doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 28 Gauge Shotguns

When I shot a lot of Skeet the 28 was the gun most seniors shot. Low recoil, light weight, with more than enough payload to break every target. Reloading was fairly cheap, once you had your empties. I still shoot mostly .410, but can see a day when I will shoot more and more 28. It works for old, young, ladies and wrinkled old fellows. A gun for all.

Wrinkled old fellows.

I resemble that!

Wrinkle this...

I've been saving up for a .410 and 28 gauge Citori guns. I bought a new 12 gauge Citori hunter model that has been my everyday duck gun since 1987. I use it in the rain, the marsh, and sea duck hunting outside the breakers. It looks used but is still functions perfectly. At first I tried to work a private deal with a guy who has both the .410 and 28 gauge made about the same time as my 12 gauge but when that fell through, I just started looking around. I don't know why it took so long but I finally looked at Cabelas. I found a near perfect .410 Citori that I plan to use for rail. It's a "Davidson" gun so it's not straight out of the Browning catalog but still qualified for Browning's "tax day" rebate. After the rebate it was $1530. I couldn't find a 28 gauge that I liked but I discovered Browning's 2024 Shot Show Special called the "Citori Hunter Deluxe" that came as a limited edition and only in 16 gauge...I wasn't looking for a Sixteen gauge...but I had to have it...after rebate it was just under $2k...

After spending the 28 gauge money on the 16, I need to start saving up again because I'm not going to not have a 28 gauge eventually. I might have swerved into doing something smart, though, because there's a real push to start selling 3" 28 gauge guns and shells. Matter of fact, there are 3" 28 gauge shells in stock at several on-line ammo sellers. I don't believe it's necessary to load up a 28 gauge to 20 gauge specs, but with alternative (non-toxic) shot being required in more and more places and for more and more species, the longer chamber might future-proof the 28 gauge a little more while still leaving it as a lighter cousin to the light 20.

The Citori Hunter Deluxe...





Here's the .410...

I have a WC Scott Chatsworth 28ga. Nice little gun.

They have their place.

I have the Pacific Sporting Arms Dickinson Plantation Sporters in 12, 16 and 20. When John finally got in a shipment of 30" 28 ga. Sporters last Fall I was obligated to finally pick up my first 28 ga. after more than 50 years of shotgunning. Who are you calling old and wrinkled?!



Choke tube constrictions are not even close to markings so seeing how AKUS makes both the Dickinson and SKB 200HR series I ordered several pairs of SKB extended tubes for it from SKB. The IC is only .003 and wasn't happy with the breaks in skeet so sent a pair of Mod .008 to Briley to have them opened to .005. .008 is OK for sporting but prefer a bit tighter and the IM at .013 is just a touch too much for me so they also have a pair of IM getting opened to .010. Choke constriction seems a bit sensitive on the 28 much like reloading for it, small adjustments make a big change. Overall very pleased with it so far.

Still sorting what is going to work best going forward from the eye injury, but, hey, maybe it will be a 28 gauge, or, it will work well enough to hunt with just a bit:





It is a tiny little thing. I doubt it will replace my 12, I shoot at late season pheasants too often to contemplate that.
It came from a late friend who lived right down the road who bought it and left it on a shelf for about 50 years.

Early Stoeger import Darne V19 28 gauge. Geoffroy Gournet, RIP, saw to the Bretelle Darne and the checkered ebony butt plate being added, as the original had shrunk over the years.

Best,
Ted

The 28ga lineup

WC Scott Orvis best 28ga Upland
Bill Hanus Uggy bird gun 28ga Upland/skeet
Dickinson Estate 28/410 Skeet

For upland, the preserve where I shoot pheasants has gone non-tox. It works well for the 28ga as I can use 7/8oz bismuth in my 3/4oz low pressure load and it kills like lightning.
The 12's and 20's collect dust these days. I'm also enjoying the 410 Dickinson for skeet.

Everyone needs at least one 28ga.

I sure enjoy my 28’s.