Bored and thinking.....28ga

[wisconsinteacher]

I know some guys have set up an H&R 20 ga to be a good turkey gun out to 40 yards.  I was wondering if it could be done with a 28 ga.  Here is a thought.  If a guy could get a choke and some Nitro shells with Hevi 13 #7s, I think it could be done.  I know it my not be the best money spent, but it would be a light little gun for young hunters and myself to hunt with.  So is it worth looking into or not?  Some day I will have a 28 ga because it is one of the two gauges I don't own so it will happen and I would like it to be able to shoot a turkey at the furthest range possible.

[Fastcat]

It might be a waste of time but that's fun too.  I know it would be a challenging set up.  Ammo, choke and gun would all be tough to come buy.  One of the guns I most regret selling was a beautiful Remington Wingmaster 28.  Someday will have one again!  For alot of things they are an incredibly sweet gun!

[SumToy]

This is funny. I am building a set of 28ga chokes now. I am about to pull my hair out. This is a YILDIZ. Sold by Academy.  Now I think I saw on a post that someone had worked up a hand load for the 28. I know a 28ga is a bad boy. They say it is one of the most blance bore/load combos out on the market.

[Fastcat]

I think there is something to the "load balance" of a 28gauge.  They pack a lot of punch for the shell size.  I have killed many pheasants with the little 28 and it always seem to hit a lot harder than it should!

[Hognutz]

And why would you want a 28ga. to turkey hunt with? Seriously?

[beagler]

I would think finding chokes/ammo would be quite difficult.

[SumToy]

I would think finding chokes/ammo would be quite difficult.

From what I can find out with the Hand Loads you get by with sporting clay chokes.  Now other then that we would have to work up a custom choke.  Find a shell and it would not be hard to come up with it.

[wisconsinteacher]

It would not be a turkey only gun, but a gun that if wanted could be taken to the turkey woods.  I have a 12 that is turkey only.  I just need a 28 for my collection and gauge slam.  Like I said, I am bored and when that happens I start to think and that leads to trouble for the checkbook.

[grousec]

I grouse woodcock with a 28 ga at times and love carring a light 28 that's made on a 28 ga frame.  But I think getting much range out of a 28 ga may be hard to do.  I just can't imagine it being very effective beyond 25-30 yds.  I certainly would be interedted to see a good choke and maybe Hevi 13 #7's.  

[SumToy]

I have saw them on the sporting clay field and they make you think.  I have saw them brake targets that you think is a long shot for a 12.   I think they would have the same punch but the thing is how much shot could you get in the shell.  I think Hal needs to fill us in on the hand loads.

[Ol'Mossy]

A friend of mine is going to take a gobbler this year with his 28ga just because.

It throws a good pattern out to 30 yards I saw the targets on Sunday.

Not sure what he's using for shells.

[spaightlabs]

Not legal in Kansas - 20 gauge is the min.

[alexdanotsogreat]

I think it would be a fun little project they hit hard upto 30  yards 40 yards with a choke shouldnt be to hard.

[grousec]

20 ga is the smallest one can legally turkey hunt with in ky as well.

[DocHolliday]

Come on in.  The water's fine!
Hognutz, there are two reasons I carry a 28 in the turkey woods.  First, by the 3-4th week of season it gets H-O-T hot down here and after 35 years of chasin' these fool chickens I really like toting a gun that weighs in at a little over 5 lbs. So when it heats up, I put down the big ol' 20 ga and pick up my darlin' lil' 28. Second,  I can do ANYTHING w/ that 28 out to 40 yds (and maybe further, but that's not the point) that you or anybody else can do w/ a 10 ga.  A pellet of equal size delivered to the target at equal velocity will have the same energy AND penetration no matter if originates from a peashooter or a cannon! It is SIMPLY a numbers game (bigger gauge=more of those pellets). And if you are shooting lead or hevishot, I win.  My numbers are a little higher than Hal's (198 @ 40yds) but not nearly as even and pretty. And he was shooting T8's where I was shooting T9's, so his pattern is REALLY impressive!
So, Hognutz or anybody else, please don't castigate those who want to think, plan, and execute a project like this one. This is no fluke. I spent 2 years and a lot of capital both monetary and intellectual before taking this little beauty out.  But when I did, it was w/ ABSOLUTE confidence in its abilities.  That said, it is a HTL handloaders game.  You cannot drop into WallyWorld the night before the season, pick up a box of shells and a choke, and go kill a longbeard at 40 yds the next morning!
I have killed turkeys w/ 10's, 12's, 20's, and now 28's.  When it gets hot, I'll be packin' my lil' darlin'.  And I'll pack her in the turkey woods w/ confidence...