28 Gauge Defensive shotgun

[Pfletch83]

What are your thoughts about a 28 gauge defensive shotgun?

It should carry more of a buckshot payload than the .410 and should keep the weapon as well as the recoil light.

Another thing that should be noted is patterns should be tighter than the larger gauges.

[-hanko]

What are your thoughts about a 28 gauge defensive shotgun?

It should carry more of a buckshot payload than the .410 and should keep the weapon as well as the recoil light.

Another thing that should be noted is patterns should be tighter than the larger gauges.

IF and ONLY IF 28 is the largest gauge you can comfortably shoot...

If you're bothered by a high brass shell in a 20 or 12, try the low recoil 'tactical' loads, get a pad on the stock (I like Pachmayr (sp?) ), and start practicing.

It's not wise to limit your options to a gun designed to kill small birds if your wanting to kill large humans. Your goal is to stop the attacker as quickly as possible...no way would I think a 28 would do that better than a 20 or 12.
A 28 can obviously shoot a heavier load than a .410, but I've never seen anyone advocating .410 for HD.

hth

-hanko

[Pfletch83]

IF and ONLY IF 28 is the largest gauge you can comfortably shoot...

If you're bothered by a high brass shell in a 20 or 12, try the low recoil 'tactical' loads, get a pad on the stock (I like Pachmayr (sp?) ), and start practicing.

It's not wise to limit your options to a gun designed to kill small birds if your wanting to kill large humans. Your goal is to stop the attacker as quickly as possible...no way would I think a 28 would do that better than a 20 or 12.
A 28 can obviously shoot a heavier load than a .410, but I've never seen anyone advocating .410 for HD.

hth

-hanko

I'll advocate a .410 for HD/SD situations.

I've put together a Mossberg 500 for just such a purpose in .410.

I think the 28 would do well in this also if using the right loads.

[WDE91]

WHY??

I would stick with .12 .20 and .410

[Pfletch83]

WHY??

I would stick with .12 .20 and .410

Why not?

I think this is the shot in the arm the 28 gauge needs.

[plumbum]

Your biggest issue with a 28 gauge, upland, tactical or otherwise, is the factory loads available. The .410 has been given lots of attention lately, and the 20 and 12 have always been loaded as such (the 16 gauge has more than one company putting out a #1 buckshot load).

I feel that a .410 with appropriate defensive loads is capable for 'in house' distances, the 28 gauge could potentially match or beat the .410 performance (I would guess). If the little bores are all you have, then good luck to you, but always consider moving up to the 20 gauge if available.

Exactly what kind of platform are we talking about here?

[Pfletch83]

Your biggest issue with a 28 gauge, upland, tactical or otherwise, is the factory loads available. The .410 has been given lots of attention lately, and the 20 and 12 have always been loaded as such (the 16 gauge has more than one company putting out a #1 buckshot load).

I feel that a .410 with appropriate defensive loads is capable for 'in house' distances, the 28 gauge could potentially match or beat the .410 performance (I would guess). If the little bores are all you have, then good luck to you, but always consider moving up to the 20 gauge if available.

Exactly what kind of platform are we talking about here?

Just to clear things up my reasons for this are due to personal injuries I've been through in an ATV accident 6 years ago (on the 12th of this month)

I love the 12's and 20's and use to shoot 3-inch magnum 12 loads like most people would shoot .22's I can't do that anymore.

also the other resaon I've been thinking about this is a family use defensive gun (true most will say that {insert family member here} can shoot a 12 gauge without problems but the point is why should they be forced to do so) when a smaller gauge firing the same type of loads will do the same thing with less added weight and recoil?

[JagerDog]

The 28 is a specialist's gun. Limited platforms and limited (as well as pricey) factory loadings. Anything the 28 can do in HD, a 20 can do better.

[Pfletch83]

The 28 is a specialist's gun. Limited platforms and limited (as well as pricey) factory loadings. Anything the 28 can do in HD, a 20 can do better.

As it stands now that's true.

The same thing you have said has also been said about the .410

All it took was the judge revolver being brought to market and now look at the defensive .410 loadings we have as a result.

