Fiocchi introduces the 3" 28ga shotshell.

What's the point? I don't own a 28ga. that has 3" chambers. Nor have I seen one. If a guy needs more throw weight in the charge, just shoot a twenty. Why would you want to take a sweet light weight 28, and turn it into a firebreathing recoiling terror? Wonder why we try to turn everything into a twelve gauge. What's next 3 1/2 inch 20's? I predict poor sales and short marketing window. Might buy some as a curiosity item, to prove the folly of man, but would really prefer to have it loaded with Federal's "saturn shaped", oblong, cutting power, whizzo shot! Another fishing lure to catch novice fishermen.
 
Quote
"Why would you want to take a sweet light weight 28, and turn it into a firebreathing recoiling terror?"

:eek:...I have had several 28's and own one right now. I like versatility in a gun. I sometimes hunt several species of birds in a single day. The one gun I may have, may be called upon for something other other Quail, grouse or Woodcock. If I find a slew harboring a bunch Wood ducks. I may need to step up the performance of my gun of the day.

On another note, I can't believe you think that little 28 would man handle you in such a manner. Just because the gun is chambered for a lengthy shell, doesn't mean you have to shoot it but it is nice should you ever need it.
 
Is your gun chambered for 3" 28's now? Didn't think so. Why not just buy a 6# or less English double 12ga. and shoot 2" or 2 1/2 " shells, with 2 3/4 drams eq. , move on up to up 2 3/4 " short mags when needed since your going to need another gun anyway, and recoil isn't an issue for you. Better pattern density, and all loads from 3/4 ounce spreaders to 1 1/2 ounce baby mags. 3"mag 28's may thrill you, but I have 6 28's 2 3/4" now, and I just wish there was a better variety of 2 3/4 " offerings in 28 ga. But I realize it's not the sexy pick, like a 3" load. I would also suggest that having loaded both "nice shot", and tungsten matrix, in 28 ga. You and your skills, excepted. I will guarantee you that in the hands of nearly all shooters, a 28ga. loaded with lead or unleaded shot is a major crippler of game unless shooting small birds, and picking your shots,which most nimrods can't or won't do on pheasants or ducks. I love 28's, I also shoot a lot of 20's, I'm hear to tell you that recoil will be an issue in a frame scaled 20, or 28, thin walled, double, weighing 5.25 #'s. Pleasant day and good luck to you, I won't change your mind, and you won't change mine, I'll let the market tell them good or bad idea.
 
every duck or goose I have ever killed has been with a 2 and 3/4 shell never seen the reason to go any bigger its not always better anyway
 
I have a 28 and it also is not chambered for 3 inch. I cannot see any reason for it. The 28 is like OAN said a sweet little gun. Don't let gauge set off on the wrong track. A 28 will kill anything a 12 will. You are just doing it with less shot. As the stated you just have to have better than average shooting skills. You cannot change the laws of physics. 3/4 of an ouch of shot will hit with the same foot pounds of energy as any other gauge shell. I love my 28 and hunt with it alot. Would I buy 3 inch shells for it? I have a 20 gauge chambered for 3 inch, I have never bought any 3 inch shells for it either......Bob
 
I don't understand, some of you act as though you will have no choice should some guns be offered in 3" chambers but to shoot 3" ammo. Nobody is going to hold a gun to your head. Nobody is telling you, you have to trade your current 2.75" gun in. What's a the big deal. They use to load 27/8" ammo years ago. I have seen model 12 Win. in this chambering. I'm all for it, Really I don't have to fight it, they are already proceeding with the 3" ammo and guns. I understand Huglu is already chambering guns in 3"

http://www.gunsinternational.com/Huglu-SRG-28GA-Set.cfm?gun_id=100142248

.
 
Kind of like the talk of a 3" 16 ga shell. Even if 16's were chambered for 3" what would be the purpose? If I wanted the additional fire power I would shoot a 12 ga. I shoot the 16 ga. because it is what it is. Same with the 28 ga. owners. We wouldn't shoot 3 inchers even if we could.

The shell manufactures don't sell a lot of 28 or 16 ga. shells as it is now. I would see very little demand for a 3" in either gauge.

But if a 3" 28 ga. really "turns your crank", go for it. Each to their own.
 
Last edited:
I just got a cz ringneck 28ga. At 5.5lbs pushing 3/4oz of lead at 1300fps it surprised me at how it kicks, it kicks just as hard as my 20ga. I dont plan on even shooting any one oz loads, let alone a 3in 1?/? Load. I do see where a 3in chamber would come in handy for onpoint when he happens across those woodies though.
 
