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. There are myths of its origins, a collective misunderstanding of the square load, and a devout following by some of the greatest shotgun experts and writers. Info below. 117 Likes, 0 Comments - @fattestknits on Instagram: "CALL FOR TESTERS: #REPOST @lilykatemakes TEST KNITTERS NEEDED Another one ready for." 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. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Great read. This all builds a story that the 28-gauge is slowly, steadily gaining popularity as a gauge of choice for upland hunting. Hmmm dead on???? And you can tote a lighter gun to the blind and experience the same results (with less recoil) as you would with a 12-gauge. Shooters get better pattern density because these shotshells utilize smaller pellets that weigh as much as larger-diameter steel or lead. The 2-bore, 4-bore, 14-bore, 24-bore, and the .360 (smaller than the .410) also existed in the mix. But we did want to see what the 28 gauge could do at half a football field. As an owner of several 28-gauge shotguns, I could not agree more with the author. Both have 26-inch barrels and weigh precisely 512 pounds. "What exactly is a gauge swatch? No doubt about it, the 12 gauge with its heavier shot charge enjoys a performance advantage beyond 30 yards but inside that distance the 28 gauge will hold its own with anything you'd want to shoot from your shoulder. My only wish was that I started earlier in life! So, we added all three gauges to the regular lineup. With 1/8 oz #9.5 TSS 54 pellets, total is 149 pellets. Many people assume that the larger the shotguns gauge, i.e., 10 or 12 gauge, the more powerful it is. 4, although BOSS offers a 3/5 blend. These are skeet or sporting clays loads containing 3/4 ounce of #8, 8 1/2, or 9 shot. I shot a lot of pheasantsI mean a lot of pheasantsthat day. 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. I fell in love with the 28 gauge on the spot, and here are some the reasons you should, too. The heavier the shot charge, the more powder needed to drive it fast enough. But that doesnt mean you should forget about the 410. For example, No. The selection of guns made in 28 gauge is somewhat limited. 30-yard pattern shot through the choke of the Yildiz .410 using the Gamebore ".410 Target . 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. 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. The Apex shells peppered the kill zones on our turkey targets with multiple hits to the head and neck. Then we decided to push things a bit and shoot at 50 yards. Shot sizes are 6, 7 1/2, and 8. In my experience, 28ga guns in general tend to throw tighter patterns than expected given the known constriction of the choke. It was like dissecting a unicorn and finding out it was just a horse with a growth on its nose. 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. But give her a light-recoiling gun in 28 gauge and she hits far more often than she misses and can burn up ammo faster than I can produce it with my progressive reloader. The highly respected American firm of Parker Bros. introduced the 28 gauge back in 1903. The preserve owners son took pity on me and said, The birds are all paid for. 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. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. The lions share of wild upland bird hunting happens at this distance. Perhaps the most common 28 gauge guns in North America are the Browning BPS and Remington 870 pump shotguns. Properly scaled 28-gauge guns, meaning guns that are built on true 28-gauge receivers rather than 28-gauge guns built on larger-gauge receivers, are quite light and a joy to hunt with. Add to quote; Share Only show this user. AJ, always enjoy your articles. 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. 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. That core is usually about 15 inches across. 28 Gauge vs 410: Pattern Test What Happened at 30 Yards? 28 Gauge vs 410: Ammo Price and Availability. They are lightweight, easy to handle guns. In the 1990s, 12 gauges chambered for 3.5-inch shotshells were standard issue for most duck hunters. Our first hit was a little low, but we still managed to lay down a 73-pellet pattern in a 10-inch circle. A square load is defined by the bore diameter and shot column being a perfect 1 to 1 ratio. I did some research on this after another comment from someone talking about how blackpowder was done in that manner back in the day. Bismuth is more than 20 percent denser than steel, but not as dense as lead. The 28-gauge now represents an often-coveted selection in vintage-built shotguns that can drive prices to nauseating levels. But I have found studies as far back as the 50s referring to only shot in square load theory. In my first book, I wrote that whitetail deer do exactly what they are supposed to except when they dont. 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. Most of his writings, tests, and musings maintained a general rule: the 28-gauge always did better than it should have. At 40 yards, things started to change. Other reasons could be that our shells didnt like the choke we had in. I have taken Argentinian doves at ranges that surprised me. We took two shots (these shells are hard to get, and we only had 10 of them) and connected with the target with each. 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. Exclusive bird dog training videos presented by Gun Dog experts. 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. Efficiency was calculated by the number of pellets on target divided by the total shell pellet count. We wanted to find two of the exact same turkey shotguns and loads to test these shells. 5 shot (213 pellets). 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. The dense little pellets turned the diminutive gaugeusually reserved for youth small game huntersinto a viable turkey killer. The first 28 gauge pattern was from the Improved Cylinder choked barrel. In short, both the 20-gauge and 16-gauge outperformed the 28-gauge. