28 versus .410

Status
Not open for further replies.
L

lizziedog1

Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2010
Messages
942
Location
The Silver State
Does anyone have any theory why the .410's are popular and the 28 gauges are not? It has always seemed to me that thier popularity should be the other way around.

Both shoot similar payloads and have similar recoil. But the 28 does shoot a better, more usefull pattern. Some say the .410 is good for beginners, others know that it is actually a shotgun for experts. Now the 28 wouldn't be a bad choice for beginners or recoil shy folks.

There are shooters that have never heard of a 28 gauge or even seen a shell of one. I doubt that any shooter is unaware of .410's. Heck, most folks either own one or grew up with one.

Does anyone else agree that the popularity of .410's and 28's should be reversed?
 
Yes. The .410 has long been thought of as great for beginners, even though the single shots usually had poor ergonomics and were very light. But,remember, the majority of people voted for Obama too, so it shouldn't surprise anyone.
 
28s

I'm betting that some of it has to do with the availability of less expensive guns for the .410, probably based on the idea that it is a good intro to SG shooting. Single barrels, pumps, derringers, and, nowadays, revolvers.
Pete
 
Kind of a catch 22. 410 is more common because more people buy it, more people buy it because it's more common.
 
The 410 is often selected for a starter gun due to it's mild recoil and muzzle blast when compared to the larger gauge shotguns.
The 410 can also be an expert's nightmare with the small shot quantity requiring a more exacting focus on the target, be it clay or game.
I have two 410 shotguns, one is an NEF single barrel that I have modified by cutting the fixed choke from to shoot 0000 ball loads that I load. I have added fiber optic rifle sights to it.
The other is a Stoeger O/U that I use for clay targets, and it works very well with the target shells that I load for it.

The 28ga is much closer to the 20ga in performance and shot count. It is a viable alternative as a hunting and target round. I don't have a 28ga myself, but one of my friends has a Charles Daly auto that I shoot frequently, and it is great round.

Both of these rounds need to be reloaded if you plan on any long term use due to the cost of factory ammo.


NCsmitty
 
i have a remington 870 in 28ga and i found two cases(20 boxes) of older win one oz #6 shot at a good price(6.00 a box)and its now my favorite walking rabbit gun, light weight and a solid 35-40 killer on the easter bunnys.eastbank.
 
When the .410 was introduced about 1900 it used a 2-inch shell. Now that almost everybody uses 2.5" and 3" shells the little boogers kick too much in light guns, but the reputation endured and little kids get smacked because of it.

Parker (think $$$) introduced the 28 ga. in 1903 iirc. Felt wads, soft lead and full chokes didn't produce the best patterns compared to modern wads, etc. and bigger gauges really were more useful for most people, especially for the market hunters.

I like the 28 and almost never use my .410.

I looked at a box of 1-ounce hunting loads last Friday. $21.99. Ouch. But the 3/4 oz pattern better for me anyway. AA Targets were only $13.99. I'm still shooting some I bought for $3.99 a box years ago.
 
The 28, in a gas gun like a medium-weight 1100, is - IMO - the best gun for a new shooter. 50% more shot from the typical load helps ensure more success for someone learning, while keeping recoil down. The other alternatives are to reload and drop 3/4 oz loads for 20 and 12 - something I am doing right now - and shooting them in my target guns. Recoil is minimal.

What saved the 28 from obscurity was Skeet. It has since caught on with many upland hunters as the ideal gun as the ammo is lighter to carry, the guns are fairly light, and the patterns are great. It is also becoming the favorite for sub-gauge sporting clays.

You might want to check out the 28 gauge society.

http://28gasociety.46.forumer.com/
 
My first shot gun was a 28 gauge side by side that had been my father's when he was growing up. In the late sixties, all Dad could find were #9 target shells but I managed to kill a pheasant with them.

I have been fond of 28 gauge ever since and it was the first gauge that I won my class with during my competitive skeet days.

I enjoy humiliating myself with the .410 but I will agree with oneonceload that the 28 gauge would be a better started gun and it is good to see more are available these days.

My guess as to why .410 has endured better than 28 gauge is, among other things, there were many pest guns made for the .410 which worked better than 22RF shot shells. The 28 gauge is too close to 20 gauge and during hard economic times, folks would endure the little heavier recoil to have a better chance of success putting meat on the table.
 
.410 is a great youth squirrel and rabbit gun. I think the .410 survived primarily because of the youth market.

I can't begin to tell you how many blackbirds, squirrels, and rabbits fell to my savage single barrel .410.
 
The 28 is my favorite shotgun for skeet, I still play with the .410 and keep one handy by the backdoor for the occasional critter, but I have always liked the 28 gauge. I made a cut down stock for my 1100 28 gauge for teaching kids and smaller ladies. It is very popular and gives a better edge over a .410 for beginners.

If manufacturers were really serious about producing 28 gauge shotguns, someone would introduce a factory slug load for them. Here in Indiana the .410 is a legal deer gun with slugs, but no one loads a factory slug for 28 gauge.
 
Does anyone have any theory why the .410's are popular and the 28 gauges are not?

The question was-
Does anyone have any theory why the .410's are popular and the 28 gauges are not?
Click to expand...
More low priced firearms are available in .410 :)
 
Last edited:
".410 is a great youth squirrel and rabbit gun."

We always used a .22. Less cost, less recoil, less chance of breaking a tooth on a pellet. :)

I had a Savage .22mag/.410 in the early '60s, but quickly learned my lesson and went back to using a .22. I still have Model 37 .410, but can't remember the last time I used it. Oh right, I have a 28.
 
