28 gauge

Goosemaster said:
28 gauge do not seem like enough for pheasant.I have lost lots of birds!
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I’m not speaking from a tremendous amount of experience, but mine has been positive…I’ve used 2 3/4” #5 lead out of my Parker Repro 28 gauge choked IM/F. MattD from this forum used a 28 on his recent 13 day hunt for much of that trip with great results. I’ve got more experience using 20 gauges with an ounce of #5 lead with great results. My go-to this season is a 12 gauge choked IC shooting 1.25 oz of #5 lead…at 30, 35, 40 yards I’d guess the pattern on a large pizza cardboard circle doesn’t look too different between 1 oz of #5 lead out of IM vs 1.25 oz of #5 lead out of IC…the full choke throwing an ounce of #5 lead is probably a better pattern at 35-40 yards vs the IC throwing 1.25 oz of #5 lead. Bottom line, I’ve always been advised to choke a bit tighter with the 28 gauge, and I’ve done that, mostly…my Uggie 28 is skt1/skt2, and I’ve killed lots of prairie grouse, ruffs, and huns with that gun, but apples vs oranges when talking pheasants. All my 28’s, including my red label, are sweet, svelte guns that come up smoothly and quickly, especially the 5 1/2 lb Parker Repro, whose barrels were opened up by master gunsmith Ken Eyster in Columbus, Ohio. I’d be reluctant to shoot a rooster over a sea of cattails at a distance beyond 20 yards +/- with a 28, but I’m leaning that way with any gun…smaller, finite sloughs are different…lots of birds this season shot over that type of cover. Bottom line, my simpleton thought on the matter: take a piece of 1/2” plywood at 30 yards, and #5 lead at 1200 or 1250 fps, regardless if shot out of a 28, 20, 16, or 12 is gonna look the same as far as penetration…when we start changing variables like # of pellets per shot, and how it’s choked, lethality will change, obviously. If I’m shooting at a rooster at 40-45 yards, I’d rather have 215 pellets vs 170 pellets, assuming the same choke, regardless of gauge…but we then are forced to shoot a 12 vs a 28…I’m not being exact in my pellet #’s, but you get the point. But if I’m putting $ on the line, I’d feel confident with my Parker 28 choked the way it is, shooting an ounce of #5 lead, vs my go-to Benelli ultralight 12 choked IC, shooting 1.25 oz of #5 lead…I’ve killed 40 roosters this season with the latter, and it’s not uncommon for my birds to be alive when returned to me…always been that way. If I’m mainly shooting at 35-50 yard birds, certainly I’m taking a 12 gauge choked LM or M, and I’ll stick with my 1.25 oz of #5 lead…not interested in the expensive, flashy, hi-speed stuff that’s marketed to us with creative sounding names. But in my 35+ years of pheasant hunting, I’ve never known in advance what I’m going to get for shots…and the good news, the bird #’s are very solid, so passing up a questionable shot isn’t an issue. I always feel like it’s a good idea to shoot a gun that you shoot well, that you’re very comfortable with…regardless of gauge. I started shooting lots of clays with the Parker last summer, and I have been borderline shocked at my results, given the tight chokes (I’m not a great clays shooter with any gun)…but that gun fits me well, with the leather recoil pad from orvis…adds about 3/8” to the LOP.
 
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Goosemaster said:
28 gauge do not seem like enough for pheasant.I have lost lots of birds!
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Lost them with a 28? What did u shoot last year when u lost 15? I’ve lost birds over the years with 16’s and 12’s, course I’ve shot those gauges the most…but I’ve been around hundreds of birds shot by various shooters with 12’s that have been crippled…no assurance with 12’s that are choked properly and shooting lethal ammo…even shot by good shooters…
 
I’ve found that ammo selection is more important than gauge. Obviously I will struggle more with 410 than a 12 but if your losing birds your either shooting to far in terms of distance or you are not patterned or using ineffective ammo.

4 years ago when you couldn’t buy ammo I bought a flat of Nobel sport for myself, family, and buddy. The birds not only laughed but rarely died you’d hit them and see feathers and nothing would happen.

Now I shoot fiotchi out of my 12 gauge and Kent out of my 16. The sweet 16 loves the Kent’s. Once in a while I may wound a bird but it’s not often.

Also check your choke.

I look at it this way it’s just like reloading for a rifle. I shot hornady gmx and they shoot great but I found the performance on game was less than desired. I went to noslers. We will see how those do.
 
As BB mentioned I used 28 gauge a bunch on my most recent trip. Shot 7/8 and 15/16 oz #6’s in bottom barrel with a Mod choke and 1 oz of #5 in top barrel choked IM. Couldn’t be happier with the results. What I saw was either hard stone cold kills or clean misses. I would say if you are hitting birds n the back half with those loads, or any gauge gun TBH, then you are gonna have cripples. The only bird that caused us issues was the last one of the trip and it was a terrible shot by me but with our best two springers on the ground that bird had no chance of getting away in the cover we were in. I don’t claim to be great shot but I do shoot a fair amount of sporting clays most years. If you are in the groove at all I’m not sure 28,20,16 matters too much. I do think the 12 helps a little just because of numbers of pellets and the 410 makes it way harder for the opposite reason. If not in the groove then stay with the 12 and give you self the best chance possible to kill birds is how I would look at it.
 
