28ga. justification?

Snal~

Snal~

I Run A Tight Shipwreck (Tragic Boating Accident)
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I usually don't need a nudge to get interested in a new firearm, such is the case here.
I've noticed that 28ga shotshells are pretty much everywhere in my area. Probably high,
like the rest, but at least it's available!
So, I may be needing one of them 28'rs fer squirrels and such.
 
Snal~ said:
I usually don't need a nudge to get interested in a new firearm, such is the case here.
I've noticed that 28ga shotshells are pretty much everywhere in my area. Probably high,
like the rest, but at least it's available!
So, I may be needing one of them 28'rs fer squirrels and such.
Click to expand...

I hunted with one a bit when I was a kid, and enjoyed it. Not too much different than a 20 in my mind. But maybe less flexible in the range of critters you could hunt.


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Dove, preserve birds, rabbit, squirrel, whatever. 28ga shells don't seem to have suffered from the pandemic pricing/demand, probably not unlike the 6mm creedmoor.
 
Jayko said:
Dove, preserve birds, rabbit, squirrel, whatever. 28ga shells don't seem to have suffered from the pandemic pricing/demand, probably not unlike the 6mm creedmoor.
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True....I've seen those 6mm on the shelves as well.
 
I bought a Savage Stevens 28 gauge 555 compact last week. I wanted a little more pepper than my .410 sxs offered for rabbit hunting. To be honest, I was slipping (missing shots) in some of the thicker stuff we have been getting into. I carried my 20 gauge 11-87 a couple weeks ago and an hour in was really feeling the extra weight. I searched for a sxs 28 gauge but settled on the 555 o/u in "compact". The barrels are only 24" which are a perfect length for rabbits. The stock had more of a youth model feel, but I put a limb saver recoil pad on and the LOP seems just right with the clothing I wear to hunt.

I had it out yesterday and fired two rounds with two bunnies in the pot! I am very satisfied with it so far. It's not a very attractive o/u, but it's a dedicated rabbit gun, no place for a thousand plus dollar gun. I found several offerings of shells like mentioned, I bought four boxes of #5's and four boxes of #6's from my local store for about $12 a box. It was an Italian brand I've never heard of (not Fiocchi) but they seem to be of good quality. I will tell you, I asked a gentleman in a gun store and he said 28 gauge only came in 2 3/4" chamber, but I've seen 3" 28 gauge shells on the shelf too, so.......
 
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I like the 28 gauge, but don't shoot shotgun much anymore. Some of the nicer ones are the Remington auto's, and I have one of the Browning M12 recreations in 28 also. SKB made a 3 barrel O/U set in 20, 28 and .410 for skeet and it's a nice set also. Great for quail, doves and rabbits, not to mention skeet!
 
I have a 28 gauge over under but have not fired it yet. I bought some shells a year ago but have not seen any on the shelves anywhere I have gone. Even online is tough to find. Doesn’t matter the gauge, its all getting bought.

Strange that pre covid 12g was $5.99 a box and 28g was $10.99 or greater with half the material cost. I bought the gun for skeet. If I can hit those I will use it for dove.
 
I love the 28 gage shotgun for many reasons and have shot 1,000s of shells at clay targets and 100's at birds (dove and quail).

First I don't like recoil and 28 gage guns that are of reasonable weight will be very soft shooting. I think this is why I can shoot a clay course with a 12 GA, 20 GA, and 28 GA and usually score better with the 28 GA. However be careful if you get a really trimmed down 28GA they will still kick (thinking Ruger Red Label in 28 here).

The 28 GA only uses 3/4 oz. of shot in a typical load and less power so it is more efficient. Components will last you longer.

If you own a 12 GA, it is safer to own a 28 GA vs. 20 GA since a 28 GA shell will fall though the barrel if you accidently chamber a 28GA in a 12GA. Ok... this is a BS academic reason but you asked for justification so this is one more for your list.

Some places that hunt with dogs won't allow 12 GA and recommend 28 GA (this was my justification for my first 28 GA).

My favorite 28GA guns today are a Beretta 687 O/U and Beretta A400 Semi-Auto.

I also love 16 GA, 24 GA and 32 GA. So I'm kind of into the odd stuff. I also was able to order 32, 24 and 28 gage ammo last week. Not so much for 12, 20 and 16.

Honestly I can do anything with a 28 GA out to 35 yards that I can do with a 12 GA. If you are twitchy and can get on the target fast, you won't do any better with a 12 than a 28 in most presentations.

Hope that is enough to justify you getting a 28 GA gun. Just get one. They are awesome. Life is too short to only shoot 12's and 20's.
 
