After seeing the performance of my 20ga with TSS and taking a slam with it, I set off to build a 28ga and the goal was to try for a slam with it as well. The build started from a Remington 870 with a fixed modified barrel. I have to say I wasn't really impressed with the results of 1 1/2oz of 9.5s at 40 yards. However, when comparing 350-400 hits in a 10" circle from the 20ga it's hard not to be a little disappointed with a fix modified barrel. In other words, it's more than adequate but still made me hesitant to shoot a bird at that range. Prime example a week ago today in Oklahoma a buddy and I called a longbeard across a large hay field. I watched that bird walk from over 200 yards across the field to us. He got to about 40 yards and just wouldn't come closer. I was hesitant I would wound the bird and would not take the shot, so my buddy smoked him with his 20ga.
Fast forward to yesterday. I was carrying my 28ga, but trying to help a buddy get his 1st bird of the season. As luck would have it the two nice birds came in from my side and directly opposite of how I thought the birds would approach our set up. I had already told my buddy if birds did in fact come from my side I was going to let them walk past me and for him to kill one. There was ton of brush between the birds and I when I saw them and had a pretty good distance to clear the brush for a clean shot for me. Well as they are working their way in he makes a rookie mistake of moving a little too much. CLUCK! The gig was up and the birds were just about to get out of dodge when I picked a hole thru the thick stuff and let the 28ga eat. I have to say I'm impressed. It's a HAMMER at 22 yards. Not my biggest, but a nice bird for my 1st with the 28ga.............16 pounds, 10.25" beard, and 1" spurs. Looks like the 20ga might sit in the safe for a while now.