doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 1 oz loads for 28

Interesting to note, I think, that pointing Labs are a big deal in certain circles. Obvious some flusher/retriever folks are suffering from "point envy". Not that you don't see flushing pointers, setters, continentals, etc--but they're rejects and no one's marketing them as the next best thing since sliced bread.

I have both. While I love the efficiency of my big running pointer (Dr.Drew can vouch for how big) and I'm constantly amazed at my pointer's ability to smell a bird at over 100 yds in the right conditions, I still find my Lab a thrill to shoot upland birds over. You have to pay attention, and frankly, she puts more pheasant in my bag in heavy cover of SD. The Lab and I are a good team together on upland birds. No matter that I'm using a "duck dog" for upland, I have a good time doing it.

I guess those 4 old boxes of 1 oz 28ga in the garage that someone gave me will just stay there. I know they'll pound me in my 5lb 10 oz Repro and I'm not going after flying moose anytime soon.

Here is the reason I use only 28 ga 1 oz loads....... excellent pattern, which I never got from a 3/4 oz load



Model2128Ga

Hmm, a rendering of the very rare "Unicorn Turkey", quite dead in this experiment!

Good work, but, I'm not going to take my 28 gauge Darne turkey hunting anytime soon.


Best,
Ted

Ted,

I use an expensive and rare one of a kind 28 gauge to hunt turkey, a Remington 1893 B grade ..............



I only hunt on sunny days and carry my 28 in a padded case to the blind. I have hunted two years now in two states without a scratch, except on the turkeys.

Model2128Ga

Just to put the recoil of the 28 ga 1oz load in perspective:

The old Winchester 1 oz that was loaded in AA CF hulls was listed @ 1125 fps. (current 1oz loading is 1200fps). Assuming a 5 3/4 lb. gun, recoil energy is 13.4 ft./lbs.

A 12 ga Federal Prairie Storm 1 1/4 oz lead @ 1500 fps & assuming a 8.0 lb. gun has a recoil energy of 26.7 ft pounds.

I find it interesting that a lot of people (not me) find the Prairie Storm load just wonderful for pheasant & don't complain about the recoil.

My feeling is that 1oz of shot is just about perfect for most upland hunting & that's what I normally shoot in 20, 16, & 12 ga guns. I no longer own a 28 but if I did it would be close to a 6lb. gun & I would shoot 1oz in it for most upland hunting & the 3/4oz 1200fps load for clay targets.

Way off topic on the pointing dog issue but I've got to say that I agree with the statement that a flushing dog can be more efficient under some conditions but for me it's more about the experience than it is birds in the bag.

If you don't hunt pointing dogs you will not experience the thrill of a dog on point or better yet, a brace of dogs down with one on point & one backing.

I don't have any loads that move at 1500. Is this load to keep dirty Benellis running?

I had no idea what a Remington 1893 was. The things in this world that are valuable surprise me from time to time.

I think M. McIntosh opined a long time ago that he wanted his 28 gauge to weigh at least 6 lbs. I haven't got a good reason to disagree with that notion.

I really like pointy dogs. All I've ever owned are Setters. Some of them could and did point birds from 50 yards, which, keeps you on edge for a while, anyway.

Best,
Ted

If you can't shoot a sub-6# gun all that well--and a lot of people can't--then owning a 28ga that weighs 6+ makes sense. On the other hand, the reason most people go to the 28ga is weight reduction. I own 2 20's and 1 16 that are all within an ounce of 5 3/4. I like 28's, but unless I want something lighter than 5 3/4, why would I want one? And if I want to shoot 7/8 or 1 oz loads, there's a lot more choice for the 20ga--and even for the 16ga--than there is for the 28ga. And the bigger bores will likely pattern those loads somewhat better.

Not me Larry, I've got no choice since I own a little 28 ga that is proofed for 5/8 oz loads. When I choose to shoot it, about the only place I can get those 2 1/2" shells is from RST for $12/box. But I still like the gun, have fun shooting it and it has no more recoil than a BB gun.

Larry's post pretty much sums up why I no longer own a 28ga.

My posts on the Winchester 1oz 28ga loads are only to point out that in my limited experience they are decent upland loads that give the 28 a little more versatility and that although recoil of the one ounce load is definitely stiffer than the 3/4oz load, it really isn't much different than the 12 to 15 foot pound range produced by most commonly used upland loads in 20, 16 & 12 ga guns.

If a guy has a modern 28ga gun with 2 3/4 chambers & appropriate proof for U.S. SAAMI spec loads you can come very close to duplicating 20 ga performance if you feel the need on occasion. I think a lot of people like to shoot the 28 ga simply because of bragging rights & the novelty of it more that the lightness of the gun.