I find that for woodcock it is great because usually in close and minimal damage to the meat. The short answer? The clear winner at 40 yards is the 28 gauge. But it comes at a price. Loading the 28 up to an ounce offends 28-gauge purists. 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. I shot a 7/8-ounce 2-inch load of No. You are correct in that that is the method used for muzzleloader ballistics. Imagine someone driving a station wagon pulling a boat trailer rigged up with a 16x4 target for you to shoot at. Bismuth is more than 20 percent denser than steel, but not as dense as lead. It was also remarkably consistent, throwing up solid patterns with every shot. One expert calculated the effects of shooting a 12 gauge in a 100-target competition with 1-1/8 ounce loads and concluded that, by the end, you will have soaked up nearly a ton of cumulative recoil energy. Thx for this informative and very interesting article! (More on that below.) With 1/8 oz #9.5 TSS 54 pellets, total is 130 pellets. Efficiency was calculated by the number of pellets on target divided by the total shell pellet count. It is not the gauge that kills. Its also a pound heavier. The 2-bore, 4-bore, 14-bore, 24-bore, and the .360 (smaller than the .410) also existed in the mix. We wanted to find two of the exact same turkey shotguns and loads to test these shells. Under certain circumstances I too am inclined to ignore tradition and pick 28- gauge guns that are heavier than my Parker and AyA doubles. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. - #4 steel 4/8oz 31.6 yds, 95 pellets. Since then, I have learned with conviction that ruffed grouse are even more mysterious than whitetail. Unlike some things that look better on paper than in the field, I find this to be quite true. 28 gauge vs 20 gauge TSS pattern test DIY Hunter 9.93K subscribers 6 119 views 6 days ago We are doing a pattern test with a 28 gauge using TSS versus longbeard XR rounds. You can also now order 28-gauge loads with Federals dense tungsten super shot (TSS) directly from the Federal Custom Shop. They are far more effective than their small bore might suggest, patterning much like a 20 gauge. 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 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. Phil Bourjaily Get the latest articles, films, podcasts, and exclusive offers for the upland obsessed curated to your email each week. I have yet to get that ambitious on my paper testing. The baseball is heavier and denser, its going to hurt more. The Remington Model 870 Wingmaster is a fine 28-gauge pump. The pattern density was there, but the pellet penetration and energy needed to kill a duck was not. The selection of shot shells in 28 gauge is pretty limited, and all are loaded with lead shot. After shooting it, I have to say I do, too. 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. Perhaps the most common 28 gauge guns in North America are the Browning BPS and Remington 870 pump shotguns. More game in the bag was just a bonus considering all the other factors that make this such a wonderful gauge. For the guns, we turned to Mossberg. finish thats applied to minimize abrasions and corrosion. Home Firearms and Shooting Shotguns 28-Gauge: The Exception of the Sub-Gauge Shotgun, A.J. Hit a bird with the pattern core and. This is the advantage of the 12 gauge over the smaller 20 and 28 gauges. Many would like to crown Parker Bros, an American gunmaker, for the invention of the 28-gauge in 1903. 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. Example Patterns. The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory, Aldo Gucci. 28 gauge guns typically have light recoil, pattern well, and point like a dream. With the 410 thinning out at 40, we didnt want to push it to 50. 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. 25 results for "my 18 inch doll inc doll bike fits" $28. But choked properly, its every bit as deadly on ducks at reasonable distances. A lot of that technical shooting success is due to a properly fitting stock, the weight of the shotgun, and effectiveness of the load. Remington. He used a train traveling 11 mph. And it still holds true in general for Briley and Trulock chokes in my semi-autos. Personally, when I had my 28's, I found 8-1/2s to pattern best. A 3 20 can handle 1-1/4 oz of shot if you absolutely have to. I have not seen it listed in recent Federal catalogs, but it has been picked-up by Winchester in the form of a Super-X High Brass load with a muzzle velocity (MV) of 1205 fps. The selection of guns made in 28 gauge is somewhat limited. Out of three shots, the 410 averaged 160 hits in a 10-inch Circle. 8's and 7-1/2s dis almost as good, not really enough to worry about. Manage Settings 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. There, we will find a much different spread of gauges than one would today. I knew I would like it, but I didnt know I would love it. Shoot a one-ounce load at 1,220 fps out of a 6-1/2 pound 20 gauge and youll experience a bit more than 17 foot pounds of recoil energy. 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. 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. But some patterns were so wide, they hit other targetsone scoring a kill shot with a pellet in the adjacent gobblers head. Yet in the field, the 28 does seem magical. For the 12-gauge, I used a Browning Auto-5, shooting a 1-ounce 2-inch load of No. 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. They are far more effective than their small bore might suggest, patterning much like a 20 gauge. At every trigger pull, the dark shoot-and-see turkey target turned neon green. Also developed a crack in the stock . 4 or 5 lead. Matthew Every If you measured it in terms of gauge, it would be a 67 gauge. At 150 pounds soaking wet, I have found a love for the 28-gauge shotgun. Right now, 410 is more widely available. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. For pattern density, the 28 gauge more than doubled what the 410 can do. Add to quote; Share Only show this user. For two seasons now Ive made it my primary gauge, leaving the 20-gauge behind after almost 30 years with no regrets. The 28 patterns its . 