The short answer? With the 410 thinning out at 40, we didnt want to push it to 50. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. The Parker has very little choke in either barrel and that along with a few other things makes it the very best ruffed grouse gun I have ever owned. With the right buffered load, a 28 bore is highly effective. Sign In or Start your online account. 5 shot (213 pellets). 9 TSS shot is roughly equivalent to No. Then we decided to push things a bit and shoot at 50 yards. I shot a lot of pheasantsI mean a lot of pheasantsthat day. This is the advantage of the 12 gauge over the smaller 20 and 28 gauges. The 20-gauge comfortably continues to hold the number one spot. There are, however, deals to be found, such as the CZ Sharp-Tail side-by-side, listed at $1,289, or the 5.5-pound CZ Bobwhite G2 side by side, which has a price tag of just $702. Looking to turn his passion into inspiration for others, AJ was first published in 2004 and went on to write his first book The Urban Deer Complex in 2014. In fact, the 28 gauge's .550 bore is much closer in size to the 20 gauge's .615 than it is to the .410 diameter of the-duh-.410, which would be a 67.5 gauge. Everything I have heard about the Hatfields is the 28ga is usually a decent gun. 28 Likes, TikTok video from naturesav (@naturesav.crochet): "Let's make a gauge swatch! Smaller birds, it goes without saying, fall dead, too. The lions share of wild upland bird hunting happens at this distance. Shot string is how many pellets arrive at a target simultaneously. More game in the bag was just a bonus considering all the other factors that make this such a wonderful gauge. Not surprisingly, I did notice that the light 34 ounce load did not fill the 30 inch circle and there was one hole in the pattern. The Apex shells peppered the kill zones on our turkey targets with multiple hits to the head and neck. A six-pound 28-gauge shotgun pushing a ounce load of lead at 1,200 feet per second (fps) generates less than 13 foot pounds of recoil energy, which is considerably less than the level considered to be the maximum most shooters can comfortably tolerate. Still, Apexs TSS 9-shot shells are about as good a turkey load as you can buy. In the 1990s, 12 gauges chambered for 3.5-inch shotshells were standard issue for most duck hunters. I enjoy early-season pheasant hunting with the 28 gauge and the Improved Cylinder and Modified chokes of the AyA make it a better choice for that. This could have been because we were using a peep and fiber-optic front sight instead of an optic. An over-under in 28 gauge, like the author's. All Gun Dog subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. For youth hunters, new shooters, or anybody who needs an extra turkey gun, the 410 loaded with TSS is still a great choice. A square load for 28-gauge would be around 7/16 oz for small lead shot like #7.5. But tests have shown that not to be true. The 20 is also much more versatile as a hunting gun. 117 Likes, 0 Comments - @fattestknits on Instagram: "CALL FOR TESTERS: #REPOST @lilykatemakes TEST KNITTERS NEEDED Another one ready for." To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. I killed a lot of birds with it, but I killed a lot more at the start of a hunt than at the end of a hunt after carrying that behemoth for miles. Built on the 20 gauge receiver, that gun weighs 714 pounds and when its weight along with its gas-operated action are combined with the light recoil of the 28-gauge shotshell is it easy to see why she enjoys shooting "her" Model 1100. Bismuth is more than 20 percent denser than steel, but not as dense as lead. Ammunition companies in England were creating 28-gauge shotshells as far back as 1857 according to the writings of W.W. Greener. Add to quote; Share Only show this user. When we finally did find some 28-gauge target loads in a store, the clerk said, Youre the only person Ive ever sold 28 gauge to. The winner here is the 410. A spokesman for one of the worlds largest shotshell makers told me that he wishes the company had more compelling data to prove some of those common beliefs, because he dearly loves to hunt with his 28-gauge gun, but the company doesnt have any evidence to support those claims. In other words, that 28-gauge with that load had a shot string, with most of its pellets arriving at the target nearly the same time. The advent of newer technology has only helped its case. We wanted to find two of the exact same turkey shotguns and loads to test these shells. The gun sports a distinctive bronze receiver and is available in both 28-inch and 26-inch barrel lengths. One example is the Franchi Instinct L