doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com questions about 28 vs 20 ga

I have posted before about my growing more recoil sensitive and trying 410 to help overcome flinch. I love shooting clays with 410 but for game bigger than quail or doves I think out of respect for the game I should use more. I was lucky enough to spend a week in Scotland shooting partridge and pheasant. I used my 20 ga SxS's, both about 6lbs 13 oz. I had asked the outfitter in advance about the load and was assured it would be a standard game load, very close to 7/8 oz. Prior to going over I switched from my 3/4 oz reloads to factory 7/8 oz loads to make sure I was comfortable using them. Not as pleasant but I didn't think it would be a problem. Well the loads turned out to 1400 fps and after every drive I had a headache. So this brings me to the point where I am wondering if I should be switching to 28 ga. 90% of my clays are shot with 3/4 oz loads already unless I am shooting 410.I have never fired a 28 ga. Is there a noticeable difference in felt recoil compared to 20?

I don't think you will find any magic in a 28 using a load that you could use in a .410. 20 or 12, for that matter. It is simply the weight of the load and the velocity at the muzzle that effects recoil. And the weight of the gun affects felt recoil.

The heaviest gun, shooting the lightest load, at the slowest viable velocity will have the least felt recoil. Gauge is pretty much irrelevant.

When going to the 410s, 28s, and 20s, many times the ambition of the manufacturer to meet the needs of, say, an American grouse hunter, is to make the gun lightweight. Recoil is related to the shot charge and the gun's light weight. Perhaps, what you need is a 12 gauge, 7&1/2 to 8 Lbs, and some 7/8 ounce cartridges?

Nitrah,
I currently use Fiocchi 7/8 oz. trainer loads in all my 12 ga. guns, including those chambered in 2 1/2 inch to great effect and very little recoil. Fiocchi also makes a 3/4 oz. trainer load for 20 ga. which could be used to avoid the higher cost of 28 ga. loads.
Karl

Brent nailed the answer. Gauge is not the problem. It's the load, the speed and the weight of the gun. Nothing else matters (except gun fit to some degree).

The shells you used in the UK probably caused more of the recoil issue. I have 2” UK loads that are quite snappy compared to RSTs. Next time you shoot in the UK, see if the outfitter can get you reduced loads.

Ken

I have three 28 gauges An old 101 Winchester I inherited, a Parker repro and I recently bought a Caesar Guerini. Except for the 101 the last two are not really light weight. I think the 28 gauge is almost magical; it shoots so well for me. The Caesar Guerini Apex I just bought used. It has a 32" barrel, 2 3/4 chambers, choke tubes and weighs 6 lbs. 14 oz. I bought it for sporting clays and helice. Shoots great and no appreciable recoil. I think you can find a 28 ga. either S&S or O&U of any weight or configuration you desire for recoil reduction. I think the 28 gauge 2 3/4 chamber is a killing/target machine often better than a 20 gauge; and I shoot those too.

I wonder if you can remember the make and designation of the loads you used in Scotland?

I have found that Gamebore loadings are often hot and noisy (supersonic), whilst Hull loads are generally quieter, calmer but just as efficient. Eley loadings seem to be on the hot side, perhaps due to their Spanish owners. Lyalvale I do not have an opinion about.

The shot load should be 23 or 25 grams only - a 28 gram (one ounce) load will definitely hurt!

HB

.410, 3" - 11/16 oz @ 1135 fps/ 5.5# gun = 10.5 foot/pounds recoil force
28 Gauge, 2.75" - 3/4 oz @ 1200 fps / 6.0# = 12.8
20 Gauge, 2.75" - 7/8 oz @ 1200 fps / 6.5# = 16.1
20 Gauge, 2.75" - 1 oz @ 1220 fps / 6.5# = 21.0
16 Gauge, 2.75" - 1 oz @ 1220 fps / 7.0# = 21.5
12 Gauge, 2.75" - 1 1/8 oz @ 1200 fps / 7.5# = 23.0
12 Gauge, 2.75" - 1 1/4 oz @ 1330 fps/ 7.5# = 32.0

a 7.5 pound gun with 7/8 oz. payload at 1200 fps gives you 14.4 ft/lbs of recoil. So there's wisdom there.

Also consider a mercury recoil reducer and/or one of the better slip-on recoil pads