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. Many people assume that the larger the shotguns gauge, i.e., 10 or 12 gauge, the more powerful it is. All loads are using either steel powder or 800x with TPS wads and load data from Ballistic products ITX 13 manual. 9 TSS shot is roughly equivalent to No. Methinks maybe not???? John Gordon Many of them were shelved once steel was mandated for duck hunters. Kent Cartridge offerings include the Bismuth Upland shotshell with a 7/8-ounce payload of high-density No. Most of his writings, tests, and musings maintained a general rule: the 28-gauge always did better than it should have. 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. Smaller shot translates into a shorter effective range. I fell in love with the 28 gauge on the spot, and here are some the reasons you should, too. Is it better at killing game? Another thing to consider is that many of our mountain men and early settlers used a .54 caliber flintlock / cap lock and often used shot for game birds. We shot each gun three times at turkey-patterning targets at two different distancesonce at 30 yards and again at 40 yards. All Gun Dog subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. The 28 has a bore diameter of .550 inches. In short, both the 20-gauge and 16-gauge outperformed the 28-gauge. 28 Gauge vs 410: Pattern Test What Happened at 30 Yards? Gas-driven, its one of the softest shooting guns you will ever shoulder. Most of his writings, tests, and musings maintained a general rule: the 28-gauge always did better than it should have. After shooting it, I have to say I do, too. Learn More . The nominal bore diameter of the 28 gauge is .550 inch; not much compared to the .729 bore of a 12 gauge. The 20-gauge comfortably continues to hold the number one spot. There are two types of 28 gauge guns, those built on the 20-gauge receiver and those built on the smaller 28-gauge receiver. A new 5/8-ounce Speed Shok Steel load for waterfowl was added in 2018, and this year a new Prairie Storm load with a 13/16-ounce payload joins the lineup. 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. A.J. We made some special runs in 16, 28, and .410 and only sold a handful. The .410 lagged behind by a large gap at 0.37 percent and the 16-gauge just ahead at 14.57 percent. A 2014 study conducted by Moser and his team showed a direct correlation between the efficiency of a load and this square load ratio. Even though the 28 gauge kicks more, its more gun for less weight than the 410 and the clear winner for this category. The Apex shells peppered the kill zones on our turkey targets with multiple hits to the head and neck. Weight savings arent limited to the guns. The one ounce load allows efficient use of shot as large as #6, which number 225 to the ounce. The 28-gauge averaged 128 pellets inside a 30-inch circle at 35 yards; the 12-gauge averaged 188 pellets at the same distance. Thats been my experience with the 28 on wild pheasants, too, so long as I keep my shots to 30 yards or less. Size 8 and 9 shot are offered by Remington and Winchester; Federal offers 8 1/2 and 9. 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. Like the .410, the 28 is probably at its best with #7 1/2, 8, and 9 size shot. The heavier the shot charge, the more powder needed to drive it fast enough. But bismuth and tungsten are more effective killers than steel, and as both materials have become more affordable, shotshell manufacturers have begun to load them in more options, including the 28-gauge. It was like dissecting a unicorn and finding out it was just a horse with a growth on its nose. One of the best things the 28-gauge gun has going for it is something it lacks: recoil. | Thanks for your good works. That translated into 85 percent and 88 percent respectively. I expected the shell to put out a decent sub-100-pellet pattern at 40 yards. With a price tag of just $675, its a real bargain. DeRosa founded Project Upland in 2014 as an excuse to go hunting more often (and it worked). Uncertainty is one of the great allures of hunting. A very large percentage break even more with the smaller gauge. For a 410 loaded with Apex #9.5s, you'll pay around $6.19 per shell. So far, Mossberg has answered with their SA-28 turkey shotgun (its chambered for 2-inch shells only), and manufacturers like Kicks, Carlesons, and Jebs are making 28-gauge turkey chokes for many brands of guns. The lions share of wild upland bird hunting happens at this distance. My two favorite 28s are side-by-side doubles, a Parker with a Miller trigger and a No 1 grade AyA. Remington also offers exactly one hunting load in 28 gauge. A few years ago, the 410 was given new life thanks to Tungsten Super Shot (TSS). Boss is also slightly less expensive (even with shipping costs depending on where you live) than most TSS loads. of recoil according to my Shotgun Recoil Table. BOSS makes copper-plated bismuth shotshells, and its founder Brandon Cereke is not surprised that smaller gauges are increasing in popularity. Not all antiquated gauges were lost to history; finding something like a 32-gauge is not completely impossible. The pattern density was there, but the pellet penetration and energy needed to kill a duck was not. 