28ga at the range

[wisconsinteacher]

Well I shot my 870 28ga today.  It was 27 degrees and windy.  I shot at 15-20-25 yards with Remington STS loads with 3/4oz of #8 shot.

15=150
20=95
25=78

I guess if I keep my shots inside 20 yards I should be okay.  I need to try a different load just to see if there is a difference.  What factory load would you try?

[BigEz]

Not to bad, it's what to be expected with lead in a 28ga.  I would also have a look at the fiocchi golden pheasant as well, they will give you 7/8 oz of 7 1/2 nickel plated at 1300 fps.  If my bad math is right, you should have 303 pellets in the remington #8s at 1200 fps, where as the fiocchi #7 1/2s will give 301 pellets at 1300 fps.  That would give you a harder hitting load and you would only lose 2 pellets or so.  I know 7 1/2s will kill out to 35 yards, I'm not sure when the 8s run out but obviously shorter then 35 yards.  With the 7 1/2 they will kill farther then that 28ga will hold its pattern.  Just something else to try, you never know the rem sts still might pattern better but wont hurt to try the fiocchis or others even.  Let me know how it goes I'm interested in how it works out for you. 

[BigEz]

Sorry, I just checked winchester's website and they have a 1oz load in # 5s, 6s, 7 1/2s and 8s moving at 1200 fps.  I would definitely try to get my hands on these loads in 7 1/2s if I could.

[wisconsinteacher]

Would you go 7.5 or 8 in the Win high brass?

[BigEz]

I would go 7 1/2s just because I know they have the energy to kill cleanly out to 35 yards, I don't have a ballistics program so I have no idea what the 8s would be good to.  Now your pattern will determine your max range but to me I wouldn't go smaller then 7 1/2.  Maybe some one with a ballistics program will read this and say what distance 8s are good to. 

[reflexl]

I am using a 870 with a rem choke barrel I ordered from Remington with the factory XF choke. Using W-W 1oz #6 it consistently put 105-110 pellets in a 10" circle at 40 yards. At 25 yards it consistently put 150+ pellets in 10". I would give them a try. I killed a nice bird at 29 yards with the golden pheasant load.reflexl

[BigEz]

I am using a 870 with a rem choke barrel I ordered from Remington with the factory XF choke. Using W-W 1oz #6 it consistently put 105-110 pellets in a 10" circle at 40 yards. At 25 yards it consistently put 150+ pellets in 10". I would give them a try. I killed a nice bird at 29 yards with the golden pheasant load.reflexl

Reflexl that's impressive with the 28ga and lead #6s, I don't think I would ever hunt with a different gun again.

[reflexl]

It has turned in to one of my favorites. The overall pattern is smaller than a 12 or 20 but the smaller pattern means a greater density of pellets. The gun is virtualy recoiless.

[reflexl]

wisconsinteacher- Which barrel and choke are you shooting? It hit me that the numbers you are getting are like my factory modified barrel did. The barrel and choke I am using came straight from Remington. They make a run every now and then. They are the glossy wingmaster barrels with the Rem choke system. I had to wait a while to get it. I wrapped it in camo tape and stuck some sights on it. If you order one you have to order a choke with it. I ordered the XF special. With the 1oz #6 it will out pattern our 20ga set up with a turkey choke. reflexl

[kevin2]

I've got 5s & 7 1/2 Winchester High Brass now & will likely get the 6s too. I'll be hunting with them in my 28g & my kids will be toting the 12 guage.

I ordered an extra full choke yesterday for my Bobwhite sxs, so my plan is to have the XFull on one side & perhaps the full or IC on the other for the closer shots. I'll pattern them both as soon as it arrives mid next week & see what I come up with.

I'll use 5s or 6s with the Xfull & the 7 1/2s with the other side. Hopefully, I'll have a nice pattern for 25-35 yards & 15-20 yards. Unlike the 12 gauge, it will actually have a better pattern, in theory, at more distances. Certainly it should be more deadly at close range.

I'll report back with my findings for those interested. Not to much 28 information rolling in, so it should be like candy to some!

[BigEz]

Yeah I'm very interested in how goes for you Kevin2 and that Bobwhite is a sweet looking SxS.  Keep us posted.

[BandedSpur]

I would go 7 1/2s just because I know they have the energy to kill cleanly out to 35 yards, I don't have a ballistics program so I have no idea what the 8s would be good to.  Now your pattern will determine your max range but to me I wouldn't go smaller then 7 1/2.  Maybe some one with a ballistics program will read this and say what distance 8s are good to.

Just read this post. Lead 8s @ 1200 fps provide 1.25" of penetration to 30 yds.