rodinal220
Member
Perfect upland game shotgun if built on a proper 28 gauge size frame.
What is the benifit of a 28 Gauge?
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Virginian
Member
Until you have shot a good 28 gauge SxS on a scaled frame, you have missed one of the great joys of a shooting life. If Dickinson comes out with a 28 I am all over it.
oneounceload
member
You and me both......I got rid of my 28's a few years ago, but if I can get a gun equal in quality to my S&W but in 28 gauge, I'm back in the 28 pool
Shotgun Bore Diameter
10-Gauge = Bore Diameter of .775 inches
12-Gauge = Bore Diameter of .729 inches
16-Gauge = Bore Diameter of .662 inches
20-Gauge = Bore Diameter of .615 inches
28-Gauge = Bore Diameter of .550 inches
67-Gauge = Bore Diameter of .410 inches
There's only 0.065 inches difference between a 20 gage barrel and a 28 gauge barrel, that's just over 1/16th of an inch difference in diameter.
I've owned a few of 28 gauge doubles, including one of the Miruko Charles Daly's O/Us on a true 28 gauge frame. Sold them all off because I just did not see any benefit to them.
You can purchase 7/8th oz 20 gauge loads almost anywhere for $6-8/box, it's a whopping 1/8th oz more shot than the 3/4 oz 28 gauge load. You're splitting hairs pretty fine if you call that a significant difference and reloading costs are very similar.
The whole square load argument really doesn't matter much in the age of the full shot cup wad, at least not the differences we are talking about.
You can find 20 gauge shotguns that weight less than 6 lb, if carry weight is a factor, and 20 gauge guns are more readily available and usually more reasonably priced. More selection means a better chance to find one that fits you well.
If you don't already have a really nice 20 gauge gun, I recommend you pick one of them up instead. The 28 gauge is a niche gun that really doesn't do anything better than a 20 gauge does. (I know - sacrilege to some)
I happen to be a big fan of the 16 gauge shotguns, but I wouldn't recommend them to anyone either. It splits the difference between the 12 and 20 too close and there just isn't enough readily available guns in 16 gauge for many people to find one they would be happy with. Just try looking at the selection of 16 gauge O/Us out there and you will see what I mean. Unless you are looking for a custom gun ($$$$$) and want something "different" there is no reason to stray from the 12s and 20s.
10-Gauge = Bore Diameter of .775 inches
12-Gauge = Bore Diameter of .729 inches
16-Gauge = Bore Diameter of .662 inches
20-Gauge = Bore Diameter of .615 inches
28-Gauge = Bore Diameter of .550 inches
67-Gauge = Bore Diameter of .410 inches
There's only 0.065 inches difference between a 20 gage barrel and a 28 gauge barrel, that's just over 1/16th of an inch difference in diameter.
I've owned a few of 28 gauge doubles, including one of the Miruko Charles Daly's O/Us on a true 28 gauge frame. Sold them all off because I just did not see any benefit to them.
You can purchase 7/8th oz 20 gauge loads almost anywhere for $6-8/box, it's a whopping 1/8th oz more shot than the 3/4 oz 28 gauge load. You're splitting hairs pretty fine if you call that a significant difference and reloading costs are very similar.
The whole square load argument really doesn't matter much in the age of the full shot cup wad, at least not the differences we are talking about.
You can find 20 gauge shotguns that weight less than 6 lb, if carry weight is a factor, and 20 gauge guns are more readily available and usually more reasonably priced. More selection means a better chance to find one that fits you well.
If you don't already have a really nice 20 gauge gun, I recommend you pick one of them up instead. The 28 gauge is a niche gun that really doesn't do anything better than a 20 gauge does. (I know - sacrilege to some)
I happen to be a big fan of the 16 gauge shotguns, but I wouldn't recommend them to anyone either. It splits the difference between the 12 and 20 too close and there just isn't enough readily available guns in 16 gauge for many people to find one they would be happy with. Just try looking at the selection of 16 gauge O/Us out there and you will see what I mean. Unless you are looking for a custom gun ($$$$$) and want something "different" there is no reason to stray from the 12s and 20s.
I owned a B Rizzini for a while. It was nimble, but recoil was still sharp. I reloaded for it and finally sold the gun and reloading equipment. I've settled on 7 lb 12 gauge guns with 7/8 loads as the line of perfection for me. If a guy reloads, you can make a 12 an effective go to platform with negligible kick.
Virginian
Member
I love that. Instant classic. I'm going to borrow it. Another reason I hadn't even thought of. C'mon Dickinson!
win71
Member
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28............20
For about the last 15-18 years I have hunted mostly pen raised pheasants over a GSP. Almost exclusively with either an AYA side lock sxs 20 ga. with fixed ic and mod chokes, or a Ruger red label 28 ga with screw in chokes. After several hunts with each I did quite a bit of pattern work. I knew my first shot would be close, 20 yards give or take, and the second would usually be in the 35-40 yard range.
