Article/Video on Waterfowl Hunting with the 28 Gauge

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Nice article/video.At the time the writer was using only 28 gauge 2 3/4 inch shells.It would be interesting to see the results using the 3 inch 28 gauge shell,that he said he was going to try later.

https://www.wildfowlmag.com/editorial/28gauge-shotgun-waterfowl-hunting/459781
 
Thanks for sharing the articles. My first attempt(2019) at hunting ducks using a 28 gauge was with a Beretta A400 Xplor using Kent Bismuth 2 3/4" #6's with great success when I did my part. Fast forward to 2023 and I decided to buy a Benelli SBE3 in 28 gauge with the 3" chamber. So last year I used Federal Black Cloud 3" #3's again with success as long as I did my part. I shot GW Teal, Mallards, Black Ducks, Wigeon, and Pintails. The thing is know your own shooting abilities, know your distances and know when to say no.
 
Great to hear that you have had good results using the 28 gauge on waterfowl.Have not used a 28 gauge on waterfowl ,since lead shot was banned.Which did you find worked better, or no difference, the 2 3/4 Bismuth number 6 or the 3 inch Black Cloud number 3?What ranges were you bagging birds at?
 
Just thinking Redsoilreaper ,what chokes were you using with the 28 gauge on waterfowl?Did you use different chokes for the Bismuth and Black Cloud?
 
28 gauge said:
Great to hear that you have had good results using the 28 gauge on waterfowl.Have not used a 28 gauge on waterfowl ,since lead shot was banned.Which did you find worked better, or no difference, the 2 3/4 Bismuth number 6 or the 3 inch Black Cloud number 3?What ranges were you bagging birds at?
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Bismuth might have the edge(with knock down power), but honestly not that much of a difference for me to shoot Bismuth exclusively. The ducks were shot over the decoys with some as passing shots at 25-30 yards being the longest shot. Maybe folks can push it to 50 yards, maybe further??
 
28 gauge said:
Just thinking Redsoilreaper ,what chokes were you using with the 28 gauge on waterfowl?Did you use different chokes for the Bismuth and Black Cloud?
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In the Beretta A400 while using only bismuth I used the factory flush MOD choke.
In the Benelli SBE3 I used the factory extended MOD choke with the BlackCloud #3's and the Bismuth.
I did think of ordering a Rob Roberts extended choke for the Benelli as he does a lot of custom work on Benelli's while using Federal ammo, however I decided to to get at least one season under my belt with it before changing anything!
 
Interesting.Did you think about trying a full choke with the Bismuth shot?Winchester has recently brought out a 28 gauge 3 inch load of Bismuth,a 3 inch steel load and a 3 inch lead load.I am thinking, the 3 inch load of Bismuth could work well for waterfowl.


Back when I used a 28 gauge on ducks,when lead was legal,I used a full choke.Bismuth is much like lead,so I wonder if using a full choke with Bismuth could work better than modified and give you a bit more range?What was the manufacture of the 28 gauge Bismuth you were using?Around here some where ,I have a few boxes of old Winchester Bismuth in green boxes.Just forget what size shot and what the payload is though.:(

https://www.winchester.com/Products/Ammunition/Shotshell/Bismuth/SWB2835

https://www.winchester.com/Products/Ammunition/Shotshell/Super-Pheasant/X283PH5

https://www.winchester.com/Products/Ammunition/Shotshell/Xpert-Pheasant/WEXP2834
 
Yes, I did think of using it but always used the mod because i had some Winchester 2 3/4" steel in case there were any cripples. Lot less expensive that way haha. I have an old over/under 12 gauge choked full & full that i take out once a year to rekindle the memories and I use bismuth in that. Stone dead ducks when I do my part and the shots are longer than with the 28 gauge. I use Kent Bismuth in both, 23/4" #6's in 28 gauge and 2 3/4" #5's in 12. I still have some of the old green Winchester Bismuth boxes that you mention. I find the Kent to be a lot better! As I look around for non toxic loads in sub gauges, I wish we had access to what is available in the USA, such as Boss Shells just to name one.
 
That makes good sense to me about using the modified with the 28 gauge Bismuth ,in case you needed to use some steel for clean up.:)Have never used the green box 28 gauge Bismuth that I have.Have used the 12 gauge old Winchester green box Bismuth on waterfowl.with good results.