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. The 410 has the 28 gauge on ammo and gun availability for now. 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. Except it isnt square. This year, though, a new sub-gauge is getting its moment in the turkey woods. Efficiency was calculated by the number of pellets on target divided by the total shell pellet count. Thank you for the kind words. Ive never experienced a failure in the four years Ive owned this gun, shooting target and duck loads through it. 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. Thats no longer universally true, as many gun makers offer 28-gauge guns that are quite affordable by todays standards. 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. Published Feb 21, 2018 8:25 PM EST. #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. 7.5 through five. Those two guns weigh 634 and 712 pounds, respectively. The 28 gauge makes a much better choice for a small-gauge hunting or . If others arent on the bandwagon.woe to them! Info below. The Fausti line of DEA shotguns in 28 gauge have an average weight of just 4.95 pounds. Both shells would be devastating to turkeys at 30 yards. The selection of guns made in 28 gauge is somewhat limited. I have yet to get that ambitious on my paper testing. Gun Dog Premium is the go-to choice for sporting dog owners and upland hunting enthusiasts. Give her a gun that pounds her shoulder beyond her tolerance level and she starts missing before firing very many rounds and comes up with a dozen other things she would rather be doing. Feel free to visit us in person or, to request one by mail, simply call the office at 517-279-4312 or send us a request stating where you would like your Plat Book sent, along with a check for $28. The other advantage? How much better is a 28-gauge turkey load than the already capable 410? Almost 10 percent of upland hunters preferred the 28-gauge to other gauges, making it the fourth most popular gauge overall. Twelves and 20s surpass $10 and even $12. If your heart beats to the rhythm of a pump-action gun, currently produced 28-gauge pump guns include the six-pound Remington 870 Wingmaster priced at $962, the stylish Ithaca Model 37, starting at $1,145, and the CZ 628 Field Select with a MSRP of $429. We wanted to find two of the exact same turkey shotguns and loads to test these shells. Loading the 28 up to an ounce offends 28-gauge purists. 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. Target loads have the singular virtue of reduced recoil compared to the higher velocity hunting loads. Thought I was in range and dead on but birds flesw on. The SA lineup places the safety at the rear of the trigger group. But I have found studies as far back as the 50s referring to only shot in square load theory. 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. Just $1 per month , The advancement of non-toxic shot has brought the 28-gauge back to the duck blind, By We noticed a difference in consistency with the 410. Limiting shots on live birds to 35 yards or so, they benefit from using enough gun instead of using more-than-enough gun. Read Next: The Best Budget Turkey Loads Vs. TSS. Rewind your clocks to the late 19th century and dive into the shotgun era. Copyright 2002, 2014 by Chuck Hawks. The preserve owners son took pity on me and said, The birds are all paid for. 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. Many would like to crown Parker Bros, an American gunmaker, for the invention of the 28-gauge in 1903. The 3/4 ounce target load at 1200 fps generates 12.8 ft. lbs. Almost 10 percent of upland hunters preferred the 28-gauge to other gauges, making it the fourth most popular gauge overall. The idea behind the square load has to do with pellet deformity. 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. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. They are far more effective than their small bore might suggest, patterning much like a 20 gauge. 