About 28 Gauge
Table of Contents
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are covering about
28 gauge today. This shotgun chambering has endured in common use for generations of shooters and is employed in many use cases. The cartridge is particularly popular among upland game hunters. We are going to delve into
28 gauge’s traits, features, use cases, and more. Without further ado, let’s talk about
28 gauge.
What is 28 Gauge?
The
28 gauge is a commonly employed shotgun chambering. Like the
12 gauge and
20 gauge,
28 gauge gets its name from the amount of lead balls yielded from a single pound of lead which matched the diameter of the firearm. As such, 28 lead balls equivalent in size to the bore diameter of a
28 gauge shotgun would weigh in at one pound.
28 gauge shotshells are noticeably narrower and shorter than their larger counterparts. This makes them easily distinguishable from gauges such as
12 gauge and
20 gauge.
28 gauge shotgun loadings generally feature a tame recoil impulse. Of course, the specific loading used impacts the report and felt recoil experienced by a shooter. Additionally. recoil is felt more on manual action firearms than it is when firing autoloading firearms. This is particularly true with shotguns as Beretta and Benelli have semi-automatic offerings designed to tame
28 gauge recoil and feed smoothly. The tame recoil of the
28 gauge permits a wide range of shooters, especially those who are recoil sensitive, to employ an effective and versatile gauge. New shooters will not be abused by stout recoil and will have a fair chance to effectively hone their skills with
28 gauge. Recoil from the
28 gauge is best described as between
20 gauge and
.410 bore.
Purchase 28 Gauge Ammo
Diverse Types or 28 Gauge Loadings
28 gauge ammo is available in various styles and forms, often tailored towards specific use cases. These loadings are found in the form of 2.75,” or 3" shotshells. Longer shells have the potential to have a greater payload and more stout recoil than their shorter counterparts.
Here are some of the more common types of loadings one will find in the way of
28 gauge ammunition.
- Birdshot – Simply put, these loadings feature multiple small projectiles. These types of loadings are well-suited for bird hunting, pest control, casual clay shooting, and recreational shooting. These loadings tend to be some of the most common loadings one will find on the market.
- Buckshot – Buckshot loadings feature multiple large projectiles. These projectiles are considerably larger than the projectiles found in birdshot and target loadings. Buckshot loadings come in various styles and sizes which feature varying numbers and sizes of projectiles. These types of loadings are well-suited for hunting use and for self-defense.
- Slugs – These types of loadings feature single, solid projectiles rather than multiple projectiles. As these loadings feature solid projectiles, one does not have to consider a potential pattern or spread of multiple projectiles. Slugs are often found in the form of rifled and sabot loadings. Rifled slugs are intended for use in smoothbore barrels while sabot slugs are intended for use in rifled barrels. Ultimately, slugs allow a user to extend the effective range of their shotgun.
These loadings are just some of the basic types of
28 gauge ammo one will encounter. Some companies offer specialized loadings which combine types of shot, such as hybrid slug and buckshot offerings.
Shooters can easily find loadings optimized for self-defense, hunting, and shooting sporting clays to name a few. From these offerings, shooters will find that more specific options exist regarding shot size, velocity, projectile material, weight, and more.
Additionally, many lead-free
28 gauge ammo offerings are also produced, allowing end users to comply with restrictions on lead
ammunition. At the end of the day, the wide range of
28 gauge ammunition makes the shotgun caliber incredibly versatile and well-suited for many use cases.
How Available is 28 Gauge Ammunition?
Ammo for
28 gauge is available but not nearly as common as loadings are for
12 gauge and
20 gauge. Common loadings such as birdshot, buckshot, slug, and target
ammo offerings tend to be most common on shelves and at online retailers. Individual box offerings as well as
bulk 28 gauge ammo offerings are available, with “flats” being popular among serious shooters. Of course, one can browse a wide variety of offerings if they shop for and
buy ammo online.
That being said,
28 gauge ammo is well supported by companies across the globe. These manufacturers include
Nobel Sport,
Federal,
Aguila,
Winchester, and
RIO to name a few. These loadings encompass general purpose, standard offerings as well as specialty offerings intended for uses such as hunting or shooting sporting clays. Additionally, lead-free offerings are also produced in the form of
28 gauge ammo. All in all, one will find
28 gauge ammunition if they are looking for some.
How Available are Firearms Chambered in 28 Gauge?
At this point, there are a variety of firearms on the market which will accommodate
28 gauge ammo. These types for firearms can be found in both vintage, old production form and in the form of modern production offerings.
Modern production offerings can be had from companies such as Browning, Mossberg, Remington, Beretta, and Benelli to name a few. These offerings are commonly found in pump action, double barrel, and semi-automatic form. Most shotguns of the pump action and semi-automatic variety utilize tubular magazines to facilitate feeding. In a departure from the norm, there are also a number of magazine-fed pump action and semi-automatic shotguns available for sale on the market.
Modern production shotguns can be found in a variety of forms such as hunting, sporting, competition, and tactical and home defense configurations. The many
28 gauge shotgun offerings on the market allow and end user to select a shotgun which best fits their needs and preferences. All in all, one will be able to find a firearm chambered in
28 gauge if they truly want to.
Purchase 28 Gauge Ammo
What Can You Use 28 Gauge For?
There are many uses for
28 gauge ammo. As mentioned above, there are many purpose-built
28 gauge ammo options tailored to specific use cases. Many shooters employ
28 gauge ammo in target shooting and competition roles. Generally, birdshot and target loadings tend to be quite cheap when compared to other
28 gauge loadings, making them well-suited to plinking and general-purpose shooting. Everything from sporting clays to steel and cardboard targets are commonly shot by recreational shooters and competitors who utilize
28 gauge shotguns.
The caliber is also commonly used by hunters, especially when after winged game such as waterfowl and dove. In addition to winged game, shotguns are also utilized for varmint hunting, predator hunting, and general hunting applications. The use of shotguns for general purpose hunting is common in some states and areas which do not allow rifle hunting. All in all,
28 gauge ammunition is viable for a wide range of purposes and uses.
Conclusion
All in all,
28 gauge continues to persist in common use with shooters of all types. The various loadings and widespread support by companies across the globe aid in making
28 gauge prolific and well-used. We here at True Shot Ammo carry a wide variety of
28 gauge ammo in addition to our wide variety of
ammunition for sale. Whether you are looking to
buy 28 gauge ammunition or something else, we have got you covered. As always, happy shooting.
Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Ammo, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotammo.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at sales@trueshotammo.com for more ammo options.
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