Options for a 28ga?

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theCZ

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So, I spend most of my shotgunnin' time on the skeet range. After about a year, I'm finally hitting 24s frequently and that first 25 is right around the corner. Our local club holds shoots frequently, and they always have a "skeet subgauge" option besides the 12ga skeet. I borrowed a tubed Beretta O/U for 20ga, my grandfather's SKB 28ga field model, and we haven't gotten to 410 yet.

Bottom Line:
I LOVE THE 28GA!

At the same time my love with the 28ga is just getting started, my sister says she wants to buy a shotgun. Now, before I had just planned on sending my barrels (I have an SKB 85TSS 12ga O/U) to Kolar to get a 28ga tube set fitted. Doing a little research finds that they'd have to convert my triggers from intertia to mechanical, that's $300. Next, the tubes themselves are about $600. So now I'm looking at around $900 just to shoot 28ga out of my gun. My grandfather's 28ga SKB field model was $950, and I shoot it quite well, but that was a deal that probably won't be fortunate to find twice.


Ok, so after some rambling, my basic question is...

Does Remington, Ithaca, Winchester, or Browning currently make a 28ga pump? I haven't had much luck looking on the online sites. I'd probably end up buying it so my sister could shoot it when we go shooting, and I'd reload and mess around with it in skeet and SC.
 
Remington makes a 28 Gauge Wingmaster. 25" barrel, 45.5" OAL, 6 lb.

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model_870/model_870_wingmaster_lW-small_bore.asp

Browning makes the BPS Hunter in 28 Gauge, a good deal heavier, in 26" and 28". They don't make the Upland Special in 28, unfortunately.

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/category.asp?value=011B

Ithaca does not appear to make anything sub-20 at the moment, and AFAIK Winchester no longer makes pump guns at all.

Looks to me like the Wingmaster is the better option, but that's just my opinion. It's certainly easier for a newbie to load single, and the size and weight are a good match for 28 I think.
 
perhaps have recommended it a time or three...
Click to expand...
Like this one? ;)

attachment.php


Yes, Remington still makes the 28 ga Wingmaster. I believe MSRP is a little over $700. They also made a special run of Expresses for the FNRA last year. We obtained one for this year's banquet and will be raffling it off next Friday (May 19) night. $10 buys a half of a playing card (one in 51) chance to win it. However, you must be present to win.

Steve met me in Tulsa last spring and assisted me in buying the one above. It was made in the early 70's and cost me $550. The condition was easily 99%. We did look at several others, including some of the new "Sporting Clay" models. A couple months later I bought a used Baikal 28 ga SXS that has turned into my wife's favorite gun. Its a sweet shooter.

Note: I have resisted the urge to put a gratuitous grandkid picture in this post, though I was tempted. ;)
 
28 ga

Is a 3/4 oz payload , and is honestly better than it is supposed to be. That Payload and Ratio to bore - is AWESOME!

28 ga is often best known to Skeet Shooters and bird hunters. In skeet, there are events for 4 gauges - 12, 20, 28 ga and .410. Take a look at any Tote board and the highest scores are in 28ga.

28 ga due to Economics 101 - is more expensive, as are the .410. Skeet shooters, competitors in other Clay sub-gun [5 stand, Sporting clays, even Trap] reload shotshells especially in 28 and .410.

Experienced hunters often use 28 ga . Deep Southern Tradition to hunt Quail with 28 ga, not just in the South, all over the country the 28 ga takes game from Pheasants to smaller birds, to small game like rabbit and squirrel.

In the old days , before Toxic shot, we used 28 ga for Ducks,and I have felled Geese with it.

Bing Crosby had a special hunting place or three, persons invited were only allowed to use 28 ga, 24 ga, 32 ga, or .410...even for ducks.

--

The 870 Wingmaster is a classic. The Express versions I have shot are great guns! I am a huge proponent of starting new shooters with a 28 ga, especially kids if big enough, with a single shot 28 ga instead of a .410

Heck I like 28 ga single shot shotguns. :p

Now Winchester used to make the 1300 in 28 ga, They [FN] need to bring it back. In the old days folks shot skeet with 4 pump guns - one in each gauge.
The 870 was used, so was the 1300. Champion Shooter Fred Misseldine used a 1300.

Now I go bonkers over the Model 12 in 28 ga. Last one I saw was $4800 - Larry was there, tapping foot (how many times Steve gonna shoulder that thing?) and reminding me I was drooling...:)

If you ever see a person [male or female ] with a worn 870 28 ga, in a case well worn, the zipper does not work, ever step out to dove hunt and there is money on the line for each bird....

...or this person shows up to shoot skeet, or special pump gun events, especially doubles...