The one 28 I own with tubes I’ve used M/M with good results hunting prairie grouse…many times the first bird to flush is 40 yards away, followed by closer flushes…but not always, obviously…I like Matt’s M/IM setup…
 
benelli-banger said:
I’m not speaking from a tremendous amount of experience, but mine has been positive…I’ve used 2 3/4” #5 lead out of my Parker Repro 28 gauge choked IM/F. MattD from this forum used a 28 on his recent 13 day hunt for much of that trip with great results. I’ve got more experience using 20 gauges with an ounce of #5 lead with great results. My go-to this season is a 12 gauge choked IC shooting 1.25 oz of #5 lead…at 30, 35, 40 yards I’d guess the pattern on a large pizza cardboard circle doesn’t look too different between 1 oz of #5 lead out of IM vs 1.25 oz of #5 lead out of IC…the full choke throwing an ounce of #5 lead is probably a better pattern at 35-40 yards vs the IC throwing 1.25 oz of #5 lead. Bottom line, I’ve always been advised to choke a bit tighter with the 28 gauge, and I’ve done that, mostly…my Uggie 28 is skt1/skt2, and I’ve killed lots of prairie grouse, ruffs, and huns with that gun, but apples vs oranges when talking pheasants. All my 28’s, including my red label, are sweet, svelte guns that come up smoothly and quickly, especially the 5 1/2 lb Parker Repro, whose barrels were opened up by master gunsmith Ken Eyster in Columbus, Ohio. I’d be reluctant to shoot a rooster over a sea of cattails at a distance beyond 20 yards +/- with a 28, but I’m leaning that way with any gun…smaller, finite sloughs are different…lots of birds this season shot over that type of cover. Bottom line, my simpleton thought on the matter: take a piece of 1/2” plywood at 30 yards, and #5 lead at 1200 or 1250 fps, regardless if shot out of a 28, 20, 16, or 12 is gonna look the same as far as penetration…when we start changing variables like # of pellets per shot, and how it’s choked, lethality will change, obviously. If I’m shooting at a rooster at 40-45 yards, I’d rather have 215 pellets vs 170 pellets, assuming the same choke, regardless of gauge…but we then are forced to shoot a 12 vs a 28…I’m not being exact in my pellet #’s, but you get the point. But if I’m putting $ on the line, I’d feel confident with my Parker 28 choked the way it is, shooting an ounce of #5 lead, vs my go-to Benelli ultralight 12 choked IC, shooting 1.25 oz of #5 lead…I’ve killed 40 roosters this season with the latter, and it’s not uncommon for my birds to be alive when returned to me…always been that way. If I’m mainly shooting at 35-50 yard birds, certainly I’m taking a 12 gauge choked LM or M, and I’ll stick with my 1.25 oz of #5 lead…not interested in the expensive, flashy, hi-speed stuff that’s marketed to us with creative sounding names. But in my 35+ years of pheasant hunting, I’ve never known in advance what I’m going to get for shots…and the good news, the bird #’s are very solid, so passing up a questionable shot isn’t an issue. I always feel like it’s a good idea to shoot a gun that you shoot well, that you’re very comfortable with…regardless of gauge. I started shooting lots of clays with the Parker last summer, and I have been borderline shocked at my results, given the tight chokes (I’m not a great clays shooter with any gun)…but that gun fits me well, with the leather recoil pad from orvis…adds about 3/8” to the LOP.
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I don't know anything about shells and speed and all that and fit and finish, and all that. That is way TMI.
 
benelli-banger said:
Lost them with a 28? What did u shoot last year when u lost 15? I’ve lost birds over the years with 16’s and 12’s, course I’ve shot those gauges the most…but I’ve been around hundreds of birds shot by various shooters with 12’s that have been crippled…no assurance with 12’s that are choked properly and shooting lethal ammo…even shot by good shooters…
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I don't think I've ever spent more than $14 for a box of shells. Honey is expensive enough without shooting. $40 a box shells.
 
Goosemaster said:
I don't think I've ever spent more than $14 for a box of shells. Honey is expensive enough without shooting. $40 a box shells.
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Considering the cheapest box of game load 28’s ive seen locally is over 20 bucks and 12 gauge “ high brass” is 15, im calling bullshit on that

Unless all your shells were purchased several years ago of course
 
My personal opinion on 28's is if you are a great shot, and disciplined enough not to take long shots, then it's your choice. If not, more pellets in the pattern does increase the odds for less cripples, especially wild birds. Sure, cripples happen. That's just hunting. Deer & elk hunters cripple game too. I know one landowner in ND that does not allow any 28's on his farm, due to the amount of crippled birds left behind. I shoot skeet with some guys that shoot 28's, and they are good shooters that shoot a lot. However, those skeeters that also hunt birds shoot 12's.
 
CRP said:
My personal opinion on 28's is if you are a great shot, and disciplined enough not to take long shots, then it's your choice. If not, more pellets in the pattern does increase the odds for less cripples, especially wild birds. Sure, cripples happen. That's just hunting. Deer & elk hunters cripple game too. I know one landowner in ND that does not allow any 28's on his farm, due to the amount of crippled birds left behind. I shoot skeet with some guys that shoot 28's, and they are good shooters that shoot a lot. However, those skeeters that also hunt birds shoot 12's.
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I wound more birds with my 12. Im not happy about it and my dog won't lie to you. Keep them close and dont knock them down where you arent willing to walk. 28 was popular in the 70's. Just do your job and if your dog won't cover for you...get a 16
 
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