[Pfletch83]

Your biggest issue with a 28 gauge, upland, tactical or otherwise, is the factory loads available. The .410 has been given lots of attention lately, and the 20 and 12 have always been loaded as such (the 16 gauge has more than one company putting out a #1 buckshot load).

I feel that a .410 with appropriate defensive loads is capable for 'in house' distances, the 28 gauge could potentially match or beat the .410 performance (I would guess). If the little bores are all you have, then good luck to you, but always consider moving up to the 20 gauge if available.

Exactly what kind of platform are we talking about here?

Oh say something like an Ithaca 28 gauge pump with an 8-9 shot magazine tube and a 20 inch cylinder bore barrel.

(sent a message to Ithaca and got a reply back that they didn't have plans to make the model 37 in .410 but asked me how I felt about the 28 gauge)

[aippi]

To become proficeint with your HD weapon you need trigger time. If you can afford 28ga ammo that is not an issue for you, however, in a SHTF scenerio we may be bartering for ammo to hunt with and for defense. Good luck finding ammo for your 28 ga. So this alone makes it a weapon I would not have as a go to gun for Defence. Barter ammo will be 12, 20 and even ..410 will be hard to find.

If you have recoil issues get a 20 ga and practice with tartget loads. Use Low recoil buck shot for HD.

[shellslinger]

To become proficeint with your HD weapon you need trigger time. If you can afford 28ga ammo that is not an issue for you, however, in a SHTF scenerio we may be bartering for ammo to hunt with and for defense. Good luck finding ammo for your 28 ga. So this alone makes it a weapon I would not have as a go to gun for Defence. Barter ammo will be 12, 20 and even ..410 will be hard to find.

If you have recoil issues get a 20 ga and practice with tartget loads. Use Low recoil buck shot for HD.

+1 Reduced Recoil tactical loads or low recoil buckshot is a good method to avoiding the "harsh" recoil of a 12 gauge or even a 20 gauge. Hornady TAP Reduced Recoil 00 Buck has less recoil than #8 and #7 1/2 birdshot (Which is basically nothing).

Like what Aippi said, if you can afford 28 gauge ammo go for it. However, it'll be more practical and cost effective if you stuck with 20 gauge or 12 gauge. Being cost effective gives you more rounds to practice. And it all comes down to practice practice practice.

[Pfletch83]

+1 Reduced Recoil tactical loads or low recoil buckshot is a good method to avoiding the "harsh" recoil of a 12 gauge or even a 20 gauge. Hornady TAP Reduced Recoil 00 Buck has less recoil than #8 and #7 1/2 birdshot (Which is basically nothing).

Like what Aippi said, if you can afford 28 gauge ammo go for it. However, it'll be more practical and cost effective if you stuck with 20 gauge or 12 gauge. Being cost effective gives you more rounds to practice. And it all comes down to practice practice practice.

You're not talking to a rookie here,I'm not an expert but I'm not a newbie either.

I'm planning on loading my own after I get things settled as far as the firearm in question.

[plumbum]

Oh say something like an Ithaca 28 gauge pump with an 8-9 shot magazine tube and a 20 inch cylinder bore barrel.

(sent a message to Ithaca and got a reply back that they didn't have plans to make the model 37 in .410 but asked me how I felt about the 28 gauge)

Remington also offers the 28 gauge in pump and auto. Marlin offers their 336 in .410 and Mossberg, Remington and Browning have nice .410's; with the current crop of 'Judge' ammo, the .410 might make more economical sense.

[Pfletch83]

Remington also offers the 28 gauge in pump and auto. Marlin offers their 336 in .410 and Mossberg, Remington and Browning have nice .410's; with the current crop of 'Judge' ammo, the .410 might make more economical sense.

I've looked at the Remington 28 gauge 870 but I like the bottom loading and bottom ejection of the 37 more,plus it's still almost a $1000.00 shotgun that I would have to have worked on to bring it up to what I'm after.

Besides the Folks at Ithaca seem to want to make the scatter gun mentioned.

the only other thing I asked them on the matter is if the 28 gauge in question could be made with a 3-inch chamber (to boost the payload buckshot wise)