New 28ga over/under. Now what?

Likely best to find what it likes and order a case online. Target Sports USA has a "prime" deal where they will ship you anything for a year for free after you buy the prime membership. IF they sell 28ga that may be worth a look so you can try some different loads. Also, check ammoseek if you haven't.

The 28 gauge is best suited for upland birds, rabbit, squirrel, etc. Not a great choice for waterfowl in general although for early teal and wood duck it would be fine.

https://www.outdoorlimited.com/shot...chilled-lead-shot-3-4-oz-1300-fps-250-rounds/

28 ga can be reloaded fairly cost effectively since it is thrifty on shot and powder when compared to 12 ga. Buy good quality shells for a source of hulls to reload.

I shoot lots of 28 ga skeet and buy Winchester AA shells. They have a pretty good life when reloaded.

While I shot my first pheasant with a 28 ga when as a child I was hunting with my Dad, I'll agree the 28 ga is more suited to smaller targets.

Walmart will have your best selection on 28 gauge target ammo. Academy and similar will have the better choices for hunting ammo. Reloading is your best bet - use the Winchester AA hulls for best performance. With the right ammo, the 28 is very capable; the limiting factor is range

If ammunition wasn’t so expensive or I was richer I’d own a 28 gauge.

Don't worry, you won't own that one for long...

try to find a used mec 650 press and start to reload, it will cost less to load 28ga than bigger gages. I use a mec 9000 to load 28 ga using sts Remington cases and load 7/8 0z to 3/4 0z loads to 1225 fps.

It’s actually a very versatile chambering. I love it for dove in particular.

eastbank said:

try to find a used mec 650 press and start to reload, it will cost less to load 28ga than bigger gages. I use a mec 9000 to load 28 ga using sts Remington cases and load 7/8 0z to 3/4 0z loads to 1225 fps.

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Even a MEC Jr (cheaper than the 650) will be good enough for hunting loads. I prefer the Universal Charge bar so I can dial in exactly what I want without the need for a lot of powder bushing or shot charge bars. I woulds also add the autoprimer feed; it speeds things up well enough, I can load 4-6 boxes in an hour, including being boxed up.

cdb1 said:

If ammunition wasn’t so expensive or I was richer I’d own a 28 gauge.

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Buying components oin bulk, you can reload 28 gauge ammo for about $3.50/box. You can't buy 12 or 20 cheap stuff for that

Don't be surprised if you like that 28ga. I started shooting 28Ga about a year ago and haven't touched my 12 ga since. The 28ga spoiled me. George P helped me greatly with advice on how to start reloading my own 28ga. I keep the used hulls in a plastic 5 gallon bucket until I am ready to load a batch in the garage during winter months when the humidity is low. But even if George didn't teach me, the ammo isn't a deal breaker. Going out to eat at a restaurant these days costs more than a few boxes of ammo.

If you’re looking to hunt ducks or geese, as the guys have said the limited amount of shot that can fit into a 28 ga hull makes big-bird waterfowl hunting with a 28 dicey.

As also stated above, I also find the 28 about perfect for a dove-quail-rabbit gun, and if ranges are close, pheasant with the larger shot-high base loads. (I have a Ruger Red Label 28” o/u and a Browning BPS 28” pump in 28 ga.)

I don’t reload the 28 (or any shotgun shells for that matter) and yes the box of 25 is pricier than standard 12/20 gauge target stuff. But the ease of carrying the svelte guns, the fun of the hunt and the feeling of using something a bit different than the masses more than makes up for the roughly 4 bucks a box (+/-) difference. (I also shoot 16 ga, pretty much the same feelings there as well )

Give the 28 a whorl, I think you’ll become hooked and keep it for field and clay target use... and you’ll find another good 12 to fulfill that duck/goose requirement.

Stay safe.

Milkmaster said:

Don't be surprised if you like that 28ga. I started shooting 28Ga about a year ago and haven't touched my 12 ga since. The 28ga spoiled me. George P helped me greatly with advice on how to start reloading my own 28ga. I keep the used hulls in a plastic 5 gallon bucket until I am ready to load a batch in the garage during winter months when the humidity is low. But even if George didn't teach me, the ammo isn't a deal breaker. Going out to eat at a restaurant these days costs more than a few boxes of ammo.

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Glad I could help!

I found a Mec 650 at a flea market for $20. Conversion kit was $55 at the time.
I typically load only 1oz game loads or 3/4oz skeet/trap loads.

I’m set up for the skeet/trap loads. If I’m loading the 1oz loads , I use parts of a Lee Classic loader and only set wads, size, prime, and crimp with the press.

