Gun Dog Forum

We are headed out today to test 3 28 sxs and 3 20's, 2 sxs and 1 overunder. We will pattern all for comparison and shoot some clays. A friend who has more money than he knows what to do with is thinking he might want a 28 for upland. In the 28 we will test 1 high dollar 1mid price and 1 very modest priced gun. I will post the results as we see them.

That's cool! I'm looking forward to hearing about the result's. I've been thinking about a 28 gauge myself but not crazy about the price of the shells and the fact that not a lot of store's stock.

Bottom line. We shot 3/4,7/8,and 1 oz. loads in all guns at 25 to 40 yds. The 28's shot the most even patterns with the 3/4 oz. loads. We shot size 7 1/2, 6, and 5 shot loads. The best patterns at 40 yds. were the 7/8 load with full chokes. In the 28 the one ounce shot the poorest patterns ie more flyers more holes. I think if the forcing cones in the less expensive 28 were lengthend and smoothed it would shoot just as well as the really expensive ones just not as pretty. The 20's shot the best patterns especially at the longer ranges. So for the type hunting we typically do the 20 is best. He went with a Merkel in the 20. I know this is brief so if there any questions I will try to answer.

Thanks for the feed back. It sounds like you all did your homework. The more i think about it i should get a 20 ga. especially for the shell availability, as i look around i dont see many 28ga shells for sale.

I think the best reason to get a 28 is the smaller frame. Some 28s are not on smaller frames and at that point I wouldn’t bother.

Might it be fair to say every 20ga has a 28ga in it?

Like said before you can turn a 20 into a 28 by shooting loads like fiocchi 3/4 ounce training loads out of and 20 and still have the ability to shoot 7/8 and 1 once loads through the same gun.

I have never patterned a shotgun in my life. Somehow I just learn to live with them. The problems I've had years ago I don't think patterning could fix!

Ammo was mentioned and deserves a comment.

28 Ga. ammo has always been quite pricey and not available everywhere. They have been, typically around $15 a box for high base pheasant loads while comparable 20 ga. loads were in the $10 range.

However, in recent months, I have seen ZERO boxes of 20 ga. #6 shot high base shells for sale... at any price on the interenet or in any local stores. Interestingly, I have seen boxes of 3/4 oz loads in 28 ga. in several stores at the customary price. The listed priceat several internet retailers for high base 20 ga. shells that are currently unavailable, is several dollars more per box than the 28 ga. offerings that were on the shelf.

I was kinda shocked to see one of my very favorite loads, Fiocchi Golden Pheasant loads, unavailable of course, for around $20 a box. The top end Winchester loads were in the same ballpark pricewise, and also unavailable.

For the kind of pheasant hunting I typically do, preserve birds over pointing dogs, a 28 ga. with 6's does just fine and I am at best, a mediocre shot.

RayG

Gave up my 12g Winchester some years ago due to shoulder, borrowed a .28 to get back into the game and it was a dream to shoot! Found that the .28 does what it needs to do in the field, and also handles sporting clays plus clay "rabbits" with ease. Ended up with a barely-used Zoli .28 O/U pistol grip and it looks nice too. Oh, and don't let Ray's modesty hide the fact that he's actually a better than decent shot

About shell availability. I went looking for some shells early on and the price floored me. So I bought a flat of RWS target loads and a mec Jr loader and haven't worried much about price again.