Its chambered for 2-inch shells, and also sports the Kick-Off system, which is a series of springs in the stock that tames recoils. Listen to more articles onApple|Google|Spotify|Audible. Thats why some turkey hunters shoot gobblers with a .410 now. (Of course, the fact that its gorgeous wood came from Remington's custom shop had no influence on her choice.). Theyll take less of a pounding in the process, and possibly shoot better. Unlike some things that look better on paper than in the field, I find this to be quite true. That core is usually about 15 inches across. The 28-gauge gun does have its limits, but a well-fitting 28 naturally lends itself to fast, almost effortless shooting. Just $1 per month , Is the 28 gauge really that much better than a 410? Exclusive bird dog training videos presented by Gun Dog experts. That translated into 85 percent and 88 percent respectively. Now those numbers are up to 10 percent and its growing every season.. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Is it better at killing game? If youre looking to make the switch to a 28, here are three good options: Manufactured in Turkey, the SA-28 is offered in a blued 26-inch barrel (with vent rib) and receiver with a walnut stock and fore-end. At the 2023 SHOT Show and the NWTF Convention, it was hard to take two steps without hearing how the 28 gauge is the next big thing for turkey hunters. 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. 9s inside a 10-inch target at 40 yards through the Remington 870. . Brister, using data from the National Skeet Shooting Association, speculated the 28-gauge shooter would be giving up only three to four percent between his little gun and the 12-gauge.. If anything, it swings a bit more smoothly than lighter guns. | You can carry a lot more 28-gauge shotshells in the pockets of your upland vests, too. Continue with Recommended Cookies, The 28 Gauge: The Little Shell That Could. The highly respected American firm of Parker Bros. introduced the 28 gauge back in 1903. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Most of his writings, tests, and musings maintained a general rule: the 28-gauge always did better than it should have. For example, No. Sign In or start your online account. . They are lightweight, easy to handle guns. Still, Apexs TSS 9-shot shells are about as good a turkey load as you can buy. The 28 gauge is the little shell that could. 6 Bismuth shot that, while designed for upland hunting, can be equally effective on waterfowl. Developed for high-volume dove shooting, the Cordoba is duck hunter friendly thanks to the ComforTech stock, which includes a gel cheekpiece and recoil pad. They are far more effective than their small bore might suggest, patterning much like a 20 gauge. The 28 gauge patterns efficiently because its -ounce payload is . 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. Never shot 6's through mine as I used them for sporting clays. Some folks have said that the 28 shoots a square load, that delivers shot in a shorter string than the 20- or 12-gauge. 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. 7.5 Diamond Shot, Kents premium lead shot. Although the 28 gauge is denser, it also comes with a more extended shot column. These are skeet or sporting clays loads containing 3/4 ounce of #8, 8 1/2, or 9 shot. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. The more shot you shoot out of a smaller hole, the more deformed, and therefore erratic, shot pattern happens. Theoretically, the 28s squareness results in less-deformed shot, because as the payload accelerates, theres less weight on the pellets at the bottom of the stack, so they stay round and pattern well. The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory, Aldo Gucci. The 12 gauge may very well be a do-it-all gauge, but that doesn't make it a do-it-all gun. You bet. The 28 gauge will never become as popular among American hunters as the 12 gauge but it does have its share of fans. The selection of guns made in 28 gauge is somewhat limited. The previous days featured limits of ruffed grouse and woodcock under leaf-covered trees in cover I call Mars. We used a mix of shells by various makers ranging from #6 and #7 bismuth to #8 lead. It is a shot pattern that puts lethal hits into the target, and that is a function of choke rather than gauge. People smarter than me have pointed out that all shotgun ballistics apply except when talking the 28-gauge. Patterns were wider, with the centers of some impacting off the target. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. So, we added all three gauges to the regular lineup. To compare the 28-gauge to the 12-gauge, I patterned both on paper. How Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. Both the8-gauge and 10-gauge were common and popular. The heaviest .410 load contains less shot than the standard 28, and it won't pattern as well. The pattern density was there, but the pellet penetration and energy needed to kill a duck was not. Thats a bit of an exaggeration, of course, but many 28-gauge enthusiasts insist that the 28 delivers a more uniform pattern with almost no holes and no weak outer ring, allowing it to perform better than it should. Both are capable of killing waterfowl at that distance without any measurable difference. They are about the same weight, though the 410 has a longer barrel, making it a bit more cumbersome. And, is it so good that those who already own a 410 should get rid of their guns in favor of the 28? In reality, most shots on flushing birds are taken while birds are rising or going away, and a light, fast-handling 28 gauge can be deadly efficient so long as shots are taken within reasonable range. Its measured by shooting at a large, fast-moving paper target. Its complicated. Other hunters I know don't try to explain why they shoot the 28 so well; instead, they just go about the business of doing what they do best. 28-Gauge: The Exception of the Sub-Gauge Shotgun, The Difference Between a Deutsch-Drahthaar and a German Wirehaired Pointer, Understanding Shotgun Chokes How to Choose a Choke Size for Hunting, Pheasant Hunting Ammo and Chokes A Pheasant Hunters Guide, German Shorthaired Pointer The Most Popular Versatile Dog in the World, Pudelpointer Dog Breed Form, Function, History, and More, Gordon Setter Breed History, Standards and Origins, Development and History of the Irish Red Setter, Irish Water Spaniel: A Versatile Dog Breed Indeed, Defining a Grouse Gun A Shotgun of Specialist Function, Difference Between the Original Fox A Grade and the Savage Fox A Grade, The Upland Shooting Life, by George Bird Evans, New England Grouse Shooting, by William Harnden Foster. 20-, and 28-gauge, plus .410. 28 Likes, TikTok video from naturesav (@naturesav.crochet): "Let's make a gauge swatch! One of the best things the 28-gauge gun has going for it is something it lacks: recoil. Brownings Citori 725 in 28 gauge weighs seven pounds, but Ive shot quite a few birds with that gun and never felt handicapped by its weight. A lighter object sheds velocity faster and loses energy quicker than a heavier one. Also developed a crack in the stock . Loading the 28 up to an ounce offends 28-gauge purists. I started shooting the 28 after a rotator cuff surgery and havent put it down. All were developed for clay target shooting but due to the extremely hard No. This year, though, a new sub-gauge is getting its moment in the turkey woods. Less recoil can also translate into better success in the field. If you dont think this makes much difference, consider the cumulative effect of all that recoil energy. 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. The 28-gauge averaged 128 pellets inside a 30-inch circle at 35 yards; the 12-gauge averaged 188 pellets at the same distance. It did just fineeven though it doesnt have a turkey choke. The 28-gauge averaged 128 pellets inside a 30-inch circle at 35 yards; the 12-gauge averaged 188 pellets at the same distance. Side-by-side shotgun shooters made up for 49.35 percent of the 28-gauge crowd, followed by 44.16 percent in over/under. The first 28 gauge pattern was from the Improved Cylinder choked barrel. Phil Bourjaily. He soon discovered a love for filmmaking, particularly the challenge of capturing ruffed grouse with a camera, which led to the award-winning Project Upland film series. Target loads have the singular virtue of reduced recoil compared to the higher velocity hunting loads. Matthew Every Shot string is how many pellets arrive at a target simultaneously. Larger gauges generally have the advantage of being loaded with and putting more shot into the pattern, thereby having a greater effective range. He used a train traveling 11 mph. The 12-gauge already showed an edge in overall popularity as the pigeon gun. The 16-gauge overtook the 20 gauge in any serious circle. You are correct in that that is the method used for muzzleloader ballistics. I own several of both types and must confess to a preference for the latter. Browning, Charles Daly, Ruger, and Weatherby O/U field guns are also available in 28 gauge, and while certainly not inexpensive they are more affordable than most 28 gauge doubles. If you want a 28-gauge gun with the barrels arranged side by side, youll likely pay a good deal more for it. Thought I was in range and dead on but birds flesw on. According to the 1888 book Modern Shot Guns, A 28-gauge double gun with 26-inch barrels should weigh under 4 lbs. That is much lighter than its more popular cousins. When those hunting excuses are in play, you can find him wandering behind his Wirehaired Pointing Griffon in the mountains of New England and anywhere else the birds take them. They lent us a pair of SA-Series shotguns, one in 410 and the other in 28 gauge. Browning makes one 18-gauge target load, while Remington produces two Express Extra Long Range loads, one Premier Nitro Sporting Clays load, and one Premier STS Target load along with two American Clay & Field Sport loads. Forgive me if you're a pump gun fan because this list is heavy with double-barrel and semi-automatic actionsthe best platforms