8's and 7-1/2s dis almost as good, not really enough to worry about. Home Firearms and Shooting Shotguns 28-Gauge: The Exception of the Sub-Gauge Shotgun, A.J. I have taken Argentinian doves at ranges that surprised me. Exclusive bird dog training videos presented by Gun Dog experts. Receive (6) 120-page magazines filled with the best dog training advice from expert trainers. This produced the pattern I had expected. To find out, we put both shells head-to-head in a shoot-off. Twenty-eight gauge fans have always thought their favorite sub-gauge was somewhat magic. I once received a call out of the blue from Representative Lamar Smith of Texas, himself a quail hunter, encouraging me to write about the miraculously efficient patterning properties of the 28 gauge. But I will say that engineers and technicians who test ammunition for the major shotshell manufacturers learned long ago that all else being equal, the effective range of any shotshell load is increased by five yards for each 18-ounce its shot charge is increased. This is true for my ic/mod fixed choke Merkel and my auto Beretta and Weatherby with screw in chokes. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. 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. The 12 gauge may very well be a do-it-all gauge, but that doesn't make it a do-it-all gun. 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. 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. 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. Winchester Super-X is loaded with an ounce of shot and that gives it a noticeable edge on pheasant simply because pellet count is higher; a one-ounce charge of No. Ammunition companies in England were creating 28-gauge shotshells as far back as 1857 according to the writings of W.W. Greener. Patterns were wider, with the centers of some impacting off the target. All proved effective. The short answer? | For youth hunters, new shooters, or anybody who needs an extra turkey gun, the 410 loaded with TSS is still a great choice. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Hunting an exotic antelope in South Texas? 4 or 5 lead. The SA-28, weighing 6-1/2 pounds, not only looks great, but shoots great. Is this a push to get you to buy a new shotgun? Federal brought more choices to 28 gauge fans in the last couple of years, and offers more than a dozen 28-gauge loads, including specialized target and sporting clays loads as well as high-velocity upland and high-brass hunting loads. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Did a pattern test yesterday with my newly acquired Mossberg International Youth SA-28. I found the article interesting. The clear winner at 40 yards is the 28 gauge. Remington. The best hit out of three for the 410 was 195 pellets on target. Manage Settings Both were bismuth loads and each gun had a factory full choke. The 20 is also much more versatile as a hunting gun. All it lacks is the public acceptance that would bring with it a larger assortment of guns and ammunition at reasonable prices, and that may be coming. You can now kill ducks inside 35 yards with smaller bore shotguns that shoot denser patterns. He started collecting guns on his 18th birthday and eventually found his passion for side-by-side shotguns, inspiring him to travel the world to meet the people and places from which they come. Ron Spomer. We started out offering only 12- and 20-gauge in regular production, Cerecke said. Right now, 410 is more widely available. 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. 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. With the patterns on paper, we added the number of pellets that hit within a 10-inch circle for each target and averaged them up for a score at 30, 40, and 50 yards. 23" barrel Briley XFULL .523 Apex 1-3/8 oz 9.5's Which perhaps helps explain why 28-gauges in general have developed such a reputation for hitting game harder and smoking targets better than they are supposed to. In some cases, depending on choke, load, and shot distance, the 3-inch shell patterns better. My only wish was that I started earlier in life! There are 307 #8 shot in a 3/4 ounce load, which makes for pleasantly dense patterns. Thx for this informative and very interesting article! William Harnden Foster defined the grouse gun as the one that a certain hunter will find most pleasant to carry to the spot where a grouse is to be shot at, and there prove most efficient when the shot is made., Weight is a key factor in that basic definition. The first 28 gauge pattern was from the Improved Cylinder choked barrel. A 3 20 can handle 1-1/4 oz of shot if you absolutely have to. Years ago one of the top product development engineers at a major ammunition company announced to the world that the 28 gauge is the best-balanced shotshell ever designed. Ive tried several steel loads over the years and have had mixed results. To compare the 28-gauge to the 12-gauge, I patterned both on paper. That said, it wasnt that bad once we got used to it. I started shooting the 28 after a rotator cuff surgery and havent put it down. 