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. We started our test shooting the 410, and when we switched over to the 28 gauge, we noticed an uncomfortable jump in recoil. I did some research on this after another comment from someone talking about how blackpowder was done in that manner back in the day. It has a 3-inch chamber, a more recent 28-gauge development. Recoil. 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. In the future, well likely see more 28-gauge turkey guns hit the market if hunters decide to take up the shell. 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. The 410 took the turkey world by storm when hunters realized thatwhen loaded with TSSthe little shells could take down a gobbler. 6 bismuth shot to be just the ticket for that. With a price tag of just $675, its a real bargain. As an owner of several 28-gauge shotguns, I could not agree more with the author. As far as when it started to be measured in that manner, I am unsure. 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. One of the best things the 28-gauge gun has going for it is something it lacks: recoil. 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. 9 shot. Ammunition companies in England were creating 28-gauge shotshells as far back as 1857 according to the writings of W.W. Greener. You bet. 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? I very much doubt it. Gas-driven, its one of the softest shooting guns you will ever shoulder. In some cases, depending on choke, load, and shot distance, the 3-inch shell patterns better. Remington Model 870 Wingmaster. Currently, four ammo manufacturers make 28-gauge turkey loads in 3-inch and 2-inch lengths. 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. 28 Gauge vs 410: Ammo Price and Availability. 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. The 28 gauge makes a much better choice for a small-gauge hunting or . If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. 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. 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. 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. 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. Ive never experienced a failure in the four years Ive owned this gun, shooting target and duck loads through it. 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. Thats been my experience with the 28 on wild pheasants, too, so long as I keep my shots to 30 yards or less. This really increases recoil. The rarity, demand, and modern manufacturing of the 28-gauge is making this rising star even more accessible. Thought I was in range and dead on but birds flesw on. These include Hevi-Bismuth Waterfowl, new and improved Hevi-X, Hevi-Steel and Heavi-Shot Duck loads. And most hunters figured a 3.5-inch gun could send more pellets downrange at ducks, though it was later revealed that pattern density in a 3-inch versus a 3.5-inch shotshell are nearly identical. Ron Spomer. ( not as many pellets / but a solid pattern none the less). Just $1 per month , The advancement of non-toxic shot has brought the 28-gauge back to the duck blind, By For example, No. Your email address will not be published. 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. 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. Thanks for your good works. We put two TSS shells to the test to find out, By We also judged the guns on handling, ammo availability, and price for each shell. Both are capable of killing waterfowl at that distance without any measurable difference. Like the .410, the 28 is probably at its best with #7 1/2, 8, and 9 size shot. 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. To me, this is the load to use if you're just looking to make a 40yd 28ga duck load. Pellet count for Winchester's Super-X ammo with an ounce of shot is about 34 percent higher than for the standard 34 ounce loads. This is a viewer funded channel.. That core is usually about 15 inches across. I've shot lots of ducks over decoys with the 28 and find ammunition from Bismuth Cartridge Co. loaded with 34-ounce of No. I went back to the 25 yard mark and loaded the upper barrel with the modified choke. Its measured by shooting at a large, fast-moving paper target. 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. 181K views 4 years ago Discussing some of the differences in the .410 bore and 28 gauge shotguns and shooting some patterns with #6 birdshot hunting loads. Price can also be a problem, as 28 gauge shells are not widely distributed and are seldom found in discount stores. Even after patterning the guns and seeing good results on paper at longer distances, that often did not translate into dead ducks afield. With the right buffered load, a 28 bore is highly effective. 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. 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. Updated Dec 1, 2021 9:23 AM EST. I think they proved the 28 gauge way back before the 28 became a cartridge ! (Of course, the fact that its gorgeous wood came from Remington's custom shop had no influence on her choice.). We noticed a difference in consistency with the 410. The other advantage? Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Smaller shot translates into a shorter effective range. This is a high brass Express Extra Long Range load with 3/4 ounce of #6 or #7 1/2 shot at a MV of 1295 fps. The somewhat unusual #8 1/2 size shot has a pellet count of 373 in a 3/4 ounce load. 20-, and 28-gauge, plus .410. Both are capable of killing waterfowl at that distance without any measurable difference. 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. At the top of the heap in pattern quality are Federal Gold Medal, Remington STS and Winchester AA. For youth hunters, new shooters, or anybody who needs an extra turkey gun, the 410 loaded with TSS is still a great choice. They are lightweight, easy to handle guns. 7.5 through five. !" some of you might ask.. watch the video for more info! A square load is an equal amount of powder and shot by volume. Both the8-gauge and 10-gauge were common and popular. 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