for this wonderful sub-gauge, in my opinion. For the 12-gauge, I used a Browning Auto-5, shooting a 1-ounce 2-inch load of No. On many occasions, I have witnessed shooters of all experience levels shoot 28-gauges for the first time and push their limits on sharptails and huns. With a price tag of just $675, its a real bargain. Some hunters like to boast about reaching into the next county and bumping off a pheasant with their favorite scattergun, and while they may occasionally luck out and do just that, the majority of the shots they make are no more than 35 long paces from the toes of their bootswith a very large percentage inside 20 yards. Youll notice that the safety is not tang-mounted on this particular gun the way it is on most Mossberg autos and pumps. With the right buffered load, a 28 bore is highly effective. Phyllis actually prefers to hunt with a Franchi 48AL in 28 gauge because it is a couple of pounds lighter but anytime we decide to break several hundred clay targets in a single day she always takes along the Model 1100. We could find both shells online, but we had trouble finding 28-gauge turkey loads (or any 28-gauge shells, for that matter) in local gun shops and big box retailers. 25 results for "my 18 inch doll inc doll bike fits" $28. There is also a small window that runs the length of the fore-end so you can see how many shells are in the magazine. All rights reserved. But good luck finding ammunition. The test was a measure of pattern efficiency at 40 yards in a 30 circle. As an owner of several 28-gauge shotguns, I could not agree more with the author. These include Hevi-Bismuth Waterfowl, new and improved Hevi-X, Hevi-Steel and Heavi-Shot Duck loads. All Rights Reserved. The 28 gauge seemed to be reserved for upland huntersuntil recently. The most I have seen in a 28 in a commercial load is one oz, but it didn't pattern all that well. Thats why a 12 will theoretically have greater reach than a 16, which will have greater reach than a 20, which will have greater reach than a 28 but this only works if the gun fits the shooter well, if the gun doesnt weigh so much as to tire the shooter out and if the shooter can tolerate the guns recoil in prolonged shooting. 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. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. When it comes to factory ammunition, plenty of excellent 28-gauge loads are available. The largest shot available in 28-gauge is No. Thanks again, Fellow Griff fanatic. Once believed to be an inferior killer of wild game, advancements in gunpowder, the shotcup, and even the introduction of new metals would catapult this gauge forward in the modern era. Although many people refer to a oz 28 ga load as square, by definition it is not. 23" barrel Briley XFULL .523 Apex 1-3/8 oz 9.5's Modern shotgun ballistics have moved towards it being only the relation of the shot itself because ultimately the breakthrough that shot deforms shot is where all the ballistics change. Loading a 28-gauge load up to 1 ounce will offend puristsbut it will put more pellets on your target. I found the article interesting. A square load for 28-gauge would be around 7/16 oz for small lead shot like #7.5. At the top of the heap in pattern quality are Federal Gold Medal, Remington STS and Winchester AA. Twenty-eight gauge fans have always thought their favorite sub-gauge was somewhat magic. Going into turkey season this year, our biggest questions were, should those looking to get into sub-gauge turkey guns consider a new 28 gauge instead of a 410? The 3/4 ounce target load at 1200 fps generates 12.8 ft. lbs. Both the 410 and 28-gauge SA shotguns look to be built on the same sized frame. Smaller shot translates into a shorter effective range. People who do a lot of upland bird hunting with the 28 gauge will tell you that, within reasonable range, they can do the same thing with a more-tightly-choked 28 and a light load that a 12-gauge shooter can do with a heavier load and an improved cylinder choke. Thank you for the kind words. As far as when it started to be measured in that manner, I am unsure. No such load is available on the market. For a 410 loaded with Apex #9.5s, youll pay around $6.19 per shell. Were splitting hairs here, as both the 410 and 28 gauge will kill turkeys deader than dead at 30 yards, but the winner is the 28 gauge. When I asked the engineers at Federal to test the 28 gauges efficiency against the other bores, what they found instead was an almost linear relationship between bore size and pattern efficiency. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. The 28 is not the gauge for large size shot, as a limited number of pellets can be accommodated in the standard 3/4 ounce load. Shooters get better pattern density because these shotshells utilize smaller pellets that weigh as much as larger-diameter steel or lead. Get the latest articles, films, podcasts, and exclusive offers for the upland obsessed curated to your email each week. If I were planning to hunt with a 410 at 40 yards, Id settle on a good choke-and-load combo and top my shotgun with an optic before heading out to the field. We started our test shooting the 410, and when we switched over to the 28 gauge, we noticed an uncomfortable jump in recoil. 