1 oz. # 6's plated in the 20 ga. worked best. The 28 caused me more time and experimenting. Finally I settled on 3/4 oz # 6's in a skeet choke and 1 oz #6's out of a mod. choke.
Over the years with 30-40 pheasants average per year I saw very little advantage for either gun with one exception. For some as yet unidentified reason I kill longer distance birds better with the second shot in the 28 ga. than I do with the 20.
Even with that result I only favor the 28 if it is raining. Not because it has any advantage, I just can't beat up that AYA.
For clarity, I only hunt birds with these two guns. Mostly pheasants, second…Quail, chucker’s, and grouse. I do not shoot sporting clays or any other targets.
And, I'm more of a snob with the AYA than I am with the Ruger 28 ga............................
For about the last 15-18 years I have hunted mostly pen raised pheasants over a GSP. Almost exclusively with either an AYA side lock sxs 20 ga. with fixed ic and mod chokes, or a Ruger red label 28 ga with screw in chokes. After several hunts with each I did quite a bit of pattern work. I knew my first shot would be close, 20 yards give or take, and the second would usually be in the 35-40 yard range.
1 oz. # 6's plated in the 20 ga. worked best. The 28 caused me more time and experimenting. Finally I settled on 3/4 oz # 6's in a skeet choke and 1 oz #6's out of a mod. choke.
Over the years with 30-40 pheasants average per year I saw very little advantage for either gun with one exception. For some as yet unidentified reason I kill longer distance birds better with the second shot in the 28 ga. than I do with the 20.
Even with that result I only favor the 28 if it is raining. Not because it has any advantage, I just can't beat up that AYA.
For clarity, I only hunt birds with these two guns. Mostly pheasants, second…Quail, chucker’s, and grouse. I do not shoot sporting clays or any other targets.
And, I'm more of a snob with the AYA than I am with the Ruger 28 ga............................
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JohnBT
Member
"(I know - sacrilege to some)"
Could be you're just wrong, too.
I grew up shooting my father's 20 ga. Model 12 in the '50s and it would do most things well, but it was retired about 10 years ago when I finally got a 28 ga.
Could be you're just wrong, too.
I grew up shooting my father's 20 ga. Model 12 in the '50s and it would do most things well, but it was retired about 10 years ago when I finally got a 28 ga.
"I grew up shooting my father's 20 ga. Model 12 in the '50s and it would do most things well, but it was retired about 10 years ago when I finally got a 28 ga. "
The 16 gauge, 20 gauge and 28 gauge Winchester Model 12s were all built on the same frame size. It's one of the guns where the 16 gauge really shines if you are into pump guns. It also makes very little sense to go with the 28 gauge version because there is almost no weight advantage. But there is plenty of snob appeal
"For some as yet unidentified reason I kill longer distance birds better with the second shot in the 28 ga. than I do with the 20."
The dirty little secret I hate to admit even to myself is that most people shoot O/Us better than they do SxSs. That's why so many of the Pros shoot O/Us. The farther the shot, the more accurate you have to be, so maybe that is where you start to see the advantage of the O/U vs the SxS. I like to hunt with SxSs too (I like old Remington SxSs), but I know I am a little bit better when shooting one of my O/Us.
The 16 gauge, 20 gauge and 28 gauge Winchester Model 12s were all built on the same frame size. It's one of the guns where the 16 gauge really shines if you are into pump guns. It also makes very little sense to go with the 28 gauge version because there is almost no weight advantage. But there is plenty of snob appeal
"For some as yet unidentified reason I kill longer distance birds better with the second shot in the 28 ga. than I do with the 20."
The dirty little secret I hate to admit even to myself is that most people shoot O/Us better than they do SxSs. That's why so many of the Pros shoot O/Us. The farther the shot, the more accurate you have to be, so maybe that is where you start to see the advantage of the O/U vs the SxS. I like to hunt with SxSs too (I like old Remington SxSs), but I know I am a little bit better when shooting one of my O/Us.
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Deer_Freak
Member.
I have COPD and other physical ailments. I don't shoot sporting clays unless a cart is available. The 28 ga Citori is light and easy to handle. I can put 25 rounds of 28 ga ammo in my bag with very little back pain.
I have a Mossberg 500 20 ge I shoot when I don't reload ammo for the 28 ga. I score well with it. But my left elbow does take a beating from pumping the Mossberg. I usually just shoot 50 clays with the pump gun.
Sporting clays are a lot like fishing. A bad day on the range is better than a good day at work.
I have a Mossberg 500 20 ge I shoot when I don't reload ammo for the 28 ga. I score well with it. But my left elbow does take a beating from pumping the Mossberg. I usually just shoot 50 clays with the pump gun.
Sporting clays are a lot like fishing. A bad day on the range is better than a good day at work.
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