Do NOT bet against that person - instead put a C note betting FOR the person and you will get your money back!

870 Wingmasters in 28 ga are Great Guns! For instance I know of one I will mention that has over 300k [three hundred thousand] rounds thru it.

Gotta nickname too Money Gun ;)
 
AFAIK the Wingmaster is a "real" 28 Gauge, with a receiver to match, not just a 20 Gauge with a different barrel.
 
Remington makes the 28ga pump in both Wingmaster and Express models. They also have the 1100 "Competition" in 28ga.

The Express model has a 26" barrel and a fixed modified choke. Both the Wingmaster and the 1100 take screw-in choke tubes, although the Wingmaster has flush tubes and the 1100 has extended.

If I was going to shoot one of those guns "seriously", I'd get the 1100 in a heartbeat. The Wingmaster would be a close second. I own an Express model, and as I mentioned in another thread, just recently converted it for my wife's use (cut down the stock quite a bit and installed a premium recoil pad).
 
Remington no longer lists the 28 Gauge Express. I don't think they make it any more (probably not too many people wanted to get the cheap gun and feed it expensive ammo). If there's one on a store shelf somewhere, and you want it, better snap it up!

But the Wingmaster is such a beautiful gun...:)
 
Interesting. I got mine new last year, and I know I've seen them within the past few months. Must be some old stock still being used up.
 
Steve's Monthly 28 ga Disclaimer : May

Do not let your Wife, Husband, Daughter, Son, a Girlfriend, Boyfriend, Fiance' ,...etc., or even the Dog handle - much less shoot a 28 gauge shotgun.

-Yes the Wingmaster is a 28 gauge reciever.

-Ruger Red Label is also built on a true 28 ga receiver.

I'm going to get blamed anyway, does not matter if I did post a disclaimer.

Oh well, might as well a MEC Reloader, learn how to spot 28 ga hulls from 50 paces [with experience you can smell them...really] buy a case of 28 gauge shells, learn how to "make hulls" (Larry does this well with Sandy's help) buy reloading components, buy a TRIUS One Step clay thrower, get a truck to haul all them clay targets...

-NEF 28 ga single shot shotgun.

Hey, at this point - what is another C note for additional fun factor?

:evil:

Steve
 
Now, both the Wingmaster and the Red Label are such light, agile guns in 20, I can only conclude one of two things:

1. 28 Gauge versions are out of this world (I haven't shot one.)

2. 28 Gauge versions can't be that much different.

I'm thinking it could be #1, but I don't know if I want to find out.:)
 
ArmedBear is/ has:

-Chicken :p
-Has communicated with Larry and Sandy :D
-Knows of some similar "revalations" :eek:

Paging kudu...kudu "just happens to have a Ruger Red Label in 28 ga. :)

I will neither confirm or deny any rumors that may have come out Tulsa Show 2005.

Ditto for Larry having to buy his wife a SxS 28 ga because otherwise he was NOT going to get his 870 28 ga back...Hi Sandy! :)

It is true I have been described as Persistent, Tenacious, and just plumb hard-headed about some things.

Why? I will neither confirm or deny...

Humm...maybe there is a reason I cannot seem to get communications to Dave Mc via phone, or email...:)

Dave Mc will have a 870 28 ga someday
Dave Mc will have a 870 28 ga someday
Dave Mc will have a 870 28 ga someday
Dave Mc will have a 870 28 ga ....
...

Not me - I didn't do nuthin' - honest...;)

Steve
 
I had a Red Label in 28 ga, English stock. Like carrying a .22 rifle. Nice for doves as it was super fast to point. Just never seemed quite the quality of some of the other O/U's, but then again, it was so light that you couldn't really make it "heavy-duty"

After 3 years, my ratio was about 1.7 shots per bird. I guess there's a mental thing that let's you know you've got a smaller gun so you're not tempted to take the longer shots.
 
Ahh, the 28 gauge :evil: . Most of my shooting is done with the 28ga either with my Beretta tubed competition gun or if I want fun, not that my Beretta isn't fun, but it is fully weighted, I will take out the Wingmaster or the 1100 and play or get serious and any one of the 28 gauges are serious guns, the RedLabel 28 gauge is technically my wife's gun, but it shoots mighty good whether on the clays field or in the dove fields. I almost had another 1100 28ga bought last week for under $400, but someone bought it out from under me after I had it spoken for. :cuss: :banghead:


Dave Mc will have a 870 28ga someday!
Dave Mc will have a 870 28ga someday!
Dave Mc will have a 870 28ga someday!
Dave Mc will have a 870 28ga someday!
Dave Mc will have a 870 28ga....
:D
 
I hate the 28 gauge.