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Put simply, Ive never shot another gauge better. 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. 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. Pair that with the short shot column holding 3/4 to 7/8 ounces of shot and it creates a deadly pattern thats an effective duck killer at modest ranges. BOSS makes copper-plated bismuth shotshells, and its founder Brandon Cereke is not surprised that smaller gauges are increasing in popularity. All were developed for clay target shooting but due to the extremely hard No. 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. Thought I was in range and dead on but birds flesw on. I have yet to get that ambitious on my paper testing. The ban on lead shot had just come to pass and shotshell makers hadnt yet determined that speed was the key to making steel deadly. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Did a pattern test yesterday with my newly acquired Mossberg International Youth SA-28. The light weight and easy swinging ability appear to make me a better and even quicker shot. My first over-and-under shotgun was a stunningly beautiful 12 gauge that weighed more than nine pounds. #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. If none of this convinces you that the 28 gauge shotshell is as effective as the 12 gauge at close to medium ranges, perhaps a look at the scores fired by skeet shooters will change your mind. There is no magic to it. We started our test shooting the 410, and when we switched over to the 28 gauge, we noticed an uncomfortable jump in recoil. Smaller birds, it goes without saying, fall dead, too. One of the best things the 28-gauge gun has going for it is something it lacks: recoil. No such load is available on the market. I think they proved the 28 gauge way back before the 28 became a cartridge ! 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. Years ago, I was invited to shoot with a bunch of top DNR officials and the governor at a preserve near Des Moines. There, we will find a much different spread of gauges than one would today. 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. Turkey loads for the 28 gauge were scarce during our test, and we could only come up with ammo from Apex. The Browning BPS has also, from time to time, been produced in 28 gauge. It makes a good option for those who want a 28 as their only smallbore, whether its loads are square or not. 9s inside a 10-inch target at 40 yards through the Remington 870. . Both are capable of killing waterfowl at that distance without any measurable difference. But it comes at a price. The 20-gauge comfortably continues to hold the number one spot. This is the advantage of the 12 gauge over the smaller 20 and 28 gauges. 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. I have been shooting skeet and 5 stand with my guns the past few years and have come to the conclusion I have very little target loss compared to a larger bore, and a much, much, much more pleasant shooting experience! Where the 28 has a disadvantage is in pellet size offerings. The advent of newer technology has only helped its case. 6 bismuth shot to be just the ticket for that. At every trigger pull, the dark shoot-and-see turkey target turned neon green. However, 60 yards..and CONSISTENTLY? 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. Just $1 per month , Is the 28 gauge really that much better than a 410? They are far more effective than their small bore might suggest, patterning much like a 20 gauge. Patterns were wider, with the centers of some impacting off the target. It was shot string that was the final evidence Brister needed to make a case for the 28-gauge. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. The 28 gauge got its name the same arcane way all shotgun gauges were named: for the number of lead balls with the same diameter as the bore that it takes to equal one pound. Follow along to watch me complete my first pattern test #crochet #crochettester #crochetpatterntester #patterntest #patterntesting . We will talk about string theory later. Both were bismuth loads and each gun had a factory full choke. For years Federal offered a 1 ounce magnum load in 28 gauge. I can think of no guns I like better for hot-barrel dove shooting than a Weatherby Athena over-under and a Winchester Model 12 pump gun. 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. Manage Settings Both the8-gauge and 10-gauge were common and popular. Shot sizes 6, 7 1/2, and 8 are the choices. Those two guns weigh 634 and 712 pounds, respectively. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. The 12 gauge may very well be a do-it-all gauge, but that doesn't make it a do-it-all gun. When it comes to factory ammunition, plenty of excellent 28-gauge loads are available. The most significant findings would seem to be the addition of a new dimension to consideration of the shot string and what it means to clean-killing effectiveness with modern loads, Brister concluded. The 28 gauge covered the target, averaging 152 hits in a 10-inch circle while remaining precise and controllable. A square load is an equal amount of powder and shot by volume. We noticed a difference in consistency with the 410. 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. Learn more about our use of cookies:cookie policy. An over-under in 28 gauge, like the author's. How much better is a 28-gauge turkey load than the already capable 410? Squareness aside, a lot of people are convinced the 28 gauge is magic anyway. To compare the 28-gauge to the 12-gauge, I patterned both on paper. Thats why some turkey hunters shoot gobblers with a .410 now. John Gordon It was also remarkably consistent, throwing up solid patterns with every shot. The SA lineup places the safety at the rear of the trigger group. 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. A factory full choke your favorite writers to quote ; share only show user! Clay target shooting but due to the 12-gauge already showed an edge overall. 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