My wife shoots skeet with me periodically. I want to get her a 28 gauge semi or O/U. She won't shoot any 4 gauge events or anything...we just want something she can shoot with me for an afternoon. She doesn't shoot a whole lot so I don't wanna spend a lot of $$$. Any recommendations?
Recommendation for 28GA for Wife
- Thread starter Stay Low
- Start date
- Status
Jim Watson
Member
Are you a 4-gauge shooter who can load her 28s? If so, great. If not, how about a nice 20 gauge Remington, Browning, or Beretta auto? Lots more choice and not much kick.
Black Majik
Member
I would honestly suggest a 20 ga. for your wife instead of the 28.
I'm sure you can find more parts and shotguns available in 20 ga. Also the light target loads are very comfortable for shooters of smaller frame.
But main reason I suggest the 20 over the 28 is because her chances of breaking the clays w/ the 20 will be higher, thus making her shooting experience more enjoyable.
Once she gets used to the recoil of the 20, move her up to the 12 ga. She'll see that she's breaking more w/ the 12 and you'll probably have a new shooting buddy.
Of course the ga of the gun doesn't shoot for her, but her chances of breaking the clays should increase
I'm sure you can find more parts and shotguns available in 20 ga. Also the light target loads are very comfortable for shooters of smaller frame.
But main reason I suggest the 20 over the 28 is because her chances of breaking the clays w/ the 20 will be higher, thus making her shooting experience more enjoyable.
Once she gets used to the recoil of the 20, move her up to the 12 ga. She'll see that she's breaking more w/ the 12 and you'll probably have a new shooting buddy.
Of course the ga of the gun doesn't shoot for her, but her chances of breaking the clays should increase
sm
member
Agree with Mr.Watson.
I do respectfully disagree with breaking more birds with a 20ga vs 28ga however. My scores reflected what most skeet tourney show. The 28ga is the best gauge for most 4 gun shooters.
I know as a rule "matter of bore--not choke" but the 28 is unique in it's payload to bore. It performs better than it should, that short shot string hits hard and with great pattern density. The recoil is very little if any , even in the small frame guns. This is the Good, shooters are focused on targets knowing the recoil is not there and therefore no flinch, and they better follow through with swing. Anticipation of recoil causes a shooter to flinch, take face off gun, stop swing, not follow through...
The Bad is- most use is in skeet and unless one reloads or has deep pockets ammo selection is slim.
Citori, Rugers Red Label, Beretta O/U....28 ga used might be a thought...gun fit still should be determining factor.
I do respectfully disagree with breaking more birds with a 20ga vs 28ga however. My scores reflected what most skeet tourney show. The 28ga is the best gauge for most 4 gun shooters.
I know as a rule "matter of bore--not choke" but the 28 is unique in it's payload to bore. It performs better than it should, that short shot string hits hard and with great pattern density. The recoil is very little if any , even in the small frame guns. This is the Good, shooters are focused on targets knowing the recoil is not there and therefore no flinch, and they better follow through with swing. Anticipation of recoil causes a shooter to flinch, take face off gun, stop swing, not follow through...
The Bad is- most use is in skeet and unless one reloads or has deep pockets ammo selection is slim.
Citori, Rugers Red Label, Beretta O/U....28 ga used might be a thought...gun fit still should be determining factor.
I agree with SM. 28ga is the way to go. I have 28 ga 1100 sporting which is a dream to shoot. I looked at a Franchi 48AL in 28ga a few weeks ago. What a nice sweet gun. Their website claims it's the lightest auto made. I'm thinking about picking one up for my daughter as she has now started skeet shooting.
Gary G23
Member
I love pumping my 28ga 870 but a 1100 is probably better for her.
Getting in to the 28 gauge and not spending a lot of $$$ is contradictory unless you reload. Factory shells are much more expensive.
Like some of the others, I'd recommend a Remington 1100 but only because Beretta doesn't make a 391 in 28 gauge.
An over/under will be a more expensive propostion but you won't have to chase those hulls all over the field. The 28 gauge Ruger o/u has unlike most other guns in the price range a frame scaled to the 28. Most of the other 28 gauges are built on 20 gauge frames. Personally I like Beretta guns but recently examined a new line by Ceasar Guerini that was very impressive.
What I would not do is go to the 20 instead of the 28. Based on my recent experience with a three barrel skeet set, the 28 will crush targets as well as the 20 and not recoil as much in the bargain.
Paul
Like some of the others, I'd recommend a Remington 1100 but only because Beretta doesn't make a 391 in 28 gauge.
An over/under will be a more expensive propostion but you won't have to chase those hulls all over the field. The 28 gauge Ruger o/u has unlike most other guns in the price range a frame scaled to the 28. Most of the other 28 gauges are built on 20 gauge frames. Personally I like Beretta guns but recently examined a new line by Ceasar Guerini that was very impressive.
What I would not do is go to the 20 instead of the 28. Based on my recent experience with a three barrel skeet set, the 28 will crush targets as well as the 20 and not recoil as much in the bargain.
Paul
sm
member
3 bbl set...
Hey PJR, ever been guilty of using the 28 ga for the 12, 20 and 28 ga events...I have. I shot real good that day....410 can be canterous in wind...got a check tho' despite the little gun and wind.