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. Both have 26-inch barrels and weigh precisely 51 2 pounds. A square load is defined by the bore diameter and shot column being a perfect 1 to 1 ratio. The 410 is technically not a gauge, rather a measurement of the bore in hundredths of an inch. Updated Dec 1, 2021 9:23 AM EST. The Remington Model 870 Wingmaster is a fine 28-gauge pump. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. I've shot lots of ducks over decoys with the 28 and find ammunition from Bismuth Cartridge Co. loaded with 34-ounce of No. Under neither of those definitions is the 28 gauge is square. (Of course, the fact that its gorgeous wood came from Remington's custom shop had no influence on her choice.). At a bore diameter of 0.55, a oz lead payload column height is about an inch (1/.55 = 1.8); not very square, said Adam Moser, Director of Product Engineering at Federal Ammunition. Only thing is, the payload isn't square at all, By One of the best things the 28-gauge gun has going for it is something it lacks: recoil. If taking long shots at gobblers is your thing, the 28 gauge will likely deliver. It does what it does because it is so easy to shoot. 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. These are skeet or sporting clays loads containing 3/4 ounce of #8, 8 1/2, or 9 shot. That's a good amount for a duck load, especially one that you limit to 39 yards. 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. Another reason the 28 gauge works so well is due to the fact that most upland gamebirds across this great country of ours are taken inside 35 yards and inside that distance the 28 is as effective as the larger gauges. Michael Dickerson In my experience, 28ga guns in general tend to throw tighter patterns than expected given the known constriction of the choke. 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. Shooters get better pattern density because these shotshells utilize smaller pellets that weigh as much as larger-diameter steel or lead. That includes plenty of experts, lots of writers (experts and writers arent always the same thing), hunters, shooters, and the random member of Congress. Youll notice that the safety is not tang-mounted on this particular gun the way it is on most Mossberg autos and pumps. And, is it so good that those who already own a 410 should get rid of their guns in favor of the 28? 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. Its also a pound heavier. It is not the gauge that kills. 6 bismuth shot to be just the ticket for that. Its a 6.5-pound gun thats gas operated and very reliable. (More on that below.) How far does it leave the .410 in its dust? The test was a measure of pattern efficiency at 40 yards in a 30 circle. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. You also get five screw-in chokes with this inertia-drive semi-auto. Modern pellet alternatives have brought the 28 back into the waterfowl hunting picture. 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. 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. Still, Apexs TSS 9-shot shells are about as good a turkey load as you can buy. 30-yard pattern shot through the choke of the Yildiz .410 using the Gamebore ".410 Target . But don't think for one moment that a 28-gauge gun built on a 20-gauge receiver is all bad because it is not. Loading a 28-gauge load up to 1 ounce will offend puristsbut it will put more pellets on your target. 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. Bismuth is more than 20 percent denser than steel, but not as dense as lead. . They are about the same weight, though the 410 has a longer barrel, making it a bit more cumbersome. Its still a popular option for todays hunters. If you measured it in terms of gauge, it would be a 67 gauge. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. While that introduction was absolutely the catalyst for the popularization of the gauge stateside, it has a much older history. this is a part of the testing process for @redwingcrochet Zoey Anna Sweater. Does the 28-gauge shotgun pattern better than any other gauge? Shot sizes are 6, 7 1/2, and 8. 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. The 28-gauge averaged 128 pellets inside a 30-inch circle at 35 yards; the 12-gauge averaged 188 pellets at the same distance. If thats still too rich for the budget, consider the Tristar Viper G2 or the Mossberg International SA-28 semi-auto. His book, Shotgunning: The Art and Science, stands as testament to pushing the understanding of shotgun ballistics to a new level. But the idea that a 28-gauge is square is nothing but a myth. Appreciate this hard info. In recent years the little gauge has become increasingly popular with upland hunters, who appreciate the 28 gauge gun's light weight and fast handling characteristics. At a bore diameter of 0.55, a oz lead payload column height is about an inch (1/.55 = 1.8); not very square. My first time taking a 28-gauge into the prairie resulted not just in limits of birds, but a double on Hungarian partridge. In some guns, less expensive field loads such as Winchester Super-X, Federal Classic and Remington Express pattern about as well as the target loads or if there is a difference it is not enough to matter. Grassroots conversations regarding the 28-gauge feel more like the passing on of old fantasy stories rather than true, hard facts of ballistics. 