

Many would like to crown Parker Bros, an American gunmaker, for the invention of the 28-gauge in 1903. Not all antiquated gauges were lost to history finding something like a 32-gauge is not completely impossible. The 12-gauge already showed an edge in overall popularity as the “pigeon gun.” The 16-gauge overtook the 20 gauge in any serious circle. Both theĨ-gauge and 10-gauge were common and popular. There, we will find a much different spread of gauges than one would today. Rewind your clocks to the late 19th century and dive into the shotgun era. 410 in its dust? Is it better at killing game? And how has it changed over the last 100+ years of shotgunning science? Here I shed light on these topics by diving into the work of shotgun experts. I have come to find that it’s not just a pattern test that makes the greater case for the 28-gauge it’s many smaller parts that make up this firearm.ĭoes the 28-gauge shotgun pattern better than any other gauge? Is it superior to its bigger cousins, the 20, 16, and 12-gauge? How far does it leave the. Put simply, I’ve never shot another gauge better. Simply put, others and I have found the 28-gauge to not just be a delightful gauge, but superior to other gauges in unexpected ways.Ī lot of that technical shooting success is due to a properly fitting stock, the weight of the shotgun, and effectiveness of the load. My first time taking a 28-gauge into the prairie resulted not just in limits of birds, but a double on Hungarian partridge. On many occasions, I have witnessed shooters of all experience levels shoot 28-gauges for the first time and push their limits on sharptails and huns. The previous days featured limits of ruffed grouse and woodcock under leaf-covered trees in cover I call “Mars.” We used a mix of shells by various makers ranging from #6 and #7 bismuth to #8 lead. On a recent hunting trip, three of us toted 28s of various makes and models. There are myths of its origins, a collective misunderstanding of the “square load,” and a devout following by some of the greatest shotgun experts and writers.Īt 150 pounds soaking wet, I have found a love for the 28-gauge shotgun. People smarter than me have pointed out that all shotgun ballistics apply except when talking the 28-gauge. Grassroots conversations regarding the 28-gauge feel more like the passing on of old fantasy stories rather than true, hard facts of ballistics. Listen to more articles on Apple | Google | Spotify | Audible That, along with my personal experiences, have made me quite partial to the 28, a wonderful sub-gauge with ever-growing popularity. Since then, I have learned with conviction that ruffed grouse are even more mysterious than whitetail. In my first book, I wrote that whitetail deer do exactly what they are supposed to except when they don’t. Uncertainty is one of the great allures of hunting. Is the 28-gauge the best shotgun gauge for upland hunters? New England Grouse Shooting, by William Harnden Foster.The Upland Shooting Life, by George Bird Evans.Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information / Your California Privacy Rights are applicable to you. ^ Back to Top ^ © 2023 ESPN Internet Ventures.
#True game data shotgun upgrade
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