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Jul 28th, 2025
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,574 Likes: 167
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,574 Likes: 167 |
Shortly before WW-II our North American ammunition companies began offering their 28-gauge skeet loads in a 2 3/4 inch case. Very soon after WW-II the 2 1/2 and 2 7/8 inch 28-gauge shells were gone and all loads were put up in a 2 3/4 inch case.
That's what I find in my 1940 Shooter's Bible. Remington Kleanbore Nitro Express was 2 7/8" (but still only 3/4 oz shot). Kleanbore was 2 1/2", 5/8 oz. Shur Shot Skeet Load was 2 3/4", 3/4 oz. I remember spotting an H&R 28ga single shot at a gun show. Pretty high price. Asked the dealer whether maybe it was 2 7/8" chamber. Said he'd never heard of such a thing. I pulled out my chamber gauge and measured it: 2 7/8".
Last edited by L. Brown; 09/28/18 06:47 AM.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,743
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,743 |
First shotgun I ever shot in my life was a little H&R 28 gauge single. It belonged to an Uncle of mine, by marriage to my Mom's Sister. I have no idea what its chamber was or what shells he gave me to use. I do remember I killed two rabbits with it that day with Two shots.
Later I tried to buy it from him, but he wouldn't sell. The gun had belonged to his dad & he was saving it for his Grandson. It was built on a very small frame & we carried it to a country Grocery store & weighed it on their scales, 4 lbs 2 oz.
Miller/TN
I Didn't Say Everything I Said, Yogi Berra
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,950 Likes: 145
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,950 Likes: 145 |
While the 12-, 16- and 20-gauge 2 3/4 inch Magnum loads were introduced in late 1954, the 28-gauge 2 3/4 inch Magnum load with 1 ounce of shot wasn't introduced until the January 3, 1961, Western Cartridge Co. ammunition catalog.  Remington/Peters didn't jump on the 28-gauge Magnum bandwagon.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,016 Likes: 82
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,016 Likes: 82 |
I hunted most of last season with a 28ga SXS. I shot about 125 pheasants with it using 3/4 oz and 1 oz of No 5s. I really couldn't tell the difference in the killing power in the two weights. But then I use one ounce of 5s in my 20 and 12GA guns as well. The smaller gauges just weigh less. I bought a Benelli Ethos 28ga with 3" chamber this summer. I'll use that gun this year too, but probably won't buy any 3" shells unless they are cheaper than RSTs with 1 ounce of 5s. I would be interested in knowing whether or not you were shooting flushing birds in front of dogs or passing shots at distance with the 28. What chokes? I will be handling dogs this year in SD and I sure would not mind carrying either or my very light and comfortable 28s.
Perry M. Kissam
NRA Patriot Life Member
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 397 Likes: 12
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 397 Likes: 12 |
humm for us turkey hunters, moving from a 2 3/4 1 .5 oz load to an extra 1/4 oz produced a dincer center pattern more hits in the vital. So stuffing more shot in a 3 or 3.5 inch shell could delivery more vital hits in a old turkey bird.
But I have used every guage (except a 16) to kill turkeys and no matter what the size and load the birds are just as dead with a 1/2 oz load to a 3oz load.
Ps I don't own a 16 guage. Something I should correct.
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,196 Likes: 20
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,196 Likes: 20 |
Modern 28ga. 3" chambering's and ammunition have been around in some parts of Europe for some lengthy period and Japan as well, at least at an earlier time. I don't know the exact date when Fiocchi started making that ammunition, but know the ammunition was available in Italy in the 1960's. I own several 28 ga. Franchi O/U's with 3" cambered bbls; they were built along the line of their International Skeet guns on 12 ga. case coloured frames, but have narrower ribs than is usual to that particular model. The ones I have were made in 1969 ~'70. I purchased them NIB from Bill Jaqua around '73 who had acquired them in some buy out he did, but don't recall if he said it was a store or a collection.
On one occasion, probably 20 or more years ago now, I examined a Japanese made single bbl. 3" chambered 28ga. that was a very exquisitely made arm w/diminutive stock dimensions and a 34" full choked bbl. SWAG; it could have been made for shooting targets off of a yacht's deck by a slightly built woman or a child. I dunno, but suspect there was a very interesting story behind its existence. Suspect it got here as a war prize, but don't know that for a fact either.
The introduction of the Remington 1148 in 28ga. had many W TX & OK bird hunters going wild for them when I was growing up and when Federal introduced their 1oz. 28 ga. loads it got even better for many of them. I had a friend's dad crack two 1148 receivers using nothing but that 1oz. Federal load. I was told some years later that was why Federal quit marketing that particular load; 1148 receivers could not handle a steady diet of them. I dunno; just saying.
I've personally never shot any 3" 28ga. ammunition, but its been out there a while. I've also seen what I believe were brass hulls in that length for reloading, but don't remember how they were head stamped or even if they were.
I've a friend that loads 24 & 32 gauge ammo for use at skeet & sporty clays. Why? Because he enjoys it and he is 94 years old and no longer has much interest in recoil. He is still a fine shot, but two boxes is plenty most days in our Texas summer heat. We all should be so lucky.
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