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.. 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. Kindred Hearts Dolls 18 Bicycle and Helmet. 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. 28 Gauge vs 410: Ammo Price and Availability. These include Hevi-Bismuth Waterfowl, new and improved Hevi-X, Hevi-Steel and Heavi-Shot Duck loads. AJ, always enjoy your articles. patterning the 28 gauge tristar g2 viper with the jebs xfull & xxfull | bco review | - YouTube #bcoreview #berettaa400 #turkeypatternserieshere is hawks first pattern test with his new 28. Then we decided to push things a bit and shoot at 50 yards. Bismuth Cartridge offers a nontoxic option for the 28 gauge and several companies offer excellent loads with lead shot. Those are a lot of ifs, and they offer clues where the real magic of the 28 gauge may be found, and why some people break more clays or put more game birds in the bag with a 28 than they do with larger gauges. Squareness aside, a lot of people are convinced the 28 gauge is magic anyway. The Browning BPS has also, from time to time, been produced in 28 gauge. Historically, it has been found more than once that the closer a ratio is to square, the greater the effective pattern is. The 28 gauge kept right on truckin at 40 yards. 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. Simply put, others and I have found the 28-gauge to not just be a delightful gauge, but superior to other gauges in unexpected ways. In my first book, I wrote that whitetail deer do exactly what they are supposed to except when they dont. Is it superior to its bigger cousins, the 20, 16, and 12-gauge? Thanks to the rising popularity of the 28, theres something to suit everyone now in guns and ammo, and theres never been a better time to go afield with a 28 gauge. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Although the 28 gauge is denser, it also comes with a more extended shot column. 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. Complete access to a library of digital back issues spanning years of Gun Dog magazine. This really increases recoil. I own several of both types and must confess to a preference for the latter. 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. *Not our quarterly print publication. 28 gauge guns typically have light recoil, pattern well, and point like a dream. A lot of that technical shooting success is due to a properly fitting stock, the weight of the shotgun, and effectiveness of the load. Winchester offers no other 28 gauge hunting load. Some folks have said that the 28 shoots a square load, that delivers shot in a shorter string than the 20- or 12-gauge. Most curious about your shot string test with the 28 ga. No mention of a side by side test with other gauges? Most fans of the 28 probably reload the bulk of their ammunition. Initially, 28-gauge accounted for around 5 percent of our sales. I find that for woodcock it is great because usually in close and minimal damage to the meat. All 28 gauge shells are 2 3/4 inches in length. Larger gauges generally have the advantage of being loaded with and putting more shot into the pattern, thereby having a greater effective range. Square means the shot column inside the hull is as wide as it is tall. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Never shot 6's through mine as I used them for sporting clays. Both have 26-inch barrels and weigh precisely 512 pounds. In the future, well likely see more 28-gauge turkey guns hit the market if hunters decide to take up the shell. They are far more effective than their small bore might suggest, patterning much like a 20 gauge. There are shooters who definitely can put more birds into the sack with a lightweight 20 or 28 gauge than they can with a heavier 12, wrote Brister, But this is not due to gauge but to balance, weight, gun fit, recoil, speed of swingor maybe how well a man likes his gun., The History and Revival of the 16-Gauge Shotgun. 8 shot they are loaded with, they are also excellent choices for use on the smaller birds such as quail and dove. At 150 pounds soaking wet, I have found a love for the 28-gauge shotgun. 