A few years back I took Mrs. PJR on a sporting clays weekend. She tolerates my gun habit but didn't shoot much herself. I arranged some instruction and the gun she used was a Winchester Skeet o/u gun in 28 gauge. She loved it. Because I wanted her to shoot with me I hunted high and low until I found the very same gun and paid a hefty price for it. Meantime she decides she'd rather spend her off hours riding her horses while I shoot my guns. :(

The moral of the story is to never let your wife learn to shoot with a 28 gun that was taken out of production almost 20 years ago.

The good news was that the proceeds of the Winchester along with sale of five other guns from the safe went on a 28 gauge target gun in a similar configuration to my 12 gauge. My happier moments with it come on the sporting course when a squadmate says "A 28 gauge isn't enough to hit a 45 yard crosser," and I prove him wrong several times.

I love the 28 gauge.;)
 
I think Remington would sell a lot more 28 gauge WMs if they resurrected the old Special Field wood. That straight grip and smallish forend, with at least a 28" barrel to compensate for any whippyness would be a super nice upland gun.

Maybe I will.....
 
Ok, ok, maybe some of you weren't paying attention, or else you drifted off. Hey, it wouldn't be the first time right! If I had the money for a Ruger RL, I would spend a couple extra hundred bucks and get an SKB. I'm a real SKB fan. Or I could tube my 12ga, but it's too heavy for the ladies tipping the scales at over 9lbs. So, maybe I'll just get a tube set and an H&R 28ga for my sister. I'm gonna call my favorite used gun stores and harass 'em a bit. Surely somebody would be foolish enough to sell of an awesome lil' 28ga?
 
REMINGTON WINGMASTER 28 GA GOLD TRIGGER 25" Vent Rib Barrel LIKE NEW WITH BOX and warranty card and owners manual Walnut stock satin Finish 4 Briley choke tubes 1 Full 1 IC standard and 1 IM and 1 IC Extended tubes fired less than a box of shells choke wrench and keye lock FREE SHIPPING and INS to LOWER 48 $550.00
Click to expand...
Yep, that sounds a LOT like the one we saw in Tulsa. Except I don't think it had extended choke tubes.. :confused:

Doesn't sound like a bad deal at all though. What do you think, Steve?
I think Remington would sell a lot more 28 gauge WMs if they resurrected the old Special Field wood. That straight grip and smallish forend, with at least a 28" barrel to compensate for any whippyness would be a super nice upland gun.
Click to expand...
Dave, I like your way of thinking. That sounds like the perfect combination.

This coming from a 56 year old guy who had never ever fired anything but a 12 ga until a year ago.
 
I like SKB.

I like Ruger RL

I would do either of these before getting tubes if it were me. The 28 ga - even in a "non-competition configuration" will still take clays, and win the prize money. New Shooters can better use the SKB, Ruger RL to learn on, and to hunt with.

Today alone, I have communicated with 7 folks, in regard to 28 ga guns, none were going to tube sets, one has a line on a 3 barrel Citori Set, and the rest are going for 1100s, 870s, Ruger RL or checking into SxSs .

Five of these folks have high dollar guns, have won medals at the World Shoot...and even so, left the high dollar guns at home, and shot 3 events with a 28 ga, be it a 870, a 1100, or O/U and only used a .410 for the .410 event...heck I did the same thing.

I shot 28 ga for 3 events, then the doubles, the the special pump gun event, and doubles using a pump gun only event.

Had to use a .410 in the 4th event, and had to use a .410 in the special pump gun doubles in .410 event.

Now a buddy of mine had 3 SKBs in 28 ga, all he ended up shooting, set aside all his Krieghoffs, Perazzis, and you name it. He shot a SKB in 28 ga, went out and bought 3 just alike.

Send one SKB in to have some external knurled screw in chokes done up. He was a Skeet shooter at heart, then 5 stand, with the screw in chokes played Sporting Clays...decided to shoot trap on a sub gun league...first time out, he ran 50/50 from the 16 with that SKB.

Boy could shoot - period. Just decided at the ripe old age of 40 :p to quit dancing to equipment races, have fun, and continue to win...a lot.

"SKB just fits, I like it, I shoot it well..."

SKB and Fiocchi...his preference.
 
Steve,

Now, dangit, I got a garden to plant tomorrow. Tomatoes are waiting, I've got tilling to be done. It's gotta be done this weekend. :uhoh:

And now your filling my head with ideas of bustin' clays with that little 870 again...

:D
 
Dang it you guys. I already am in love with my grandfather's 28ga SKB and my own 12ga SKB! So now I'm expanding my options to just buying a 28ga reloader and borrowing my grandfather's shotgun when I feel like shooting (he lives just down the road). I'm still gonna call around, but you guys have a way of making the thought of buying another gun sound really good!
 
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