Who is Using a 28 Gauge, This 2025-26 Hunting Season

[28 gauge 2]

Bismuth is non-existent pretty much nowadays. Sny you find is what suppliers have leftover so grab what you can when and where you can. I've been buying up all the old original Bismuth No-Tox loads by Eley that are loaded to lower pressures I can find for use in my old SxS' plus some of the more modern loads that my newer guns can handle. I came across 7-25 rd boxes of 28 ga #4 Bismuth No-Tox loads. Cost me a few $ but I have enough to enjoy a few solo greenhead hunts each fall now for a few seasons.

I have a number of boxes of that old 2 3/4 28 gauge Winchester ammunition put away as well.

 

[28 gauge 2]

I find 28" barrels pretty much ideal for my uses, which vary from open fields to the thick stuff, where I have to use the beeper on my dogs collar, to find him on point. I shoot 30" barrels for skeet, and 32" barrels for sporting clays.

Interesting that you find the longer barrels good on sheet.I had always thought it was the shorter barrels that were better.Times change.

 

[28 gauge 2]

I bought a good supply of Kent Bismuth for use at Camp Wainwright for sharptails, I likely have enough to last me at least five years.

I have a number of boxes of 28 gauge Winchester 2 3/4 inch Bismuth,as well as a couple of bottles of number 5 Bismuth ,that I purchased a long time ago,but only used very little of.

 

[28 gauge 2]

28 inchers are my all around fave too.

I to would agree, that 28 inches would be a good all around barrel length.

 

[stubblejumper]

Interesting that you find the longer barrels good on sheet.I had always thought it was the shorter barrels that were better.Times change.

I run a skeet field, the average barrel length is 30", with some people shooting 32".

 

[Longstud]

I have heard of the new copper pellets that Boss has,but also heard that while they meet U.S, standards for the environment ,they do not meet Canadian standards.

Pure copper is non toxic but a coated pellet is not acceptable as non toxic. Ive been told their copper load is compliant in Canada. This coming from guides that are on the prostaff.

 

[28 gauge 2]

Pure copper is non toxic but a coated pellet is not acceptable as non toxic. Ive been told their copper load is compliant in Canada. This coming from guides that are on the prostaff.

I hope they are right.Here is a link to the definition of non toxic shot in Canada,from the Government of Canada,Migratory Bird web site. Section 38 (4) (b) ,not more than 45 % copper.

https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2022-105/section-38.html?txthl=copper

 

[28 gauge 2]

I run a skeet field, the average barrel length is 30", with some people shooting 32".

32 inch that is getting out there for skeet.Showing my age ,with not being up on the longer barrels being used on the skeet fields these days.

Have not shot box birds for many years .

 

[the spank]

32 inch that is getting out there for skeet.Showing my age ,with not being up on the longer barrels being used on the skeet fields these days.

Have not shot box birds for many years .

I shoot skeet with a fellow who is 88 and he shoots a 32" barreled 725 Sporting in 410.

 

[28 gauge 2]

I shoot skeet with a fellow who is 88 and he shoots a 32" barreled 725 Sporting in 410.

That's great for him to be able to do that at that age.Hope he tales it easy on you.

 

[stubblejumper]

I shoot skeet with a fellow who is 88 and he shoots a 32" barreled 725 Sporting in 410.

I am only 65, I use 30" barrels on my 410 and 28 gauge K-20, but 32" barrels on my F-3 Blaser for sporting clays. The new guns have thinner barrels and fore ends, and swing quicker, even with longer barrels.

 

[28 gauge 2]

The new guns have thinner barrels and fore ends, and swing quicker, even with longer barrels.

Most interesting, I was not aware of that.Does not surprise me ,that barrels are thinner,it seems every thing these days, is made to a cheaper standard.

 

[stubblejumper]

Most interesting, I was not aware of that.Does not surprise me ,that barrels are thinner,it seems every thing these days, is made to a cheaper standard.

Not cheaper, better steel and design, so the extra thickness isn't required. And instead of the beavertail fore ends that were popular in the 70s and 80s, the new fore ends are also slimmer and lighter. So the new target shotguns have longer barrels, yet weigh and balance the same.

 

[28 gauge 2]

Not cheaper, better steel and design, so the extra thickness isn't required. And instead of the beavertail fore ends that were popular in the 70s and 80s, the new fore ends are also slimmer and lighter. So the new target shotguns have longer barrels, yet weigh and balance the same.

Interesting ,I did not know that firearm steel for barrels was different today, than the chrome molybdenum steel that Winchester started using back in the 1930's.I was under the impression, that it was still in use in today's firearms for barrels.

 

[stubblejumper]

Interesting ,I did not know that firearm steel for barrels was different today, than the chrome molybdenum steel that Winchester started using back in the 1930's.I was under the impression, that it was still in use in today's firearms for barrels.

The steel alloy itself may not be much different, but newer manufacturing techniques result in cleaner steel, with less contaminants, so the same thickness can be just as strong.

 

[28 gauge 2]

The steel alloy itself may not be much different, but newer manufacturing techniques result in cleaner steel, with less contaminants, so the same thickness can be just as strong.

Makes sense.I believe you meant ,so a thinner thickness can be just as strong.Am I right.

 

[stubblejumper]

Makes sense.I believe you meant ,so a thinner thickness can be just as strong.Am I right.

If the steel is better quality, a thinner barrel can be as strong as a thicker,lower quality steel. And some older shotgun barrels were thicker than was required. The newer high quality barrels, can easily last hundreds of thousands of rounds.