doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 28 gauge AA target loads vs. premium hunting loads

Just curious if anyone has any opinions, or facts, on how Winchester AA target loads in 20 or 28 gauge, stack up to premium hunting loads, such as Federal's Wing Shok, Fiocchi's Golden Pheasant or Polywad's buffered, Gram-Crak-R ammo.

With the current Winchester rebate program going on, I can buy a case of AA ammo for about half the price of the other three brands - all of which I think are excellent small bore hunting loads.

Thank you in advance.

I have an opinion. No facts.

I would expect the AAs to be loaded with hard shot.

AAs would be 3/4 oz. Many of the 28 gauge hunting loads are 1oz.

If you are pass shooting mourning doves then your shell and choke selection probably make a difference. If you are shooting bobwhites over pointing dogs it probably doesn't make any practical difference which shell you shoot.

My favorite bobwhite load for my Parker 28 reproduction is the AA #8s, 3/4oz., ~1200 fps. The little repro is choked 40 thousandths and 40 thousandths.

The AA's are only available in shot sizes 7 1/2 and smaller. IMO, quality target loads are always a good choice for hunting birds, as long as you don't need either larger shot sizes or heavier shot charges. Target shooters choose them for a good reason: They contain good quality components and tend to produce pretty consistent results. If you're hunting quail, ruffed grouse, or woodcock, they're great choices. Even preserve pheasants, especially if you're shooting at least 7/8 oz 7 1/2, or (preferably) 1 oz.

I personally think the 28ga. AA sporty clay loads w/#8.5 shot are some of the best rounds ever factory loaded. Opinions differ; I knew of a couple of people who shot the Federal 1oz. 28's enough to crack the frames of their 1148 Remington's years ago and swore by them. Federal does not make that same exact load any longer. I never considered that quail took that much killing, just accurate shooting. Again, being personal, I see zero reason to shoot a 1oz. load in a 28ga. gun, even one built on a 12ga. frame like some Franchi O/U's were. AA 28ga. once-fired hulls are readily marketable as well. Some skeet shooters will pay up to $0.15 ea. for them. The Winchester AAHS 28ga. hull is the top dog hull for reloading, bar none.

AA20's have always been one of the best rounds out there in new factory loads since their introduction with then red hulls. 7/8oz. shot is adequate for most any bird shooting up to feral pigeon size. My personal favorite load for that application is the Federal Game loads in #6 loaded w/the two piece wads they never sold as an individual component.

To directly answer your question, I don't think you would be remotely handicapped using AA target rounds on birds up to feral pigeon size.

Addendum: I'd totally forgotten the use of one once loads for flyers in 28ga. or 20ga. races that Eightbore mentions or ducks as Jon mentions & Francis Sell was also a big advocate of the 20 for ducks. Personally, I have always used 12's for waterfowl, still do. FWIW, in the older loadings before some of today's newer powders were brought into play, one once lead field loads in both 28ga. and 20 ga. were slower than the regular target loads, didn't pattern as well on the many sheets of butcher paper that a bud & I shot and drew circles and counted the holes in and quite simply only delivered more recoil. I have always shunned 1 ounce 20's for that reason. In places like South America where one can shoot a lot of ammunition dove shooting they will quickly beat you to death in a light weight double gun, but you can shoot the 7/8oz. rounds until you get tired of shooting and have no sign of a bruise at all. Much better on both gun and man. The older AA12 Super Pigeon rounds were some of the best 12ga. flyer loads; they even made them w/#6 shot. I've no experience w/the AA20ga. flyer rounds Eightbore has. Comments above are addressing 1oz. field loads.

I have shot a lot of birds and a lot a clay targets--all I ever used was AA rounds. For pheasant I prefer the Aa super handicap in 7 1/2. Grouse, quail Aa 8s in 3/4 oz in 28 gauge and 7/8oz in 20 gauge.
You can't go wrong with the consistent performance In AA loads heck, the price point is right and as long as you know your limitation AA loads are a great bird round.

There are 20 gauge AA one ounce 7 1/2 shot for 20 gauge flyer shoots. I have a case that I will probably never shoot.

I used one ounce number 6's, 28/ ga. for ducks for many years. Over decoys it was magic in my model 12. Back when I had good eyes, reflexes and the ability to use lead shot for ducks. The good old days.

I have used the Sporting Clays load for released birds with good results. Fact is that its not the arrow, or the bow but me who misses most birds these days.