28 gauge

P

Pointing lab

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My 12 gauge side by side had an issue and I was not sure if it would be good to go for my South Dakota trip. As a result, I had an excuse to get another shotgun. I have always been intrigued by 28 gauges so I bought a beretta white onyx 28 gauge. Turns out my side by side is fixed now so I will be taking both.

For those of you that use a 28 gauge on pheasant and realize it is not a 12 gauge, what are your thoughts on it for pheasant. I bought some fiochi golden pheasant in 5's to try.

What chokes do you like?
 
Can't give you a report on the 28 ga. but I will say I always prefer #6 shot in small bores for pheasants due to the higher pellet count. But those GP #5 should be okay too. Good luck and let us know how that 28 works on pheasants.

I've never owned a 28 ga. but have recently been watching at TriStar Brittany in 28 ga. on GunBroker.
 
Two of the very best shooters I've ever hunted with both used 28 gauge guns.

I've never shot one, with 20 gauge being the smallest I'm comfortable with.

Best wishes.
 
I do use a 28ga 1100 for Pheasants and my advise is not to use it without a Dog. I also like Winchester 1oz load with 6 shot in the 28ga over the standard 3/4oz load in a 28ga. Nothing impresses a Wild Pheasant except lead, one tough bird.
Have a Great Time.
 
I have a 28ga. Tri-Star o/u I bought for chukar hunting; it is turning into my go to gun!
All though I have not yet used it for pheasants (that will happen the end of this month on a trip to NoDak, SoDak and NE.) I have been using it for chukar, quail, blue, ruffed, and sharptail grouse along with jump shooting ducks.
Love this little gun!
 
Your 28 will do just fine on Pheasants. the gun is great in the right shooters hands. they swing well and are deadly. I use a 410 some times its is all about your shooting skills.:thumbsup:
 
Very true. A pellet from a 12 gauge hurts just as bad as those shot by a 28 gauge. Just more of them in a 12 gauge. Thanks for the feedback.
 
a .28 is just fine, knowing you need to turn down marginal shots. if you know you can kill the bird, then shoot, if there is any doubt whatsoever, don't shoot!!
 
hunter94 said:
a .28 is just fine, knowing you need to turn down marginal shots. if you know you can kill the bird, then shoot, if there is any doubt whatsoever, don't shoot!!
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That's right. I took my 28ga to SD last december, it killed birds just as dead as my 20ga or grandpa's 12ga. I used some Remington 6s (3/4oz), Fiochi 5's (7/8oz I think), and rio bismuth 5s and they all did the job. It's a great gauge if you shoot it well and respect it's limits.:cheers:

Cyl/ IC or IC/ Mod work well in my Ringneck.
 
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jmac said:
Your 28 will do just fine on Pheasants. the gun is great in the right shooters hands. they swing well and are deadly. I use a 410 some times its is all about your shooting skills.:thumbsup:
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Another fourtenner! I hunted the last few years I hunted SD with a 410. Range was limited. I hunt all upland with a 410 now. I have half a dozen sxs 410s. The latest, came in just a week ago. An Italian gun.

Regarding 28ga, I hunted SD with one, a Parker Repro, for trip, as well as chukar in CA. Those Golden Pheasant #5s are an excellent load for a rooster. My gun has super tight chokes, .037 and .013, or super tight and pretty tight.
 
Exact load I use with my 28... No troubles at all.. How did you do with it in S.D.
I actually have not had a runner yet, but I know it will happen.. I seem to cripple more with my 12 and I know it is not the guns fault. I just shoot the 28 better, which creates less cripples for me. I have probably taken close to 35 roosters with it in a few years so I can say in that time and amount of birds taken, I would of had 3-4 cripples running with my 12. Dogs are always a good idea when hunting any bird... Just remembered I did have a bird fly off after hitting it twice as it came right over the top of me.. It went into the next uncut row of milo and when we went to go find it the dogs brought it back dead. So I have had 1 with the 28... Just too damn fun hunting with it...:cheers:
 
BleuBijou said:
Exact load I use with my 28... No troubles at all.. How did you do with it in S.D.
I actually have not had a runner yet, but I know it will happen.. I seem to cripple more with my 12 and I know it is not the guns fault. I just shoot the 28 better, which creates less cripples for me. I have probably taken close to 35 roosters with it in a few years so I can say in that time and amount of birds taken, I would of had 3-4 cripples running with my 12. Dogs are always a good idea when hunting any bird... Just remembered I did have a bird fly off after hitting it twice as it came right over the top of me.. It went into the next uncut row of milo and when we went to go find it the dogs brought it back dead. So I have had 1 with the 28... Just too damn fun hunting with it...:cheers:
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I had really good results with it. That was a few years ago now. I felt really confident with it. I agree, small bore shotguns are more fun. Try a 410 on some dove and quail sometime. When you get some confidence on them try some roosters.
 
I've used a 20 most of my adult life, but picked-up a 28 several years ago & a couple more after that. The 28 is a delight to carry & shoot and is deadly within its range limitations. As I've aged, I carry a 28 more & more.
 
I just got home from Montana where my 28ga saw all the action. Fiochi gf 6's and rio bismuth 5's did their job well.:cheers:
 
I typically use a 20ga but have started using my SxS 28ga for pheasants on occasion. I too like the 7/8 oz GF #5s.

I will be using it more and more I think.
 
I took my Uggie 28 gauge SxS up to SD last week. I used it one of the days and had my limit in about three hours. It killed them dead. I was shooting reloads using Cheddite hulls and 1 oz of shot. #6's in the IC barrel and Nickle plated 5 1/2's in the mod. I only got to the second barrel once. Keep it within its limit and it is quick and deadly.
 
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