solid choice.

On a side note I cannot recommend the 686 20/28 combo because it really has me at a loss as to what to do with the other shotguns I have that I don’t really need or use anymore. Between it and a 12 magnum all your bases are covered.
 
If you are an upland bird hunter, Ashcroft’s comments sum up the situation perfectly. If the extra cost of 28 ga over 12 ga is stopping you maybe a different hobby is in order. $250 to $300 a flat, five flats $1500 and never think of shell supply again. When I look at the value of my 28 ga gun, feeding it is a relatively minor annual expense.
 
1971 M37 Ithaca Featherlight 2 3/4 reciever, 6.2 pounds 28 inch plain barrel.
2008 M37 Ithaca 28 gauge, almost exactly six pounds.

Ithaca could have introduced the M37 in 28 with an aluminum alloy receiver just as they did in 1979. But they chose steel instead.
That Ultrafeatherlight of 1979 was five pounds in the non magnum 20 gauge.
Was also offered in a 12 gauge variant.
 
I like the 28 gauge to practice on clays with. The 3/4 ounce loads hone your shooting skills. Also if you reload your target loads it is the cheapest to shoot volume with. It also doesn’t create any flinch from recoil. When I go hunting with my 16 gauges life’s a breeze.
 
As with all things, practice and use breed familiarity and muscle memory. This is well communicated here where those who mostly shoot heavier framed shotguns are more comfortable with larger framed 28's, and therefore perform better with them.

As for cost, as also said above, it is relative to the amount of shooting you do, and what the local supply prices are. It is about perspective.
It is always interesting to hear about those that complain about the cost of their bullets or ammo, and don't blink an eye at the price of their firearm, or the expense of the hunting trip or their truck/RV/ATV/UTV that transports them on their adventures.
I liken it to those that complain about the price of gas (e.g. $1.45/L), but don't think twice about paying $2.29 for a 500ml bottle of water ($5.58/L) at the convenience store.
 
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