Knees about to worked on, shot a practice rd withthe 28 ga bbl and said...to heck with it. I'm not gonna shoot the SX1 in 12, this gun is together and ready to go I'll run it till time for the little gun. Funny how well one shoots when they quit being so darn serious , lighten up and have fun.
I kinda like 28 ga in case nobody noticed.
Hey PJR, ever been guilty of using the 28 ga for the 12, 20 and 28 ga events...I have.
I shot real good that day....410 can be canterous in wind...got a check tho' despite the little gun and wind. Knees about to worked on, shot a practice rd withthe 28 ga bbl and said...to heck with it. I'm not gonna shoot the SX1 in 12, this gun is together and ready to go I'll run it till time for the little gun. Funny how well one shoots when they quit being so darn serious , lighten up and have fun.
I kinda like 28 ga in case nobody noticed.
Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
28s don't know they're small gauge. The few I've seen used in the field have been deadly on close to medium shots. Kick's never punishing.
The Ruger Red Label runs well over 6 lbs in 28 gauge. The Hull Elf likes his lots. So do others I see with them. Most Ruger triggers run a bit heavy, but that's fixable.
The 28 gauge 870 is a neat little package,cheap in the Express version, but some folks shun pumping. 1100s in 28 are nice, but a hair heavy and not inexpensive.
Older 11-48s in 28 gauge are excellent, if they can be found. Many are well used.
HTH....
The Ruger Red Label runs well over 6 lbs in 28 gauge. The Hull Elf likes his lots. So do others I see with them. Most Ruger triggers run a bit heavy, but that's fixable.
The 28 gauge 870 is a neat little package,cheap in the Express version, but some folks shun pumping. 1100s in 28 are nice, but a hair heavy and not inexpensive.
Older 11-48s in 28 gauge are excellent, if they can be found. Many are well used.
HTH....
Thanks for the input folks. BTW, my average is better with 28 than any of the other 3 gauges. As far as ammo cost, the local reload guy charges $5 more a flat for 28 and 410 than 12 and 20. I like the idea of a 28 but the ammo cost will add up over the long run so reconsidering a 20. Thanks
Mike Irwin
Member
If I were you, I'd trade for a somewhat larger gauge if it's gun for wife even up...
On the other hand, I agree with everyone who's telling you to think about the 20 gauge.
MUCH better gun availability.
MUCH better ammo availability.
Ammo is generally a lot cheaper.
I've been looking for a 28 gauge for some months now, just because I want one, and I'm having one hell of a time finding one that doesn't cost more than my car.
On the other hand, I agree with everyone who's telling you to think about the 20 gauge.
MUCH better gun availability.
MUCH better ammo availability.
Ammo is generally a lot cheaper.
I've been looking for a 28 gauge for some months now, just because I want one, and I'm having one hell of a time finding one that doesn't cost more than my car.
Like has been said there is no low cost when 28s are involved unless you reload. But I would try to find an 1100 or go for a Ruger over/under if you can afford it. I love the 28, got one in 1100, 870, Ruger Red Label, and in my tubed Beretta competition gun.
SM, I've done the 12 and 20 events with a 28. The last year I shot registered skeet my 28 average was 98.9, about a full percentage better than my 12 and 20. Wish I could of used it in the .410. I still resorted to the bigger guns on shootoffs in 12 and 20.
SM, I've done the 12 and 20 events with a 28. The last year I shot registered skeet my 28 average was 98.9, about a full percentage better than my 12 and 20. Wish I could of used it in the .410.
I still resorted to the bigger guns on shootoffs in 12 and 20. sm
member
Mike Irwin, I really can't comment on" the wife for gun trade" I 'm waaay too cynical...
kudu, yeah I was 98. "something "too ( I forget)...probably painted inside a cave somewhere...it's what we used for scoreboards A 28 ga will make a shooter look good...dang .410 will humble him quick.
I really like 28 ga, I even researched slugs for the 28 bore, I still contend there would be a place /use for such. Keep thinking that a 28 slug would be THAT much of an improvement over a .410.
I even tried some "homemade slugs"...well lets just say I went back to the drawing board a lot. If I ever get filthy rich and and all-- I'm going to make the 28 ga more accessible, affordable, in guns,loads and everything. I will come up with a slug load (s) offering too.
Oh well ( turns pocket inside out...no money just lint) I guess my dream of every newborn getting a SxS or O/U in 28 ga and a case of shells will have to wait a bit longer huh?
kudu, yeah I was 98. "something "too ( I forget)...probably painted inside a cave somewhere...it's what we used for scoreboards
A 28 ga will make a shooter look good...dang .410 will humble him quick. I really like 28 ga, I even researched slugs for the 28 bore, I still contend there would be a place /use for such. Keep thinking that a 28 slug would be THAT much of an improvement over a .410.
I even tried some "homemade slugs"...well lets just say I went back to the drawing board a lot. If I ever get filthy rich and and all-- I'm going to make the 28 ga more accessible, affordable, in guns,loads and everything. I will come up with a slug load (s) offering too.
Oh well ( turns pocket inside out...no money just lint) I guess my dream of every newborn getting a SxS or O/U in 28 ga and a case of shells will have to wait a bit longer huh?
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
