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When Ithaca Gun Co. introduced the NID in 1926, they added the .410-bore to their cataloged offerings and dropped the 28-gauge. But, they did continue to make a few. Then when Western Cartridge Co. introduced the 3/4 ounce shot charge, progressive burning powder, high velocity, Super-X, 28-gauge load circa 1931-2, the first Ithaca catalog for 1932 again included the 28-gauge, and they ran some 28-gauge ads --



April 1932, Field & Stream

With shot equivalent to lead or heavier the 3" 20 can be a useful gun. This assuming it will be used mainly as an upland gun with occasional decoyed ducks where 1� oz of shot is plenty. A 2 3/4" 16 would be just a tad better, but not enough to really crow about.

In "MY OPINION" exceeding 3/4 oz of shot in the 28 or � oz in the .410 is about as useful as mammary glands on a Boar Hog. There is little doubt that 3/4 oz would be handled better by a 20 than either of the smaller bores.

Have you done much patterning with 3" loads in the .410, Miller? How much experience with 11/16 or 3/4 oz. .410 loads in the field? Just curious what your "OPINION" is based on .......... actual use, or extrapolation, or something else? Not saying you aren't entitled to it, just curious as to why you hold to it.

Thanks, SRH

There is at least one practical application for the 3" 28 ga. and it would be pheasant hunting with a Benelli Ethos auto. At 5 lbs., 5 oz. it would be a light carry for pheasants. I don't envision my ever going hunting for pheasants or buying the above gun. But someone will and put it to good use. The 3" Fiocchi 28 ga. shell puts 1 oz. of #5's out of the barrel at 1300 fps. It probably wouldn't be the choice of a hunter in pursuit of the elusive boar with mammary glands, however.
https://www.americanhunter.org/articles/2018/7/24/hardware-benelli-ethos-28-gauge-3-inch/

The hunters that are left, to a large degree, are a graying lot. My son was just recently thrilled to get custody of his late Grandfather�s Silver Snipe O/U, a 7lb and very small change shotgun, but, the very few remaining friends I have in the game have stepped down to smaller and lighter guns. Much lighter in a few cases. I used to see a very old man in one of my haunts, with a break action .410, who would walk down the logging path and pot a grouse on sunny afternoons. He had to fight like hell to keep his pickup and his shotgun, at the home he lived in, and figured at his age, he wasn�t doing much harm taking a bird for supper off the ground.
I agreed with him. He was over 90. Haven�t seen him in a few years.
Glad I don�t have to figure out what shotguns are going to be selling in a few years.

Best,
Ted

I think Stan and I are together in regarding the 3/4 ounce 3" .410 load as a wonderful alternative, if you can afford the shells. I have found that it kills birds of all sizes just fine. It would not be my first choice for pheasants or ducks, but it works if the birds are kept within range.

Amen, Bill. Range is everything with small gauges. And, they cost no more than a lot of guys on here gladly pay for their RSTs.

SRH

God bless him.

SRH

I�ll second that Bill!

From the introduction of the .410-bore/12 mm/36-gauge (sic) shotshell in North America circa 1914-15, the 2 inch shell carried a 3/10 ounce shot charge and the 2 1/2 inch shell carried a 3/8 ounce shot charge.



The 3-inch shell with 3/4 ounce of shot was introduced with the Winchester Model 42 in 1933 --


July 1933, National Sportsman

By 1934, the 2 1/2 inch shell with the half ounce of shot we know today was becoming available.