28g/410 sxs/ o/u

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CamV

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What was ever made for a 28g or .410 over under or SxS
What would you prefer for grouse/bunnies/pheasants?
Any particular firearm you would recommend?
Please state why you prefer it as well :)

I'm thinking of something under a thousand but preferably half that
 
I can't shoot a .410 worth a darn, I find the pattern too narrow so I try to aim it (instead of pointing) and it's never been pretty (but that's me personally).

I really like the idea of the 28 gauge but finding ammo can be tough and it's just plain expensive, although I was considering it as a viable caliber for grouse.

In the end I have stuck with the 20 gauge for my upland shotgunning needs due to availability/price of shells. I don't shoot them (have a single and pump 20 with an O/U ordered) enough to make reloading viable.

With a 500 buck budget you are not going to have a great choice of S/S or O/U - even going up to your max budget of 1K won't open much up to you even in the used market - will still be the same brands pretty much.

There will be the Stoegers, Investarms, a pile of Turkish built guns under the names of the actual manufacturer (ATA, Khan) and dozens more with names tacked on by importers that sell into the market (such as Churchill, Pointer, Tristar to name a few), but finding a 28 gauge in those models might be challenging (could be waiting a good few months to have one ordered in) - .410's are usually available.

Also, at least in the O/U market, Stevens (Savage) is marketing the model 555 - just handled the 28 gauge model at a buyers show last week, it's decent for the price point. And another O/U in your price range (barely) would be a Mossberg Silver Reserve which is available in both 28 and 410.

If your top gauge pick is 28, given your budget, I would go with the Steven's - It balances better than the Mossberg which I find heavy to hold and somewhat front heavy when you throw it to the shoulder.

If you want a S/S you might be relegated to a Stoeger in 410, because there just isn't much out there available in 28 gauge much below 3-4K much less sub-1000 bucks.

You really need to sort out what gauge you want and whether you want a S/S or O/U. Then you can start narrowing down what's available to you that is wallet friendly.
 
I have always been partial to the 410 especially for rabbits and grouse.I have a savage Milano o/u 410 and recommend it highly.The Milano is a good deal for the money just around your price range, they were discontinued a few years back but the 410 version seems to be easy to find, Canadian tire seems to have a stock of them as that is where I got mine this fall.
 
I'm found I am similar to what galamb said, I mostly use 20ga. .410 is fairly common around here, but I can't ever recall seeing 28ga on the shelves locally, but I have never really been looking for it either.

The only thing I would add is to ask how much you plan on shooting this shotgun? I know some people have one gun and they use it hunting, for clays, targets, everything and put a lot of rounds through them. If you're this type you may want to look at some of the more higher end guns.

If you're like me and you do a lot of walking, busting through brush and driving around and occasionally shooting at things, I've found the more inexpensive Turkish guns have worked great for me. I know i'll never put 10,000 rounds through it, and I'm not afraid to get it scratched up, dirty or wet.

For what it's worth, side by side in the budget category I've found stoeger to be slightly better quality than your run of the mill Turkish gun, but the Turkish ones tend to be much lighter, so again it's a trade off of better to carry vs better to shoot. Neither will compare to a browning or beretta, but they all have their place.
 
For $1000 you can likely find a nice used CZ or Yildiz, but there isn't much available in new decent quality O/U or SxS shotguns for that price. For $500, the choices are pretty much limited to very low quality guns, or guns in rough condition. That being said, the 28 gauge is my go to gauge for all of my upland bird hunting including pheasant. I have both SxS and O/U guns in 28 gauge, but they are not even close to being in your price range.
 
CamV said:
What was ever made for a 28g or .410 over under or SxS
What would you prefer for grouse/bunnies/pheasants?
Any particular firearm you would recommend?
Please state why you prefer it as well :)

I'm thinking of something under a thousand but preferably half that
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There are quite a few 28 gauge SXS and O/U shotguns on the market at the present time.A good choice is the AYA line of SXS 28 gauge shotguns.I have an AYA Model 3A that I purchased back in the mid 1970's.Never had a problem with it and the guns are light to carry all day in the field.However, not sure what they go for these days.I believe the CZ Bobwhite SXS is available in 28 gauge and have read good reports on them.I believe they are in the price range you spoke of. CZ I believe ,also makes an O/U in 28 gauge.

The .410's are nice shotguns,but I prefer the 28 gauge.
 
28 gauge said:
There are quite a few 28 gauge SXS and O/U shotguns on the market at the present time.A good choice is the AYA line of SXS 28 gauge shotguns.I have an AYA Model 3A that I purchased back in the mid 1970's.Never had a problem with it and the guns are light to carry all day in the field.However, not sure what they go for these days.I believe the CZ Bobwhite SXS is available in 28 gauge and have read good reports on them.I believe they are in the price range you spoke of. CZ I believe ,also makes an O/U in 28 gauge.

The .410's are nice shotguns,but I prefer the 28 gauge.
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AYA makes great shotguns, but most are well out of his price range , unless they are in rough condition.
 
stubblejumper said:
AYA makes great shotguns, but most are well out of his price range , unless they are in rough condition.
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As I had said ,I was not sure what they were going for these days.Did not realize they were going for over a thousand dollars.Bought mine new in 1976 for $235.00.
 
stubblejumper said:
AYA shotguns have gone up in price dramatically lately. A number 2 starts at over $8000 now.
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Wow $8000.00 ,that's getting up there.My AYA 28 gauge is a Model 3A.I believe they were cheaper than the 2.Even so the #2 did not cost any where near that back in 1976.:)
I wonder why they have taken such a jump in price?
 
28 gauge said:
Wow $8000.00 ,that's getting up there.My AYA 28 gauge is a Model 3A.I believe they were cheaper than the 2.Even so the #2 did not cost any where near that back in 1976.:)
I wonder why they have taken such a jump in price?
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North American demand for English style game guns at an affordable price.
 
CamV said:
What was ever made for a 28g or .410 over under or SxS
What would you prefer for grouse/bunnies/pheasants?
Any particular firearm you would recommend?
Please state why you prefer it as well :)

I'm thinking of something under a thousand but preferably half that
Click to expand...

I don't know if this helps you, but I was looking at a gorgeous Yildiz Elegant A4 side-by-side in .410 at Sail here in Ontario last week. A truly elegant little gun; $1000 brand new. Yildiz doesn't appear to make a 28g double, at least that's available here in Canada.

I just bought one in 20g, and am very, very impressed.
 
Hey thanks guys
I'm thinking I'll try jump on a 28g SxS if one pops up but for now stick with my savage 24 and single shot. They do me quite well but I'd like a second shot as the bunnies seem to be paired up all the time.
 
I forgot to mention- I've got a buggered left elbow so it doesn't take much weight to make the shooting pains a lot worse- so I'm looking for something lightweight with a second shot, otherwise I may have to stick with my beater gun
 
CamV said:
I forgot to mention- I've got a buggered left elbow so it doesn't take much weight to make the shooting pains a lot worse- so I'm looking for something lightweight with a second shot, otherwise I may have to stick with my beater gun
Click to expand...

The Yildiz Elegant A-4 in .410 I mentioned probably weighs around or just under 5lbs. My 20g weighs 5.25.
 
Nice little Savage Fox Model B in .410


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