28 Gauge

The 28 gauge is where shotgunning gets refined. It’s a small-bore shotgun shell — the bore diameter defined by 28 lead balls of that diameter equaling one pound — sitting between the .410 bore and 20 gauge in size. On paper it looks like a compromise. In the field, in the hands of someone who shoots it well, it looks like the answer. The 28 gauge has a following that borders on devotion, and those people are not wrong.

The 28 gauge has been around since the late 19th century, arriving as the English and American gun trades were exploring the full spectrum of bore sizes. It earned a reputation in upland circles early — quail, grouse, woodcock — where its lightweight shells and the lightweight guns built for them made long days in the field genuinely pleasant. Custom gunmakers, particularly in England and Italy, built extraordinarily fine doubles in 28 gauge, which cemented its status as a gentleman’s caliber. For most of the 20th century, 28 gauge occupied a luxury niche. It still does, but the ammunition and firearm availability have expanded enough that it’s no longer exclusively the domain of custom guns and private shooting estates. Now you can run a Browning Citori or a CZ Redhead in 28 gauge and find shells at a reasonable shop. You’re reading an ad for a reasonable shop right now.

Standard 28 gauge shells hold 3/4 ounce of shot at velocities typically ranging from 1,200 to 1,300 feet per second. That 3/4-ounce payload is enough for the birds the 28 gauge is designed for — delivered from a gun that typically weighs less than six pounds, the combination creates a shooting experience that’s faster to mount, easier to swing, and more pleasant to carry than anything the 12 gauge world can match. Recoil is light. Pattern density is adequate for close to moderate range work. The 28 gauge doesn’t pretend to be something it isn’t — it’s a close-range, precision gauge that rewards good shooting and forgives the weight of carrying it all day.

Upland hunting is the primary and proper application: quail, grouse, woodcock, pheasant at reasonable ranges. Sporting clays, where the 28 gauge sub-gauge events are genuinely competitive and genuinely fun. Skeet shooting, where the 28 gauge is part of the international sub-gauge program. If you’re hunting behind a pointing dog in thick cover where shots are close and fast, the 28 gauge may be the most appropriate tool in the entire shotgun lineup. It’s not the most versatile gauge — it’s not trying to be. It’s the most elegant gauge, optimized for a specific and enjoyable style of shooting. The people who shoot it know what they gave up to get there, and they decided it was worth it.

Browning offers the Citori and Maxus in 28 gauge. Beretta’s A400 series and their over-under lineup include 28 gauge options. CZ builds the Redhead and Bobwhite in 28 gauge. Remington’s 870 and 1100 have historically been available in 28 gauge. On the high end, makers like Perazzi, Krieghoff, and Beretta’s premium lines build exquisite 28 gauge doubles for buyers who understand that the finest guns come in small bores. The firearm selection is narrower than 12 or 20 gauge, and the premium options trend expensive, which is part of the gauge’s character. If that bothers you, the 20 gauge is right over there and it’s excellent.

Against 20 gauge, the 28 gives up roughly 1/4 ounce of shot and gains a noticeably lighter gun and shell. At close range — under 35 yards — the difference in lethality on appropriate game is minimal if you do your part. Against .410, the 28 gauge has a meaningful payload advantage and produces better, more consistent patterns. It’s a more capable hunting shell while still delivering the lightweight field experience the .410 promises. Against 12 gauge, there’s no pretending — the 12 has more shot, more versatility, and more of everything except elegance and portability. The 28 gauge shooter has consciously opted out of that trade. They’ve made peace with it. They seem happy.

Arms East carries 28 gauge shells and firearms because the upland crowd deserves a shop that understands why they shoot what they shoot. If you’re already a 28 gauge convert, you know how rare it is to walk into a store and find what you need. If you’re curious about stepping into small-bore shooting, the staff here can walk you through why so many experienced bird hunters ended up here and stayed. Come in during bird season and count how many 28 gauge conversations happen in an afternoon. More than you’d expect.