28ga: Is the hype real?

stubblejumper said:
The 410 is actually the shotgun that I have the least use for. As a ground swatter, weight isn't an issue, and aiming high with a 12 or 20 gauge kills better than a 410, with less shot in the meat than centering a bird in the pattern with a 410.
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Dependant upon distant to target and pattern density. Two or three should do the deed just fine.
At thirty yards these #6 pellets from any full choked shotgun can cut to vitals on small ground game. Even 7.5 as well.
My two bits only.
 
Brutus said:
Dependant upon distant to target and pattern density. Two or three should do the deed just fine.
At thirty yards these #6 pellets from any full choked shotgun can cut to vitals on small ground game. Even 7.5 as well.
My two bits only.
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If you aim high with a 12 or 20 gauge, a few pellets will hit the head/neck area, and usually none in the breast. If you try shooting high with the 410, the pattern density is so thin, that you may not kill the bird at all. If you center the bird in a 410 pattern, the odds are some pellets will strike the breast.
 
stubblejumper said:
If you aim high with a 12 or 20 gauge, a few pellets will hit the head/neck area, and usually none in the breast. If you try shooting high with the 410, the pattern density is so thin, that you may not kill the bird at all. If you center the bird in a 410 pattern, the odds are some pellets will strike the breast.
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Myself I don't shoot at anything with a 410 past 30-32 yards. So it's a non issue for myself. And if I choose to stretch the range with a 12 gauge on let's say a rabbit, I slide in a turkey choke for slightly better range.
This is my personal formula for small game success.
I prefer not to shoot at anything flying with the 410.
28 gauge is my minimum for grouse on the wing.
 
Brutus said:
Myself I don't shoot at anything with a 410 past 30-32 yards. So it's a non issue for myself. And if I choose to stretch the range with a 12 gauge on let's say a rabbit, I slide in a turkey choke for slightly better range.
This is my personal formula for small game success.
I prefer not to shoot at anything flying with the 410.
28 gauge is my minimum for grouse on the wing.
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I wouldn't shoot at any game bird past 25 yards or so, with a 410, but when I used to ground swat grouse, I usually shot the heads off of them, even at 10 yards, with little to no meat damage, with a larger gauge. My old 12 gauge 870 with full choke was perfect for that application. I don't ground swat grouse anymore though, so I typically use my 28 gauge.
 
I am an absolute fanatic about the 28 ga guns. I think I am back up to 10 in inventory (started to sell them off, but just kept finding more I had to have). Started of with a browning 525 sporting model, and progressed into a half dozen sxs models. I actually went so far as to have a custom sxs done up at ugartachea, but that was a bad experience from the factory (long story). Bought my first sxs, the CZ Ringneck , which has since been remodelled into the sharptail model. The original ringneck was a foolproof gun for me, responsible for likely a couple of hundred released roosters on the shooting grounds.
Living in the heart of pheasant country, I get to use my guns over released birds for eight months of the year, and the 28's perform over both pointers and flushers if you do your part! My current "go-to sxs model is the little Fausti Dea I picked up from our own Catnthehat many years ago. Just an absolute pleasure to pack in the field. This little gun has raised cain with a lot of the local sharptail population as well.
The down side of a 28, if there is one, is the cost of ammo. I couldnt afford to feed mine if I didnt reload. If you DO reload, the 3/4 oz load of shot and the miniscual load of powder are very economical. Winchester HS hulls last and last and last!
 
Rob! said:
Be careful. 28 GA are like potato chips. One just isn't enough.

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Rob, Beautiful set of 28's!!!

I have 3, 28's myself now and am looking to pick up another, as the wife is laying claim to the Sporting 28.
The note above regarding the older single shots makes sense, but I see a much heavier barrel in my Winchester Model 37A than I do in the Cooey 84 which were both built in the same factory - just not sure as to when. The daughter now has the Cooey.
Absolutely love the 28 for upland birds that I mostly hunt.
Hope to hunt pheasant someday.
Looking around and you'll find that the 28 shells can be the same price as some of the shells in other gauges, and I have on a couple of occasions managed to pick up flats of 28 ga for $11-12/box, so deals can be found.

Since you hunt waterfowl, the 20 may make more sense for you, but you will have to try both and ultimately decide which is right for you.
 
I joined the 28 gauge club this spring. A Francotte SxS that weighs in at 4 pounds 9 oz……clearly on a scaled frame. So far, love shooting it. Haven’t hunted with it yet.
 
For myself it doesn't always fit my situation however a proper sized 28 gauge has something else to it.
I believe the attraction is economy of force as an upland bird gun.
Cost or shells aside there is something worthy and attractive to utilizing just enuf shot just enuf powder just enuf shotgun hull enuf barrel length/choke and still fill your larder.


maybe......
 
AR15meister said:
Can you share the details on the guns with us?
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Sure. The top one is my Uggie. Ugartechea of Eibar is one of the old respected Spanish Gunmakers. The factory is pockmarked with bullet hits, but escaped artillery during the war because it is at the base of a cliff and artillery shells couldn't be lobbed in from above. The model is the Maura which, depending on who you talk to was made at the request of the owner's daughter - or perhaps a countess who was tired of chasing woodcock in the hills with a full size gun. The company excelled at sidelocks but this one was made boxlock (albeit a fancy scalloped boxlock) and was intended only for the European market. The engraving on these is often the same pattern, but never identical since they were hand engraved. Front trigger is articulated. Will Bilozir of Bilozir Fine Guns in Foothills Alberta talked the owner into making a couple dozen Maura's for Canada - only two of them in 28 ga. I don't know where the other one is. Between the SxS configuration and the auto safety, I'm afraid I don't shoot it well, but it is a prized possession. Ugartechea still produces parts in the old factory and has a few very fancy sidelocks in the rack but they aren't producing guns at this time. Rumours abound about that.

The Next one down is a Beretta 686 SP1. Nice wood for a plain Jane Silver pigeon huh? I've had this one shortened because my LOP is only about 13.5 and I shoot it a lot - sporting clays.

The eye candy one is a Beretta S687 SP V and the gun was ordered direct from the factory with the extra fancy wood. Love the colour case hardening. I wondered about the English stock configuration, but when I'm shooting it, I'm not even aware of the difference. This is my Sunday Go-Ta-Meetin' gun. Doesn't come out often, but when she does, she makes us proud. This one has actually been owned by a few CGN'ers.

The bottom one is also Beretta S687 EELL (Extra Extra Lusso Lusso) Lusso is Italian for Luxury. I'm told the rose and scroll engraving pattern is rolled on with 12 different machines and then the engraving is chased by hand for many hours and then signed. Too long for me, but also prized and it comes out from time to time for special friends who are not so vertically challenged as I.

Can't tell you much about the 5th one - because I haven't found it yet - but did I mention one is never enough?
 

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