28 gauge

[jet man]

Anybody have experience using a 28 gauge for pheasants and what loads/shell mfg they had the most success with?

[MrStarnes1]

not sure about the 28 gauge but one guy went bird hunting with me one year with a .410 and struggled a lot to KNOCK birds down with it.
20 gauges are popular but a 12 gauge seems to be the gun of choice from everything i have seen
i am just guessing the 28 gauge is going to have less range and less knockdown. keep your shots close and take an extra second to aim.... hate seeing roosters turn into fox food

[Phil T]

My backyard gunsmithing neighbor uses one for pheasants until the last of the season. He claims to kill more birds because he can spend more hours afield each day. He's also on the birds much quicker with the lighter gun. There's a big difference between carrying an 8 lb Remington 1100 12 gauge and a 5 lb Franchi 28 gauge.

[Jerryv]

If you hunt with a pointer, a 28 gauge should be Ok. With flushers or without a dog you are going to be undergunned. Pheasants are quite a bit tougher than grouse. Especially on a going away shot which most of them are.

Jerry

[MrStarnes1]

My backyard gunsmithing neighbor uses one for pheasants until the last of the season. He claims to kill more birds because he can spend more hours afield each day. He's also on the birds much quicker with the lighter gun. There's a big difference between carrying an 8 lb Remington 1100 12 gauge and a 5 lb Franchi 28 gauge.



what about a benelli SBE with an x-tended mag? :ooo:
i do agree tho, a quicker draw is a 10-15 foot difference in some cases

[Heavy Hitter]

I use my 28 gauge until December most years and will use it through the season if walking cattails and the birds will be holding tight. I use reloads but the golden pheasant or the 1oz winchester shells have both been plenty of shell for pheasants. The only shot I don't really care for is a bird that is flying directly away over say 25-30 yards. Pretty low percentage shot for a dead bird by high percentage of a runner. I choke Im/Im or full in my top barrel.

Good luck, their addictive once you start shooting them.

[Further North]

With a 28 gauge, you need a head shot or a shot to the vitals from the side.

If you are hunting wild birds, you will not kill them consistently at any other angle unless you are a top level shot and are very, very fast...you need to be on the bird and have it back on the ground inside 25-30 yards.

If you are hunting game farm birds, you can relax quite a bit - they are much easier to kill.

[ckraning]

Been using a 28 for many years early in the season. Only reason I change later is due to the open fixed chokes my double has. (IC & Mod) With the chokes I have, I try to limit my shots to no more than 30 yards. If you have tighter chokes it would reach further.

I use a Winchester Super X 1 ounce load of number 5s (Can be hard to find, Scheels general has), see link below.

http://www.winchester.com/Products/shotshell-ammunition/super-x/game-field-loads/Pages/X28H5.aspx

[ret461]

My hunting partner has used a 28 for years hunting over his 2 pointers and doesnt miss or cripple but also reloads his own shells. But just in case I back him up with my browning sweet sixteen. What a gun light carry it all day and excellent for those early flushing birds.

[jet man]

I love mine. That is one of the reasons for starting this post. The doggone thing is addictive for sure. An earlier poster nailed one of the issues I have had and that is straight away over 25-30 yds with too many runners. That is why I was hoping to find "better" loads. Skill wise I have no real limitations. I have been accused of being to fast so no speed problems. I have used a 20 gauage for years and that is still my go to choice but man that 28 is fun.