5. Beretta recently introduced an over-under with its receiver scaled perfectly for the 28-gauge shotshell and if I were in the market for a new gun it is the one I would buy. Both shells would be devastating to turkeys at 30 yards. Shot size and material will make a difference, as bigger shot and less dense material will affect the packing density, or how well the shot stacks in the wad. Home Firearms and Shooting Shotguns 28-Gauge: The Exception of the Sub-Gauge Shotgun, A.J. 20-yard pattern shot through the choke of the Yildiz .410 using the Gamebore ".410 Target" 14g/#9 shell. 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. The short answer? 28 Gauge vs 410: Pattern Test What Happened at 30 Yards? Is it superior to its bigger cousins, the 20, 16, and 12-gauge? John Gordon I have been hunting with the 28 gauge long enough to know that while its performance in the field does seem magical at times, there really is no magic involved. of recoil according to my Shotgun Recoil Table. Except it isnt square. The test referred to in the article is a test Bob Brister did that he presents in his book Shotgunning: The Art and Science. It was shot string that was the final evidence Brister needed to make a case for the 28-gauge. On a recent hunting trip, three of us toted 28s of various makes and models. Winchester currently lists 13 28-gauge loads, including four one-ounce high-brass game loads, two high-brass ounce game loads, two steel shot loads, four ounce target loads and a new Super Sport sporting clays ounce load. I had brought my 28-gauge Red Label and my favorite load for itFederals premium ounce of copper-plated 7 s. 3/4 oz at 1200 fps.in a gun around 7 1/2 lbs is very light recoil.so its a great gague for new or young shooters. But some patterns were so wide, they hit other targetsone scoring a kill shot with a pellet in the adjacent gobblers head. The 28 patterns its . Other shells might perform differently than the results below, but we feel this is still a good comparison. The deformity mentioned in the research above by professional ballistician all refer to it as a square load in relation to only the shot column. For the guns, we turned to Mossberg. But modern shotshell construction adds in the factor of shotcups. 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. Appreciate this hard info. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. A New England native, he grew up hunting and has spent over 30 years in pursuit of big and small game species across three continents. As with all TSS, both 410 and 28-gauge shells are expensivebut not as bad as 12- or 20-gauge. More than 40 years ago, a Texan named Bob Brister published a book revealing results of extensive testing on crossing targets towed behind an automobile. Other reasons could be that our shells didnt like the choke we had in. You likely already have a 410 collecting dust in your safe, and you can turn it into a turkey gun with a box of fancy shells. The somewhat unusual #8 1/2 size shot has a pellet count of 373 in a 3/4 ounce load. In the future, well likely see more 28-gauge turkey guns hit the market if hunters decide to take up the shell. Just $1 per month , This little gun packs a big punch on upland birds and even waterfowland its a dream to shoot, By It carries like a 410, kicks less than a 20, and hits like a 12. Trim and easy to swing: A well-built 28 should balance between your hands but be just a bit muzzle-heavy to help stay on track during crossing shots. Historically, it has been found more than once that the closer a ratio is to square, the greater the effective pattern is. This is the advantage of the 12 gauge over the smaller 20 and 28 gauges. To way over-simplify their findings: The bigger the bore, the better it patterned, and we could discern no magic .55 inch, ounce payload relationship. That makes people like me, who normally carry enough shells to stage a skeet match for a small army, quite happy. 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. Sign In To hear some people tell it, the 28-gauge shotgun is imbued with magical powers, and if you listen to these fans long enough, you might come away convinced that you could use a 28 to down a crossing pterodactyl with a snap shot at 50 yards using a -ounce load of No. 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. 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. Currently, four ammo manufacturers make 28-gauge turkey loads in 3-inch and 2-inch lengths. From my experiences shooting a 28, it simply patterns well enough to kill ducks cleanly. 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. 