Snal~ said:
I usually don't need a nudge to get interested in a new firearm, such is the case here.
I've noticed that 28ga shotshells are pretty much everywhere in my area. Probably high,
like the rest, but at least it's available!
So, I may be needing one of them 28'rs fer squirrels and such.
Click to expand...
Not giving up much vs a 20 with 3/4 oz payload. Maybe buy a chamber adaptor for a 20ga if you have one? Single shot at least.
I have a Beretta O/U in 28 and an 1100 for skeet and hunting, also Briley tubes in a 12 ga for sub-gauge skeet.

CZ O/Us are Turkish made [huglu] and pretty decent for the money, I have a Redhead .410.

28 is a wonderful small game and skeet cartridge! Buy a MEC and save your hulls . . .
 
28ga is the only one of the "big"4 I'm missing. Want a Red Label as I have a two 12's and one 20 ga. Have an 1100 in 410 that I took down to Rose Hill with a couple buds. We had a ball with it on the short course. Headed to Gunbroker right now.
 
jimmyjames8 said:
28ga is the only one of the "big"4 I'm missing. Want a Red Label as I have a two 12's and one 20 ga. Have an 1100 in 410 that I took down to Rose Hill with a couple buds. We had a ball with it on the short course. Headed to Gunbroker right now.
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Lemme me know what you get for your 1100 .410
I have one I dont ever use - Sporting model with adjustable skeet stock.
 
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I tried the 28 gauge a couple times back when I hunted but found I took longer shots than I realized and the round failed for my purposes. The best upland game round and gun combination for me was a 16 gauge Model 12 Winchester with a short barrel in improved cylinder choking. The power of a light 12 on a 20 gauge frame, fits the hand well and carries easy.
 
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I’ve been hunting down shotgun ammo recently and have found that while many places have had 28ga on the shelf, I’ve been able to get a lot more 12 and 20. Of course ymmv.
 
OBXPilgrim said:
Anyone look at any of the Yildiz shotguns at Academy?
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My wife and I bought two about two months ago and another friend has one as well. She got a youth 20 and I got the steel receiver 12 gauge. I have had a few times where the bottom barrel won’t eject if it isn’t popped open fast enough. Partially closing and popping it open has ejected the empty shell every time. Other than that both have worked fine for sporting clays and trap with about 300 rounds through each.
 
Anybody have experience with the Tristar OU? I saw one at a gun store today, and it looked sweet, but was overpriced at that store ($729) in 28ga.
They also had a very nice looking Savage 555 28ga in the $600+ range but it was a compact youth model. It did yank at my grandson strings a bit.
 
I would buy the Savage before any of the Turkish O/Us except for a CZ Redhead (which is a good gun).
 
As others have said, preserve quail, early season doves and target shooting. There are some guys that reload TSS and use them for ducks and I imagine it works well on wood ducks in the swamp. It’s a lot more versatile in my opinion than .410 but still fairly specialized. Even with reloading it’s not as versatile as a 20 gauge, mainly due to the available loads and limited size of the loads.
 
OldNascar said:
I tried the 28 gauge a couple times back when I hunted but found I took longer shots than I realized and the round failed for my purposes. The best upland game round and gun combination for me was a 16 gauge Model 12 Winchester with a short barrel in improved cylinder choking. The power of a light 12 on a 20 gauge frame, fits the hand well and carries easy.
Click to expand...
About the nicest little 28 gauge (and I have several) is the Browning re-creation of the Model 12, in takedown form. Small frame and handles quickly and easily. I have one, but don't shoot it much. I do like the 28 gauge. Would have been long gone by now except for Skeet shooting, unfortunately.
 
dman24 said:
The cz shotguns, savage 555, tristar and quite a few other brands are all made in Turkey.
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I may have worded that incorrectly. I knew of their country of origin. The two I mentioned seem to have less issues maybe due to higher quality control mandates from the brand.
 
Snal~ said:
They also had a very nice looking Savage 555 28ga in the $600+ range but it was a compact youth model.
Click to expand...

Wondering if this is the same model as I mentioned above for rabbit hunting? Mine is a "compact", but not labeled as nor a "youth model".

www.savagearms.com

555 Compact | Shotgun | Savage Arms

Get world-class performance in an over-under at an affordable price. The Stevens 555 Compact is light and handles fast, thanks to a lightweight aluminum receiver.
www.savagearms.com www.savagearms.com

I'm not smaller framed for sure, but when you bundle up for Jan.-Feb. hunting, it works well.
 
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