28 Gauge Shot Size

[Jerry]

I would like to know the favorite shot size for the best pattern in your smooth 28 gauge cylinder bore.Thanks.

[Longknife]

Jerry It all depend on what you are using the gun for too. For quail, doves and clay birds a smaller size is required, 7 1/2's or 8 's.. For squirrels, rabbits and the like a larger shot size, 6's or 4's will be better,,,, BUT you will have to experiment to determine what load YOUR gun likes,,,,Ed

[rich pierce]

I agree with Longknife. Shot size depends more on target than gauge.

[Hungry Horse]

I’ve never had much luck with 7-1/2 or #8 shot in a cylinder bore muzzleloader. I use mostly #6 shot for most small game, and #4’s for turkeys. I’ve found that the smaller the shot size ( especially in smaller sized smoothbores) the more susceptible the load is to blown patterns. So, I use the slowest burning powder I can get my hands on. 2F is good, but 1F is better. I’ve even shot 3FA blasting powder in my 30” 20 gauge tradegun. It takes more powder to make any velocity, but it pushes the charge out instead of blasting it out.

  Hungry Horse

[Mike Brooks]

I've always found larger shot to pattern better than smaller shot.
 For furry animals and turks I like 4's. for feathered flying birds I like 6's or 4's. For skeet I like 8's or 9's.

[bob in the woods]

In the interest of standardizing, my shot pouch is filled with #4's    They shoot he best in both my 20 and 10 bores, and do all I expect them to do.  I used to change out to #6's for some upland game, but no longer bother.

[Mike Brooks]

In the interest of standardizing, my shot pouch is filled with #4's    They shoot he best in both my 20 and 10 bores, and do all I expect them to do.  I used to change out to #6's for some upland game, but no longer bother.

I gotta agree, except for skeet I'm pretty comfortable with #4's. I always loaded my 28 bore like a 20 bore, 70gr 3fff and 1oz shot out of a 48" cylinder bored barrel, shot like a full choke.

[Jerry]

Thanks, Many interesting combinations for a 28 gauge cylinder bore. The one thing that I haven't tried is larger shot,
like #4's. My thinking was totally in reverse. I was thinking the more or smaller shot, the more in the pattern, but thinking about it again, the heavier shot like #4's, the less likely to blow holes in the pattern. 

[FDR]

Like several others #6 shot has always worked well for me in my 28ga. Might give #6 a try also.

Fred

[Jerry]

Fred, Did you mean, like several others #4 shot has worked well for me? Thanks, Jerry

[FDR]

Fred, Did you mean, like several others #4 shot has worked well for me? Thanks, Jerry

My 28ga positive experience has been with #6 shot Jerry. I hunt small game and I have never shot #4 in my 28ga. Never had the need for a larger shot size. No pheasant where I hunt.
 I do use #4 shot in my 12ga SXS MZ  with good success.

Fred