28 gauge

It's not "more is better" for me. It would be easy to shoot a bigger shell than needed. I've never heard anyone knowledgeable suggest using a 3.5" shell for pheasants, and really 3.5" shells seem to be losing popularity across the board. I was just genuinely curious why people choose to hunt with a 28. Thanks for all the replies. I will say comparing a whippy 20 you don't shoot well with a 28 that has better balance doesn't really change the debate. Larger gauge will never make up for poor fit and/or balance.

If you can shoot an ounce of lead it seems the 28 is a good gun. If you're forced to use larger pellets (non-lead) then subgauge really suffers. Layup shots are never in question. You could grass a bird with a half-ounce of #9s at close range. If you tickle one at 35 yards and your next shot is 45 yards, what's best then?
 
Bob Peters said:
It's not "more is better" for me. It would be easy to shoot a bigger shell than needed. I've never heard anyone knowledgeable suggest using a 3.5" shell for pheasants, and really 3.5" shells seem to be losing popularity across the board. I was just genuinely curious why people choose to hunt with a 28. Thanks for all the replies. I will say comparing a whippy 20 you don't shoot well with a 28 that has better balance doesn't really change the debate. Larger gauge will never make up for poor fit and/or balance.

If you can shoot an ounce of lead it seems the 28 is a good gun. If you're forced to use larger pellets (non-lead) then subgauge really suffers. Layup shots are never in question. You could grass a bird with a half-ounce of #9s at close range. If you tickle one at 35 yards and your next shot is 45 yards, what's best then?
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I’ll let u know…😬
 
benelli-banger said:
I’m far from genius level, obviously, but isn’t an ounce of 5’s an ounce of 5’s? 28 or 20, those are the loads I use, with success. Heading to SD now, gonna use a 28 much of this hunt…I’ll report back…suspect MattD’s report and mine will be similar…
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I don't know about all that math. I just think that a 28 is a light gun
 
Goosemaster said:
I don't know about all that math. I just think that a 28 is a light gun
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Then stick with what you think works better….confidence is important in the field, IMO…my point is that the same amount of shot, traveling at the same velocity, seems pretty similar…and my patterning has borne that out as well …👍
 
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