I adore the 28ga. If it was legal, I’d load #3buck, and Round Ball slugs and use it for deer. Our regs specifically prohibit.410 and 28ga.
Soooo, I use the 20 for those tasks.
BTW, my 28 is a Rem 870 SA skeet w/choke tubes. Beautiful piece.

12 ga is the most versatile. 20 ga still usable for most game, including ducks. 28 ga.... well you have a really nice bunny popper. Doves quail, snipe or grouse if you live where there is a huntable population. Skeet is also fun with a 28 ga.

Most everything around here needs a 12 ga. with at least a 3" chamber. Auto loader is also popular. When there's ̶l̶e̶a̶d̶ steel in the air there's hope.

CoalTrain49 said:

12 ga is the most versatile. 20 ga still usable for most game, including ducks. 28 ga.... well you have a really nice bunny popper. Doves quail, snipe or grouse if you live where there is a huntable population. Skeet is also fun with a 28 ga.

Most everything around here needs a 12 ga. with at least a 3" chamber. Auto loader is also popular. When there's ̶l̶e̶a̶d̶ steel in the air there's hope.

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Obviously, you have little experience with a 28. When you find a great gun and a good load, your attitude will change. The 28 is magical, not just in its mystique, but in its application

George P said:

Buying components oin bulk, you can reload 28 gauge ammo for about $3.50/box. You can't buy 12 or 20 cheap stuff for that

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I reload 6.5x55 and used to reload.38 Special and .45 ACP. I know many people enjoy the process but I don’t. Four years ago or so I entertained the thought of shotshell reloading specifically to be able to use TSS shot on turkey but ultimately decided to have a friend I trust do it since turkey hunting is so low volume. I just flat out don’t enjoy reloading so if I ever get a 28 gauge I’ll strictly be purchasing shells.

I hear you, I just don’t have time or desire to reload shotshells...yet . Maybe I’ll get the bug someday.

At my LGS I saw 28 for 9.99 a box today, 16 was 9.99 and 3” .410 (another pricy one I shoot) starting at 8.99 a box. 12 and 20 were starting at 6.99. Cases of Herters and Bachieri & Pellagri target shotshells in 28 are very reasonable, stock up when shipping is free and you’ll be ok for ammo for a while .

Stay safe.

Riomouse911 said:

I hear you, I just don’t have time or desire to reload shotshells...yet . Maybe I’ll get the bug someday.

At my LGS I saw 28 for 9.99 a box today, 16 was 9.99 and 3” .410 (another pricy one I shoot) starting at 8.99 a box. 12 and 20 were starting at 6.99. Cases of Herters and Bachieri & Pellagri target shotshells in 28 are very reasonable, stock up when shipping is free and you’ll be ok for ammo for a while .

Stay safe.

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I’ve read many good things about B&P shotshells from people whose opinions I trust.

cdb1 said:

I reload 6.5x55 and used to reload.38 Special and .45 ACP. I know many people enjoy the process but I don’t. Four years ago or so I entertained the thought of shotshell reloading specifically to be able to use TSS shot on turkey but ultimately decided to have a friend I trust do it since turkey hunting is so low volume. I just flat out don’t enjoy reloading so if I ever get a 28 gauge I’ll strictly be purchasing shells.

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Then wait for when Winchester does their $2/box rebate (good for 50 boxes, or 5 flats). If you time it with a sale, you should be able to get a decent price for the factory ammo. AND if you do decide to shoot the Win AA in 28, those once-fired empties are good for .12 - .15/each to a reloader like a skeet or sporting clays shooter.

Got it.

It's interesting to me that all the reloaders that loaded for 12 that no longer do so because they purchased a 28ga. I reload a 3/4oz 12 load that absolutely smokes clays out to about 35 yards, past that I'm getting hit but no smoke. The really nice thing about the 3/4oz load it the ease of doing it...I hate 28 and 410 loading, the 12 it just nicer to load.

GE-Mini-Gun said:

It's interesting to me that all the reloaders that loaded for 12 that no longer do so because they purchased a 28ga. I reload a 3/4oz 12 load that absolutely smokes clays out to about 35 yards, past that I'm getting hit but no smoke. The really nice thing about the 3/4oz load it the ease of doing it...I hate 28 and 410 loading, the 12 it just nicer to load.

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I reload 3/4 for both 12 and 20, which is why all of my 28s went away. Even hunting plantation quail, my 3/4oz 20s did the trick.

Yep...wife started shooting skeet with me, purchased a 20ga gun she liked and once the components show up it will be 3/4 loads for that as well.