over-and-under, which has a MSRP of just $1,469, and the Benelli Ultra Light semi-auto, which retails for $1,779. Right now, 410 is more widely available. Years ago, I was invited to shoot with a bunch of top DNR officials and the governor at a preserve near Des Moines. The tests revealed that the 28 had a shorter shot string, with most of the pellets arriving on target at the same time within a basic spread of about three feet. - #4 steel 4/8oz 31.6 yds, 95 pellets. Brister, a shooting champion, expert shotgunner and former shooting editor of Field & Stream, repeatedly put his Webley & Scott 28 gauge to the test against targets at 35 yards towed at 40 miles per hour. But that doesnt mean you should forget about the 410. Two 20-gauge, 3-inch shells deliver 1 5/8 or 1 7/8 ounces of shot. The 28 gauge is not for everyone. Popular opinion holds that 28-gauge guns for flushing birds should weigh between 5-1/2 and six pounds, while some prefer a bit more weight for guns used for skeet and pass shooting. No matter what you call it, the 410 is a favorite of small-game hunters, and with the right ammo, its a great option for youngsters chasing long beards. If you want a 28-gauge gun with the barrels arranged side by side, youll likely pay a good deal more for it. | Also developed a crack in the stock . Shot strings werent any shorter, either. Shot sizes are 6, 7 1/2, and 8. Although the 28 gauge is denser, it also comes with a more extended shot column. Ron Spomer. When she informed me several years ago that her 16-gauge double was no longer fun to shoot, I suggested that before shopping for a new gun she shoot sporting clays with several of mine in order to get some idea of what she was looking for. If I was looking for a new sub-gauge turkey gun, and it was down to the 28 gauge vs 410, Id pick the former. But, perhaps surprisingly, it has proven to be quite effective on both upland game and clay targets. In the future, well likely see more 28-gauge turkey guns hit the market if hunters decide to take up the shell. A lot of that technical shooting success is due to a properly fitting stock, the weight of the shotgun, and effectiveness of the load. In my case, I resisted the lure of the 28 gauge for a long time until I first used one on a pheasant hunt many years ago. John Gordon The 28 has a bore diameter of .55 inches and a shot column thats about an inch in height, and volume of black powder isnt a useful metric anymore. The other advantage? Remington. All loads are using either steel powder or 800x with TPS wads and load data from Ballistic products ITX 13 manual. Learn how your comment data is processed. My first over-and-under shotgun was a stunningly beautiful 12 gauge that weighed more than nine pounds. While that introduction was absolutely the catalyst for the popularization of the gauge stateside, it has a much older history. The selection of shot shells in 28 gauge is pretty limited, and all are loaded with lead shot. #bcoreview #tristar #bluecollaroutdoors here is the pattern test of the tristar g2 viper 28 gauge with BOTH the indian creek .525 & .520 with apex ammunition. At the top of the heap in pattern quality are Federal Gold Medal, Remington STS and Winchester AA. I have come to find that its not just a pattern test that makes the greater case for the 28-gauge; its many smaller parts that make up this firearm. Instead, we saw that kind of performance at 50 yards, making the 28 gauge an absolute killer. I went back to the 25 yard mark and loaded the upper barrel with the modified choke. In that game, most targets are broken inside 30 yards and according to reports published by the National Skeet Shooting Association, most shooters break just as many targets when shooting the 28 as when shooting the 12. For the guns, we turned to Mossberg. Thought I was in range and dead on but birds flesw on. Earlier I mentioned my wife's fondness for light-kicking guns but I did not mention how she came about obtaining one of her favorites. But inside 35 yards, I have noticed little difference between a 28- and 12-gauge as long as Im shooting bismuth or tungsten. If anything, it swings a bit more smoothly than lighter guns. Like the .410, the 28 is probably at its best with #7 1/2, 8, and 9 size shot. The 28-gauge averaged 128 pellets inside a 30-inch circle at 35 yards; the 12-gauge averaged 188 pellets at the same distance. After a comparison using identical speed, lead size, and chokes, the 20-gauge pattern appeared to open much faster than the 28. Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. They are lightweight, easy to handle guns. This. The Fausti line of DEA shotguns in 28 gauge have an average weight of just 4.95 pounds. Therefore, the 28-gauge shotgunner wanting to maximize his or her game for large birds especially beyond 35 yards will select factory loads containing hard, high-density nontoxic pellets and/or handload them. His conclusion was based not on rumor, conjecture or the fact that his Uncle Moe shot three rabbits back in 1932 with a 28 gauge Iver Johnson, but on many long hours spent shooting hundreds of patterns. Some claim that the 28s reputation for punching above its weight class is due to the fact that the shotshell contains a square load, meaning the shot stack is equal in height and width, theoretically resulting in fewer deformed pellets and better shot patterns. But we did want to see what the 28 gauge could do at half a football field. Does the 28-gauge shotgun pattern better than any other gauge? Other reasons could be that our shells didnt like the choke we had in. Its still a popular option for todays hunters. 30-yard pattern shot through the cylinder choke of the Yildiz .410 using the Gamebore ".410 Target" 14g/#9 shell. The 28-gauge is favored by older demographics with good taste; baby boomers come in at 12.12 percent listing it as their preferred gauge. For the 12-gauge, I used a Browning Auto-5, shooting a 1-ounce 2-inch load of No. A short shot string helps explain the perception that the 28-gauge punches harder than it should, but the 28 also benefits from comparisons to the 410 gauge, which it outclasses in every respect. There is, he said, no magic in the 28 gauge.. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. I dont feel under gunned at all. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. AJ's love for all things wild has caused him to advocate on the federal and state levels to promote and expand conservation policy, habitat funding, and upland game bird awareness. However, that myth is busted. If others arent on the bandwagon.woe to them! New for 2020 is the Kent Elite Target load with a ounce payload of No. We will talk about string theory later. Copyright 2002, 2014 by Chuck Hawks. The light weight and easy swinging ability appear to make me a better and even quicker shot. Trim, properly scaled 28-gauge guns tend to be very quick to the shoulder and fast on the swing. In contrast, a 7-1/2 pound 12-gauge shotgun launching 1-1/8 ounces of lead at 1,200 fps ratchets recoil up to about 23 foot pounds. On a recent hunting trip, three of us toted 28s of various makes and models. My wife Phyllis is an excellent shotgunner, but she is not at all bashful about admitting to her sensitivity to recoil. It has a 3-inch chamber, a more recent 28-gauge development. Fiocchi lists no fewer than 22 loadings in 28 gauge, ranging from a high-velocity ounce and one-ounce hunting loads to 11/16 ounce and 7/8-ounce Golden Pheasant loads in shot sizes No. And, given improvements in shot that resist deformation and wads that cushion shot and protect it from scrubbing by the gun barrel, the idea of a square load may not matter as much as it used to. Hunting an exotic antelope in South Texas? It can dominate small bore skeet, it's effective on upland birds, and it makes a light yet low recoiling gun for beginner or expert alike. Only thing is, the payload isn't square at all, By Example Patterns. Show more Show more All proved effective. This really increases recoil. This couldve been because wed gotten used to the 410, or just the way the gun fit (our 28-gauge shotgun came with a different stock than the 410), but the 28 did have a little more kick. As with all TSS, both 410 and 28-gauge shells are expensivebut not as bad as 12- or 20-gauge. For example, No. Brister tried the method at adequate speeds: I fired several 35-yard 40-mile-an-hour tests with the tight left barrel of my Webley & Scott 28-gauge and carefully measured the spread. 5 shot (149 pellets) through a Mossberg SA-28. It is, in a word, fun. This is not at all unusual since most hunters are more accurate more often with a gun they love to shoot than with one they dread shooting. Beretta released the A400 in 28-gauge, its first semi-auto in 28, back in 2015. This all builds a story that the 28-gauge is slowly, steadily gaining popularity as a gauge of choice for upland hunting. For some reason, the big shots went home shortly after I arrived, leaving me alone and all dressed up in the new brush pants I had splurged on for the occasion. If we apply this rule to the 28 gauge it is easy to see that the Winchester Super-X loading with its ounce of shot can do at 30 yards what the 20, 16 and 12 loaded with 114 ounces of shot are capable of at 40 yards. 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