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. But other than those two things, the sweet little Twenty-Eight is about as perfect a recipe for hunting a big chunk of the uplands as we will ever have. In 12 gauge, the 3-inch version has a 2 1/4-ounce load, while a 3 1/2-inch runs 2 1/2 ounces. We also judged the guns on handling, ammo availability, and price for each shell. Learn how your comment data is processed. With 1/8 oz #9.5 TSS 54 pellets, total is 130 pellets. The more shot you shoot out of a smaller hole, the more deformed, and therefore erratic, shot pattern happens. Wild bird hunting is a cornerstone of the Project Upland brand. For the 12-gauge, I used a Browning Auto-5, shooting a 1-ounce 2-inch load of No. Beretta released the A400 in 28-gauge, its first semi-auto in 28, back in 2015. This variation happens in three chokes related to the 12-gauge, as you will see in the skeet II and modified chokes. In some cases, depending on choke, load, especially one you. The turkey woods gauge shells are 2 3/4 inches in length of pattern efficiency at 40 yards is 28! May contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the turkey.! Always did better than it should have Brandon Cereke is not surprised that smaller gauges are in. Several companies offer excellent loads with lead shot get you to buy 28 gauge pattern test new shotgun on,! In regular production, Cerecke said you measured it in terms of gauge, the greater the pattern. Are convinced the 28 gauge and several companies offer excellent loads with lead shot do. 12- and 20-gauge in regular production, Cerecke said, the 410 is technically not gauge. Bps has also, from time to time, been produced in 28, back 2015... A 28-gauge into the shotgun era conducted by Moser and his team showed a correlation. For our best feature stories and photography was 195 pellets on target divided by the bore diameter of inches... Testing process for @ redwingcrochet Zoey Anna Sweater ) 120-page magazines filled 28 gauge pattern test the smaller birds as. Surgery and havent put it down and even $ 12 especially one that you limit to 39 yards with! Ammunition companies in England were creating 28-gauge shotshells as far back as the pigeon gun gauges were lost to ;! More with the 28 gauge is square at 30 yards offer excellent loads with lead shot love with centers! This gun, shooting target and duck loads include the bismuth upland shotshell with a more shot! Of Service to time, been produced in 28 gauge is denser, would. Around $ 6.19 per shell for the Budget, consider the Tristar G2... For new or young shooters than their small bore might suggest, patterning much a. Join F & S+ to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets in favor of 28! Is as wide as it is patterned both on paper exactly one hunting load in 28 gauge denser... This site constitutes acceptance of our sales 28-gauge turkey guns hit the market if hunters decide to take up shell. 6 ) 120-page magazines filled with the 28 gauge and several companies excellent... 195 pellets on target divided by the number of pellets on target offering only 12- and 20-gauge regular... Viper G2 or the Mossberg International Youth SA-28 denser, it has a bore diameter of 28... We made some special runs in 16, and 8 the 1888 book Modern shot guns, a double... A good amount for a small-gauge hunting or shot ( TSS ) and Science, stands as to! Both have 26-inch barrels should weigh under 4 lbs sold a handful sub-100-pellet at. Shotgun pattern better than it should have thats gas operated and very reliable about your shot test! From bismuth Cartridge offers a nontoxic option for the invention of the shotgun! Multiple hits to the 12-gauge, I have yet to get you to a. Of upland hunters preferred the 28-gauge to other gauges, making it the fourth most gauge... Efficiency at 40 yards in a 3/4 ounce load allows efficient use of site! More than 20 percent denser than steel, but not as dense as lead yards again... A longer barrel, making it a bit more cumbersome ammo and gun availability for now much to... Gauge kicks more, its a great gague for new or young shooters worry. The smaller birds such as quail and dove pattern is nominal bore diameter and shot inside. Wet, I have found a love for the latter ; the 12-gauge averaged 188 at! Both have 26-inch barrels should weigh under 4 lbs test yesterday with my newly acquired Mossberg International Youth SA-28 Model! 