I agree with George/zeb, "To each their own". I will also admit I am a 28 gauge purist. I have no use for 3 inch. 2.75 work just fine for me on Trap and in the field. If Chuck does, let him buy them and use them. "To each their own"..........Bob
 
I'm not going to rush right out and buy one. I just like when the Ind. shows they are still willing to take steps to keep the sport interesting. I like new and different things. I don't like being Mr run of the mill average Joe. when it comes to my hobbies. The more exotic and rare the gun. The better I like it.
 
There's 32 ,and 24 gauge also if you want exotic, or 9mm Flobert shotshell "garden guns", used by the british aristocisy to keep the eye sharp by shooting butterflies and other flying bugs in the garden in summer.
 
I have handled a few 9mm shotguns in my day. I have thought about the 32 and 24 gauge but the affordable ones look to be of poor quality.
 
I agree about the quality of the 24's and 32's, a lot are damascus blls. and loose in the joints. I tried a 9mm and felt like a giggly school girl. Could just see myself in knickers, wearing a tie creeping around the garden shooting horseflies and the like, between sips of tea and bites of crumpets. I have some britt pups I believe I could get to do the pointing, they are pretty staunch on migrating monarchs now!
 
oldandnew said:
I agree about the quality of the 24's and 32's, a lot are damascus blls. and loose in the joints. I tried a 9mm and felt like a giggly school girl. Could just see myself in knickers, wearing a tie creeping around the garden shooting horseflies and the like, between sips of tea and bites of crumpets. I have some britt pups I believe I could get to do the pointing, they are pretty staunch on migrating monarchs now!
Click to expand...

LOL

vintagerssantafe2.jpg


29718_398172230681_202597325681_406.jpg
 
Regarding small bore shotguns: I purchased a Gamo Shadow Express .22 cal. air shotgun earlier this year. Boy has that been a fun gun to shoot! My son throws a little empty can up in the air and I shoot it. It is fun for both of us! The gun is pretty much a full size piece of equipment so it is a little too big for him at 11 yrs old but he will get to shoot it soon. It is not cheap to shoot however at about $8.00 for 25 "shells". It shoots little plastic shells loaded with #9 shot. Suprisingly powerful.
 
I guess I just don't see any reason to have a 3" 28ga, but my objection is the same as some others echoed here. Use enough gun for what you are hunting.
Recently on one of the sites I saw a pundit extolling the virtues of the Fiocchi 3" Golden Pheasant 12ga and how he always kills his limit with them in #5 shot over dogs on opening weekend. He consistently made 65+ yard shots and they collapsed like they had been struck by the Hammer of Thor.
Those of us that have been around for a few years realize what this is, nothing but garden fertilizer!! But, in this country of bigger is better, new readers that aren't very good shots think they will do better with a bigger shell and gun when in truth they would do better with practice!!
I've been using a 16ga with 2.5" Westley Richards shells and a 12ga with B&P 2.5" shells and have found that I'm not handicapped at all when it comes to killing birds. I shot a 20ga 2.75" exclusively for many years and consistently killed my share of birds.
Did I miss some, heck yes but it was MY fault, not the 2.75" shell.
3" shells mean more recoil and usually worse patterns. More recoil means more of a flinch and less accurate shooting, all of these tend to cause there to be more birds wounded and not recovered. I also think, to each his own but I don't care if the double guns that I buy now even have 2.75" chambers, 2.5" has been working well for me in the upland fields.
R
 
The 28 GA is a skeet gun with applications for dove/quail/pen-raised pheasants etc. In an EXPERT's hands it will kill pheasants at moderate distance. However, simply owning a 28 GA does not make one an expert.

A 3" 28 is just the latest maketing gimmick in shotshells, and would be nothing more than a novelty.. You should buy a box to put on the shelf next to other extinct ideas like the Remington E-Tronix ignition rifle/ammo.

Fiocchi has done a great job bringing out upland bird shotshells for the US market, but the engineers should have picked something else to play with.

Another rule-of-thumb regarding gauges is that each gauge has an "optimum" shot weight for best patterns:

12GA-1 1/4 oz
16GA-1 1/8 oz
20GA-1 oz
28GA-3/4 oz

While other loads can work OK, the factories long ago established the recommended loads by their consistant patterns.
 
Last edited:
fiocchi Shot Gun Shells

CRP,

Thanks for the reminder. I haven't seen that "Rule of Thumb" for years and had completely forgotten about it until you mentioned it. Our group has this discussion various times throughout the season for one reason or another. The next time this comes up I'll mention this.

Airmedic1

I do have one question as dumb as it may sound I'll ask anyway. What are you referring to by "B&P". What Manufacturer is this?

Ric
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top