new to shotguns. Diff betw .410 & 28 gauge

[Thirties]

I am completely new to shotguns. I have a couple of Marlin pistol caliber lever rifles (.357 & .32mag) which I enjoy and I can shoot well -- plinking and the odd squirrel. I also shoot revolvers and semi-pistols, not to mention .22rf handguns and rifles. I am set up to reload ammo, if it is worth it for shotguns.

Now I feel like investigating shotguns -- plinking and small animals/birds. I am thinking about either the .410 or the 28 gauge. I shoot around the house, not at ranges. I am not interested in shoulder damage, SHTF scenarios, or additional home defense firearms.

Can you guys give me the benefit of your experience?

Thanks.

 

[fearless leader]

The 28 ga. is a light recoiling bird gun that brings a little more to the table for clay pigeons than the venerable .410 bore.

I understand cartridges are rather pricey, so if you get one, you may look into reloading for it.

 

[ArmedBear]

My choice would be a 28 Gauge, and a Mec Sizemaster reloader.

A .410 is harder to reload and the hulls don't last, since they're smaller in diameter and the crimp stresses them more.

Either round is expensive to buy from the factory (can be twice the price of 12 or 20 Gauge), but much cheaper to reload than 12 because there's much less lead and less powder in each round.\

That said, a 20 can be pretty low on recoil, the rounds are not expensive to buy from the store, and there's a good range of shot sizes that pattern well from a 20.

 

[35Rem]

I would also recommend the 20 gauge over the 28 or 410. There are many many more loads available for the 20 gauge, which makes it much more versitile.
If recoil is a concern fit, or have fitted, a really good recoil pad, like a Limbsaver.

 

[41magsnub]

I'll put a third on the 20 gauge. This may get me flamed.. but 20 gauge and 12 gauge are the "normal" shotgun sizes with cheap loads available in a slew of different types. 410, 28, 10, and others are more niche gauges.

 

[Jim Watson]

Agreed. 28 gauge is for Skeet and elitist upland game hunters. A 20 gauge will do as much or more for less money.

 

[fearless leader]

See if you can get John Kerry to sell you his. Judging from the pics in shooting magazines where he is supposedly a hunter, he doesn't have any use for it.

 

[Cougfan2]

Ditto on the 20ga.

 

[ArmedBear]

28 Gauge has real merits, just like the 16. However, for whatever reasons, the mass market has coalesced around 20 and 12.

Note also that many 28's are the same size/weight as 20's anyway. A 28 Gauge Wingmaster or Red Label is actually a smaller, lighter frame, but not many others until you go pretty high-end. So in many cases, you get a 28 Gauge gun that's the same as the 20, but can't shoot larger shot sizes, shoots only slightly lower payloads (standard 28 is 3/4 oz. vs. 7/8 oz. for 20), and costs a lot more to shoot.

If I want a really light, quick gun, for very specific shooting and small shot sizes, I'd consider a 28, but if it's the same frame anyway, a 20 will do more. There's nothing stopping you from loading 3/4 oz. in a 20 Gauge, which will shoot almost exactly like a 28, but you can also load it up with 1 oz. of #5's and hunt Pheasant with it. There's even a 3" standard for 20, so you can shoot heavy loads and larger slugs. The 28 is VERY good at a few things, but it's not versatile like a 20.

28 Gauge isn't necessarily for "elitists", but it IS a shotgun for those who already have a bunch of others.

 

[elkhuntingfool]

Agree with the 20ga. If you are set on 28 or .410 - go with the 28ga and reload. You'll save a lot of money in the short(ish) run on reloading the 28. A friend of mine reloads 28 and we spoke about the savings.

 

[Superreverb]

I've got 2 28-ga guns right now - my 12-ga Citori with a set of Briley Ultralite tubes and a 28-ga DHE Grade Parker Repro. Love shooting both of them.

That being said - the up-and-comer in terms of being my all-around favorite gun, for many reasons, is my 20-ga Parker Repro.

In the plus column re: this thread - Cost of ammo, variety of readily available factory loads, cost of ammo, a bit more heft than a 28-ga, and, finally, cost of ammo.

I'm currently shooting the Winchester Bulk-pack 20-ga 2-1/2 dram 8's. 'Bout 32-bucks per 200 at Wallymart. The "El-Cheapo" Spanish mfg. Remington 28-ga is about $63 for per 250 rd. flat at the range...


YMMV...

Regards - Ed

 

[Shell Shucker]

ArmedBear hit the nail on the head.
I have a 28ga Citori (20 ga frame) that I shoot skeet with. I LOVE it! I don't like paying $9 a box for shells........ I can reload for much cheaper.
If I'd bought a 20 ga I'd have much more versitilty and could still reload the cheaper/lower recoil 3/4 oz loads w/o having to pay a premium for the hulls. I could shoot the $3 a box loss-leaders from Academy.
The 28 is great; just be aware that the Auntie is rather high!

 

[Thirties]

Thank you very much. I am convinced. It will be a 20 gauge for me. Now I can build up my research in the right direction.

I appreciate you messages very much!

 

[wdlsguy]

My dad hunts almost exclusively with a 28 gauge these days, and has killed many pheasants with one. He does reload to keep the costs down though.

 

[chemist308]

I own a 410. It works great...out to about 15 or 20 feet... It'll also fire slugs and kill deer...with a well place shot taken with 30 yards.

That said, I've also owned a 12 guage, 16 guage and 20 guage but am not much of a bird hunter or clay shooter, so my opinions will likely differ from most experienced shotgunners here--I'm by no means an experienced shotgunner. But from my limited experience:
* A 12 guage is overpowered and has too much recoil for my purposes
* A 16 guage is probably the best shell ever made. I've used mine cleanly to take groundhogs out to 35 yards. Only problem is that it's mostly discontinued--WHY?!
* A 20 guage is about right for squirrel, and definitely my pick over the 12 or 410. The 20 seems second only to the 16 guage, but with modern loads maybe not.
* A .410 is a light shotgun you give a 12 year old for squirrel. Others swear by it for squirrel, but I don't. Limited range and a little light on power.