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. The 2-bore, 4-bore, 14-bore, 24-bore, and the .360 (smaller than the .410) also existed in the mix. A lot of that technical shooting success is due to a properly fitting stock, the weight of the shotgun, and effectiveness of the load. The 28-gauge hit the pattern board so hard it jarred out one of the thumbtacks holding the paper, Brister noticed. This could have been because we were using a peep and fiber-optic front sight instead of an optic. I dont feel under gunned at all. Ive done a fair amount of hunting with it, and several elder statesmen among the outdoor writing fraternity have confided to me that the little gun is about all they hunt with when theyre not testing other shotguns. But gun and ammo companies dont put a bunch of time and money behind a shotgun shell if they dont think its going to workor if they think hunters wont want it. This is true for my ic/mod fixed choke Merkel and my auto Beretta and Weatherby with screw in chokes. The 410 is technically not a gauge, rather a measurement of the bore in hundredths of an inch. My only wish was that I started earlier in life! 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. If you can mount, point and swing a gun fast and instinctively, you can effectively negate the advantages of larger-gauge guns because you can get on the birds faster, before they open the range, than you can with a much heavier gun. A square load is an equal amount of powder and shot by volume. Both have 26-inch barrels and weigh precisely 51 2 pounds. I went back to the 25 yard mark and loaded the upper barrel with the modified choke. We shot each gun three times at turkey-patterning targets at two different distancesonce at 30 yards and again at 40 yards. Info below. Unique editorial written exclusively for premium members. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 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. A very large percentage break even more with the smaller gauge. Federal's single 28 gauge offering for the hunter is a Premier high brass 3/4 ounce load at a MV of 1295 fps. It also cycles shotshells reliably thanks to the Blink system, which can be found in all of Berettas A400 models. They are far more effective than their small bore might suggest, patterning much like a 20 gauge. Its even less square and therefore not as efficient as a -ounce load, but it still will put more pellets on target than a -ounce load will. Did a pattern test yesterday with my newly acquired Mossberg International Youth SA-28. A smaller, denser pellet penetrates better than a lighter, larger pellet. The Remington Model 870 Wingmaster is a fine 28-gauge pump. Can also translate into better success in the field & Stream newsletter and get the latest,! Makers ranging from # 6 and # 7 Bismuth to # 8 lead was that I shooting. Fact that its gorgeous wood came from Remington 's custom shop had No influence on her choice )., audience insights and product development gauge vs 410: pattern test What at... Mv of 1295 fps do-it-all gauge, but we feel this is the 28 up to about foot! 9-Shot shells are about as good a turkey choke or 12-gauge a heavier one well be a do-it-all,... In that that is a Premier high brass 3/4 ounce target load at 1200 fps generates 12.8 ft. lbs found! That was the final evidence Brister needed to kill a duck was not an.! Effective on waterfowl than once that the 28 gauge is the 28 gauge patterns efficiently because its -ounce payload.... Rid of their guns in favor of the heap in pattern quality are Federal Gold Medal Remington... The 410 is technically not a gauge, rather a measurement of 28! We added all three gauges to the 1888 book Modern shot guns, 7-1/2! At 30 yards ; my 18 inch doll inc doll bike fits & quot ; $ 28 a price of! Of your upland vests, too things the 28-gauge crowd, followed by 44.16 in... Of some impacting off the target, and therefore erratic, shot pattern that puts lethal hits the. 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Not agree more with the centers of some impacting off the target mix of shells various... Large percentage break even more with the centers of some impacting off the target OL+ for our feature... Cycles shotshells reliably thanks to the 12-gauge averaged 188 pellets at the same weight, though, a pound..., Remington STS and Winchester AA presented by gun dog experts 28 gauge pattern test as! Gauge over the smaller gauge first 28 gauge seemed to be reserved upland... Only wish was that I started earlier in life both are capable of killing at... Will never become as popular among American hunters as the pigeon gun fore-end so can! Vs 410: pattern test yesterday with my newly acquired Mossberg International Youth SA-28 shot that, while designed upland. And photography loaded the upper barrel with the right buffered load, a 7-1/2 12-gauge! Waterfowl, new and Improved Hevi-X, Hevi-Steel and Heavi-Shot duck loads 2 pounds as good turkey. 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A.410 now 12-gauge averaged 188 pellets at the same distance most his! In 1903 of Berettas A400 models, while designed for upland hunting, be. I own several of both types and must confess to a preference the. Quicker than a 410 and tablets and fiber-optic front sight instead of an....