I believe I have a box of 28 gauge Kent Bismuth here some where, in number 6.Seems to me ,it has a higher payload than the old green box 28 gauge shells.Like you, I use the number 5 Bismuth when I can on waterfowl.At present I have no number 5 Bismuth ,so using number 4,for what little time I get to go.:(

Yes ,it would be great to be able to get some of the 28 gauge shells available else where.Here is a link to a place in Canada ,that has 28 gauge 3 inch Hevi Shot XII Tungsten for sale.A bit on the pricey side however.:(It has a full ounce of Bismuth.

https://theammosource.com/hevi-shot.../?utm_source=ammobin.ca&utm_medium=ammobin.ca


Edited as the 28 gauge Hevi Shot XII is tungsten,not Bismuth.
 
If you go to the site and click on the 28 gauge box on the right,you will see it is available in number 6 as well as number 4.:)
 
I had the Winchester Bismuth green box in 12 ga only, from 4's to BB's. Never had any 28 gauge Winchester Bismuth. Thanks for the link! I did buy the same thing but in .410 tungsten and also bought some Remington Hevi-Bismuth in .410. So far have only used the Remington and no issues.
 
Glad to hear you found the link of interest.At present I do not have a 3 inch 28 gauge,but will have one at some point in the future.:)There seem to be a lot of companies introducing 3 inch 28 gauge shells to their line ups.Winchester now has 28 gauge 3 inch shells available in Bismuth,steel and lead.3 inch 28 gauge tungsten is available and Black Cloud as well.I see Remington has a 28 gauge 2 3/4 inch Hevi Shot load listed on their website.Could all ,except the lead loads, be used for waterfowl.

I do have a few boxes of Winchester Xpert 2 3/4 inch 28 gauge steel,but have never used it.I have two 28 gauge guns that could use steel shot.The others are strictly lead or Bismuth.:)

Do you find the tungsten better than the Bismuth?I know tungsten costs a lot more than Bismuth.For myself I have always had good results with Bismuth,but I have never tried tungsten.
 
Thanks for the link and wow that is a bit steep but what the hay. I have several 28's and when my weatherby 28 went down I bought a Beretta 28 3" to use as my primary upland gun. Liked the Benelli but could only find it in 26" barrels and the Beretta has 28" so went that way .Did not use it as much as I had planned as my SKB 20 g seemed to work great on upland this year but am itching to try the 28 on ducks. Shot a 28 in Argentina at doves as well as a 20 and can honestly say that it worked just as good as the 20 and made some rather great shots, with lead of course. That was with 2 3/4 inch and definitely liked the ability to change targets quickly with less muzzle jump. Have a 28 model 12 and would love to try as well.
 
My model 12 28g is 1951 so older one and NOT a conversion. I have ordered a case but do not know if I will get it but have 8 boxes of steel 28 in 2 3/4 5 & 6 . Hoping to get them but will use the lighter 7/8 if I have to. Looking forward to it.
 
Cool old gun the 28 gauge Model 12.What choke is it?I take it you shoot only lead or bismuth through it?Is it marked for 2 7/8 inch shells or 2 3/4 inch?

What make are the boxes of 28 gauge steel have you ordered and what payload?I did not realize that a 28 gauge load of 7/8 ounce steel was available, in a 2 3/4 inch 28 gauge shell.What make are they?All I have seen in a 28 gauge 2 3/4 inch steel shell have had a 5/8 ounce payload.
 
The only tungsten that I've used has been 12 gauge Kent Tungsten Matrix and yeah it's good! I did try some Browning TSS in .410 and it did the job! No chasing cripples. Haven't tried the .410 Hevi-XII that I purchased.
 
Redsoilreaper said:
The only tungsten that I've used has been 12 gauge Kent Tungsten Matrix and yeah it's good! I did try some Browning TSS in .410 and it did the job! No chasing cripples. Haven't tried the .410 Hevi-XII that I purchased.
Click to expand...

I did not realize that Browning made a TSS load.:)Of course I have not looked at their website for awhile either.:)I believe Winchester loads Browning ammunition.

Here is a link to a load of 28 gauge Hevi-18 with 1 1/4 ounce if TSS shot.Not in Canada,but could make a good waterfowl load when/if it does become available here.:)

https://www.hevishot.com/turkey/hevi-18-tss-turkey/30-HS7287.html
 
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