3 Inch 28 GA

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Hi CGN, I was reading through an article by Field and Stream regarding new ammo offerings for 2022. These are released now during shot show 2022. What stood out to me is more loadings for the 3 inch 28 gauge. This one is by Heavi-Shot in 1oz loads in #4 and #6. Currently it looks like Beneili is the only shotgun to really chamber this 3 inch load. Fiocchi developed the 3 inch 28GA shell from my research in partnership with Benelli. It looks like back around 2016? Maybe I am late to the game but is this a fad? Will we see more guns chambered in the 3 inch 28GA? I always have liked the idea of the 28Ga and am looking for an upland shotgun next. Maybe this 3 inch option is a way to improve the 28Ga? I know you can get the same 1oz shot payload with larger gauges but the nice light carrying of the 28 makes it attractive in the field.
 
The 28 is already over loaded with one oz of lead . The three inch thing from what I have read is designed for steel shot loads waterfowl . Not much to be gained for upland hunting unless you are in a steel mandated area. Good lead shot patterns usually max out at 7/8 oz in my 28 guns .
 
It will be interesting to see how they pattern, long shot colums like that often don't perform well.

I wouldn't let adding a few more pellets be the deciding factor in chosing a 28 guage as an upland game bird gun. Myself and many others have been using one for years very succesfully in the current loadings.
 
With non tox shot being mandated in more and more places.The 28 gauge 3 inch is a way of keeping the 28 gauge as a viable option to use for field use.Also I believe that the 3 inch 28 gauge lead loads would work well in the field for pheasant or late season ruffed grouse.

I have patterned many one ounce loads in my 28 gauge guns and all patterned well.I do find the heavier loads really do help fill in the pattern in the more open chokes. There are a few other guns other than Benelli that now come with 3 inch chambers.
 
I've patterned 1 oz lead loads in the 28 too and they're fine but a 1 oz load of steel takes up a lot more room and makes for a longer shot column. My point is that generally speaking, a longer shot column tends to not pattern as well as a shorter column but maybe they will be fine.
 
How many years have we heard about this 4 or 5 now. How about 6 yep OP you are right 2016 and here we go again
Think 28ga ammo is hard to find good luck finding any in 3"
Waste of time IMO
Cheers

2016

In case you missed it, Benelli debuted a 3-inch 28 gauge version of the ETHOS semi-auto at SHOT Show. Fiocchi will load ammunition for it. Although no loads have yet been announced, I understand the first ones will be lead, either 1 ounce or 1 1/16 ounces, at 1300 fps.
 
warzaw said:
The 28 is already over loaded with one oz of lead . The three inch thing from what I have read is designed for steel shot loads waterfowl . Not much to be gained for upland hunting unless you are in a steel mandated area. Good lead shot patterns usually max out at 7/8 oz in my 28 guns .
Click to expand...

Agree 100%
 
If the 28 gauge has any purpose, it is as an ultralight upland gun. Making it a heavy recoiling gun is just nuts.
There's more non- toxic options than Steel and they can be be loaded in 2 3/4 inch shells.
If you need more shot volume, get a bigger gun.
 
I don't believe anything could make a 28 a heavy recoiling gun ,but why don't we see this for what it is.A marketing ploy simple as that ,new "shell" new "gun" how many will snap these up just to say I have one.Don't believe the 28 will be revolutionized by the addition of a 3" shell as all of us that use them find they work quite well in their present form.Now is there room in the cabinet...:)
 
In my experience through my years ,choke seems more important than shot weight . Patterns with a 28 always improve with a little more choke than the larger gauges for upland work . My go to are light mod and mod . The 3/4 oz loads can be excellent with copper or nickel plated shot in #6 #71/2 and #8 . Within limits the 28 is a giant killer in my books. And as stated if not enough use a bigger gun.
 
Yes the 28 gauge is a fine upland gun,with the lead 2 3/4 inch shell.However, how much longer will lead be legal?At present there are those who want lead banded in rifle shells as well as shot shells.The 28 will have to adapt or die.There is only so much steel shot that can fit in a 2 3/4 inch 28 gauge shell .Steel being at present time ,the only cheap non tox shot.To keep the 28 gauge viable as a field gun ,the longer shell will be needed

At one time the 28 gauge was only available in a 2 1/2 inch shell.I am sure there were those back in the day, that said the 28 was fine in a 2 1/2 inch shell and overloaded with a 2 3/4 inch shell.

For an all around choke in the 28 gauge I find modified works well.If I use a more open choke I find the one ounce loads help to fill in the pattern ,when the shots get a bit longer.

Have heard horror stories by some of the recoil of the 28 gauge using 3/4 ounce loads in light weight guns.I have shot one ounce loads in some very light 28 gauge guns with no problem with recoil.
 
Agreed ,shot a 28 at doves in Argentina (3 cases ) never had an issue with recoil ,they were all 3/4 ounce lead.After some digging I see that the new 28 is a SBE redesigned for 2022 with the 28 in 3".I love my SBE in 12 would really like to try one in 28 but the only way to do that now is buy one.Well another 28 would not be the end all and I have a long way to go to catch up to 3macs1 ..
 
reddog said:
Agreed ,shot a 28 at doves in Argentina (3 cases ) never had an issue with recoil ,they were all 3/4 ounce lead.After some digging I see that the new 28 is a SBE redesigned for 2022 with the 28 in 3".I love my SBE in 12 would really like to try one in 28 but the only way to do that now is buy one.Well another 28 would not be the end all and I have a long way to go to catch up to 3macs1 ..
Click to expand...

Yep like 30 something after you buy one of these :)
 
Creating a 3" 28 gauge is a crass exercise in marketing to the ignorant. They will probably sell a few. Seems like a dead end development to me. Ballistically it makes no sense whatsoever.
 
I have been using the 28ga for upland hunting for the last ten years. I have done a fair amount of experimenting with different loads. I tried the 7/8oz loads in lead shot for pheasants as well as the 1oz loads. My conclusion is they don’t work any better then the standard 3/4oz load. The 3/4 oz is all that is needed, just adjust choke and shot size accordingly to game and conditions. If non toxic shot becomes mandatory for all hunting you will be much better off with 23/4” bismuth or tungsten shot then a 3” steel load.
 
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