I never had much interest in 28 and 410. Unknown to me, my father bought a Beretta Siver Pigeon 28ga. about a year before he died. It was a beutiful gun, but I just never could get used to it. {didn't fit me}
Ammo is expensive so I sold it.
It didn't take me long to miss the 28. I bought another one and love shooting it. I also bought a reloader for it.
I don't think they sell much 28ga ammo because everybody reloads their own. It is a catch 22.

Never shot a .410 till this summer. I don't see me buying one.
 
Sure doesn't make much sense to me why anybody would give a kid a 410 and expect them to enjoy shooting it. I've shot tons of 24s and a handful of 25s with my 28ga BPS and am still working hard to get my first 25 with a 410, it's really tough! Pellet deformity, poor patterns, definitely something for an experienced shooter, not a beginner. In the skeet world the 28ga is very loved, but I haven't run into many shooters outside of it that know of it. It's a real pity but I don't think it's going to change anytime soon.
 
My first shotgun was a 870 wingmaster in 28 gauge. It now belongs to my oldest son. My younger son Caleb received the same gun for his birthday. I can think of no better gun to start with. I have busted grouse, phesant, dove, quail, bunnies with it. The shells are pricey but not much more than the .410. The problem is the guns are so pricey. I don't no of any 28 gauge that can be had for under $600. There are tons of 20ga that can be had for $300 or less same with the .410.
 
I have always been a die hard 410 shooter until this year. I purchased my first 28ga as the ammo was more available than the 410. I have never seen 28ga shot shells on the shelf in the numbers they have been lately. I remember reading a report from some dove hunters/gun enthusiast that went to mexico(dove alley) to see how the different gauges compared to each other. They took the same gun in the five american gauges. All performed about the same, 55-58%, with the exception of the 28 which was 47% success rate. This always stuck with me even though I never compared them for myself.
I think people need to relook at the cost of ammo for the smaller gauges. Ihave been getting Magtech 28ga #6 for 9.00 a box. The same ammo in 12 is 8.50. Not much of a difference at least in the type of shot shell I use.
I have noticed several comments in the above posts that lead me to believe people don't realize that the 28ga is actually half way between the 410 (36ga) and the 20ga.
As far as recoil goes I don't own a shotgun in 410 and 28 of the same model. What I do have is an 11-48 410 and a Franchi 48al in 28. Between these two the 11-48 410 is like shooting a 22lr and the 48al 28ga definitely has a more distinctive kick.
I personally love both the smaller gauges and have no real use for the 16ga and the 20ga. There is no substitution for the 12ga in the waterfowl world and general plinking.
 
I don't no of any 28 gauge that can be had for under $600. There are tons of 20ga that can be had for $300 or less same with the .410.
Click to expand...

Back when I was looking for a 28ga pump I priced a Wingmaster and a BPS. The Wingmaster was something like $650 or $700 from my dealer, the BPS around $550. I'm happy I went with the BPS, it's incredibly smooth and great for a lefty.
 
I have noticed several comments in the above posts that lead me to believe people don't realize that the 28ga is actually half way between the 410 (36ga) and the 20ga.
Click to expand...

.410 would be 67ish gauge, not 36 gauge.

bore diameter = cuberoot(7000 / (1501.339 * gauge))
.410^3 = 7000 / (1501.339 * gauge)
0.068921 = 7000 / (1501.339 * gauge)
0.068921 * (1501.339 * gauge) = 7000
103.473785219 * gauge = 7000
gauge = 67.65
 
cfullgraf

"I enjoy humiliating myself with the .410 "- cfullgraf.

I had to LOL. I too enjoy humiliating myself with the .410 on the skeet range but when you're on - you're on and it's so much more of a thrill when you used a .410 to do it. I have no 28 ga. yet but I have tried one on the skeet range. My 20 ga. suits me fine but I can see a 28 ga. in my future as well.
 
kimbernut said:
I had to LOL. I too enjoy humiliating myself with the .410 on the skeet range but when you're on - you're on and it's so much more of a thrill when you used a .410 to do it. I have no 28 ga. yet but I have tried one on the skeet range. My 20 ga. suits me fine but I can see a 28 ga. in my future as well.
Click to expand...

Yes, with the .410 when you're hot, you're hot, when you're not, you're not. As long as I did not get into some bad habits with the .410, it always helped my game in the bigger gauges.:)
 
There was a time when you could buy 8,10,12,14,16,20,24,28 gauges and .410 bore not to mention even smaller pest sizes. Due to migratory game laws, interuption of manufacturing due to war and economic forces the list consolidated.
Mandating non-toxic shot had an impact on the 10 ga. and case lengths (not regulated like gauge).
The cycle of time has played in favor of the 16 and 28 gauges in receny years, to my joy.
FYI the only 14 ga. I have ever seen was an H&R, rifled, tranquilizer gun.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

U
  • Locked
28 gauge vs .410
Replies
15
Views
3K
unspellable
U
T
  • Locked
.410 double barrel shotgun
Replies
11
Views
2K
12Bravo20
12Bravo20
TTv2
Is there a place for the "Forgotten" Gauges?
2
Replies
30
Views
1K
whatnickname
whatnickname
G
  • Locked
.410...what's it good for?
2 3
Replies
69
Views
4K
sig220mw
S
WVGunman
  • Locked
Is 28-gauge worth a look?
2 3
Replies
52
Views
5K
skeeterfogger
S
Back
Top