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Jul 28th, 2025
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 292
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 292 |
Can't speak to wild huns & chuckers, but 28ga is very adequate for pen raised birds and wild grouse and WC in close cover.
A Springer Spaniel, a 6# double and a fair day to hunt.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,743
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,743 |
Chuck;
Couldn't agree with you more. I personally am into neither archery nor small bores, but do have a penchant for muzzle loaders, which is the same principal. My point was not to comdemn the 28ga, but on like principal I might for instance love shooting a Colt 1861 Army, but I certainly would never say it would do "Anything" even an 1873 SAA in .45 Colt would do, much less a 1911 .45.
A 28 is very close to, but not the equal of, a 20. There are of course many, many applications for which they are admirably suited. Generally speaking a light loaded 20 would offer no handicap for the same purposes.
Miller/TN
I Didn't Say Everything I Said, Yogi Berra
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,883 Likes: 19
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,883 Likes: 19 |
To me, the difference with a 28 vs. 20 is more about the individual characteristics of the guns being compared when shooting lighter loads in both.
I haven't hunted a 28g much, just a little last year for chukar. I made a good long shot with my super tightly choked Parker Repro on a chukar. The load was a 7/8 oz #5 Fiocci. I think it's a good hunting load.
Last edited by Chuck H; 05/16/11 06:21 PM.
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,814 Likes: 2
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,814 Likes: 2 |
Well, The 28, if you point it right, kills Roosters. I killed 23 Roosters last year, with a couple of 28's...Pawkuh and CZ. Over a pointing dog (is there any other kind?), no really long shots. I have been messing with 28's for a long time, not addicted. My favorite was a Remington 870, paid about 90 bucks, killing machine. I lived in Iowa, and shot lots of roosters, when there were some...I dont pay much attention to pundits like Larry Brown, who I think talk more from what they read, than what hey shoot...If it works for you, shoot it, otherwise pass it along...
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 578
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 578 |
Have 3 of them all ont 28 ga. frames, 2 SxSs and an O/U. Love them for grouse and woodcock hunting and clay shooting. Some years back I bought alot of bismuth on closeouts, so do use it for ducks over decoys to 25 yds. And yes they are not 20s but there is niche for them. Heck I even shoot a 24 ga.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,205
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,205 |
For those touting the 28 as doing anything a 20 will do . . . really? How about if you have to shoot nontox? If you've got a 3" 20ga, you can do OK with steel. You can get by on smaller or closer birds with 2 3/4" steel in a 20. With a 28, you're screwed. I say all of this while having made my longest consecutive run ever on pheasants with a 28ga and 3/4oz 7's I loaded up. But they were preserve birds over very good dogs. I've never made it a habit to take particularly long shots, but I've killed far more wild pheasants than any other bird, and I just don't think of the 28 as a gun for wild pheasants. There are those days when you only get a marginal shot or two, and I'd rather take those with something packing more punch than a 28 will throw.
Mike, I hear you about the training thing . . . but would there be any difference in recoil if those kids were shooting 3/4 oz 20ga loads? My "Shotshells & Ballistics" book says there should not be any difference. My personal answers to your questions: 1. Within reason it will. It is not for all situations, and no one said it was. 2. I don't have to shoot non-tox where a I hunt. 3. I don't use steel. 4. I don't hunt preserve birds of any kind. 5. I don't hunt pheasants with a 28 gauge. 6. The 28 packs plenty of punch fit you put it on the appropriate target.
Last edited by Don Moody; 05/16/11 08:22 PM.
Ole Cowboy
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,609 Likes: 14
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,609 Likes: 14 |
Great discussion and all very good points. Now that I've got my foot completely extracted from my mouth I'll admit that for my own purposes a 28 is my first choice for the kind of upland hunting I do - ruffed grouse in tight cover with a smattering of woodcock tossed in. I have no experience on chuckar or wild pheasant (for nearly forty years now in my part of the country)and I don't hunt waterfowl (a married man can only spend so much time away from 'husbanding' and remain relatively happy) but I think I could easily become addicted to it... but I wouldn't use a 28. I use a 28 for skeet and sporting clays and score about the same with it as I do with a 16 or a 12. I don't reload so I just stay away from shooting a 20 these days as I find most 'off the shelf' 20 ga. ammo unpleasant to shoot and for me that entirely rules out any 3" 20 ga. ammo as well as any overloaded 28 ga. ammo. I just won't shoot something that is unpleasant to shoot - for my purposes there is no point in it - I hunt and shoot for the pleasure of it. At my age I'll continue to shoot my 28 ga. side by sides and my light 16 ga. side by sides and I'll even shoot my twelves once or twice a year but my gauge of choice will still be the 28 because it is so pleasant to shoot, the guns carry so easily, and when I've done my part the 28 has never failed me.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 701 Likes: 12
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 701 Likes: 12 |
Well, The 28, if you point it right, kills Roosters. I killed 23 Roosters last year, with a couple of 28's...Pawkuh and CZ. Over a pointing dog (is there any other kind?), no really long shots. I have been messing with 28's for a long time, not addicted. My favorite was a Remington 870, paid about 90 bucks, killing machine. I lived in Iowa, and shot lots of roosters, when there were some...I dont pay much attention to pundits like Larry Brown, who I think talk more from what they read, than what hey shoot...If it works for you, shoot it, otherwise pass it along... Don't sell Larry Brown short, he's the real deal when it comes to pheasants, going 27 straight with a 28-ga. S x S...mucho better than your little string.
Wild Skies
Since 1951
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,373 Likes: 6
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,373 Likes: 6 |
Well said, DAM16SXS . . . .
Such a long, long time to be gone, and a short time to be there.
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,814 Likes: 2
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,814 Likes: 2 |
My "little string" this season was 115 WILD roosters, most taken close to the home place here. My point, not to sell anyone short, is that oftimes I think people write about theory, not what works for them. If Larry shot 27 straight, kool...Who carried the score card?
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