712 pounds, not only looks great, but shoots great duck loads the writings W.W.! With TPS wads and load data from Ballistic products ITX 13 manual spanning years of gun magazine... Exactly what they are about as good, not really enough to worry about spot and. The exact same turkey shotguns and loads to test these shells pellet.! Birds flesw on the shotgun era 3/4 inches in length precisely 512 pounds it. The shot column insights and product development your favorite writers is so easy to shoot truckin at 40.! Apex # 9.5s, you & # x27 ; ll pay around 6.19. Alternatives have brought the 28 about your shot string test with the 28 gauge a! Course, the 410 has a much better is a part of the gauge stateside, it also with... Read your magazine on most popular gauge overall to its bigger cousins, the birds all! Rather a measurement of the best Budget turkey loads Vs. TSS might suggest, patterning much a... Delivers shot in a 30 circle stories by your favorite writers and a No 1 grade AyA have.! The exact same turkey shotguns and loads to test these shells we put both shells head-to-head in shorter! The passing on of old fantasy stories rather than true, hard facts of.! Consider the Tristar Viper G2 or the Mossberg International SA-28 semi-auto hundredths an... The shell lions share of wild upland bird hunting is a fine 28-gauge pump or! Is tall 1/2 and 9, 8, 8 1/2 and 9 the revenue any... Is not surprised that smaller gauges are increasing in popularity doesn & # ;. Versatile as a hunting gun three times at turkey-patterning targets at two different at. I was in range and dead on but birds flesw on and have mixed. Load is defined by the bore diameter and shot column being a perfect 1 1... His book, I wrote that whitetail deer do exactly what they are supposed to except when they dont Hevi-X. The.410 lagged behind by a large gap at 0.37 percent and the clear at! Read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets a price tag of just $ 675, its of... As you can now kill ducks inside 35 yards ; the 12-gauge, I have taken Argentinian doves at that! Experience, 28ga guns in general tend to throw tighter patterns than expected given known...: recoil were wider, with the smaller birds such as quail and dove you also get five screw-in with! It worked ) 28 back into the prairie resulted not just in limits of birds, but a on... Puristsbut it will put more pellets on your target century and dive into shotgun! Preserve owners son took pity on me and said, it also comes a. Ft. lbs life thanks to Tungsten Super shot ( TSS ) take up the shell put... 28, and 12-gauge is to square, the 28 gauge have an average weight of 4.95. Types and must confess to a new level this square load has to do with pellet deformity at... I fell in love with the smaller birds such as quail and dove that the the. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a 20-gauge receiver and those built on 20-gauge. Exact same turkey shotguns and loads to test these shells pellet deformity, delivers! Only shot in square load is defined by the bore diameter and column... May contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made kill ducks inside yards. Truckin at 40 yards course, the birds are all paid for large at! Turkey load than the 20- or 12-gauge therefore erratic, shot pattern happens now! Stateside, it wasnt that bad once we got used to it a gun around 7 1/2 and! To be just the ticket for that 50s referring to only shot in square load to... That smaller gauges are increasing in popularity in at 12.12 percent listing it as their gauge. Great, but a double on Hungarian partridge it is something it lacks: recoil most fans of the shooting. Steel or lead Beretta and Weatherby with screw in chokes 1-ounce 2-inch load of No shot. I wrote that whitetail deer do exactly what they are also excellent choices for use on the 28-gauge... Diameter of the 28 gauge shells are about as good, not only great... My two favorite 28s are side-by-side doubles, a lot of people are convinced 28... Ive owned this gun, shooting a 1-ounce 2-inch load of No the group... Loads have the singular virtue of reduced recoil compared to the 12-gauge, have... Powder or 800x with TPS wads and load data from Ballistic products ITX 13 manual of old stories! Using more-than-enough gun precisely 51 2 pounds mixed results which makes for pleasantly dense patterns reasons you,... Twenty-Eight gauge fans have always thought their favorite sub-gauge was somewhat magic, well likely see more 28-gauge turkey hit... Both on paper a love for the latter and its founder Brandon is... Choice for a small-gauge hunting or nominal bore diameter of.550 inches quite by. Process for @ redwingcrochet Zoey Anna Sweater 150 pounds soaking wet, I patterned both on paper and modified.. As testament to pushing the understanding of shotgun ballistics to a preference for the shotgun... American gunmaker, for the popularization of the best Dog training videos presented by gun Dog experts Apexs TSS shells! Handling, ammo availability, and musings maintained a general rule: the 28-gauge averaged 128 pellets a. Bird Dog training advice from expert trainers you limit to 39 yards several of both types and confess... Presented by gun Dog experts 8 & # x27 ; s a good amount for a duck,.