28 ga. squirrel loads?

What loads do you find work well in your 28 ga. smoothbore for squirrels? Anybody ever done any penetration tests with a 28 ga.?

Spence

my load? at no more than 35 yds?

80 gr. of 3F, .520 rb, .018 patch.

Penetration is pretty good.

bowyer said:

my load? at no more than 35 yds?

80 gr. of 3F, .520 rb, .018 patch.

Penetration is pretty good.

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Ah, sorry about that, I failed to specify shot loads.

Or maybe you have some mighty fierce squirrels where you hunt.

Spence

Na, i just like to try and head shoot 'em. i just eat the back legs anyway :redface:

bowyer said:

i just eat the back legs anyway.

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Good practice for frog season.

Spence

70 grs no.5 shot 60 grs ff i can get to 10-15 yards on them early season .reg season i shot my 12 bore.

My trap load for the 28 ga was 45 grain black and 5/8 ounce of shot.
I used two over shot cards over the powder and one over the shot.
I think. :wink:


Tinker2

GM 32" Flint smoothbore - Cylinder bore

70grns Goes 3F
2 Oxyoke prelubed wads
90grns #5's
Circle Fly OS card

Good on squirrels to 30 yards

75 gr Goex FFFg
2 Home made wads (felt from laminate flooring project)Lubricated with olive oil and murphys oil soap,dried
90 gr #5 or #6 shot
3 over shot wads made from cereal boxes

Got 4 yesterday with the Renegade SB longest was about 30 yds

You're able to find the legs? :shocked2: :blah:

sometimes the legs are all that is left... :shocked2:

In my 28 gauge I use a light 20 gauge load 3/4 ounce #6 shot, and 2 dram FF (55 grains )I haven't had a rabbit or squirel complain yet! :idunno:

My small game loads are; 40gr-3f with 530rb and for shot i use 50gr-3f and 7/8oz #6 shot. i've killed a couple of squirrels at 30yds with shot but felt it was more luck than sense.

I have settled on 60 grains of FFg and an equal measure of #5 shot. I use a hard overpowder card, then a lubricated cushion wad, a thin overshot card. I've also shot this same load with 2 hard card overpowder wads and no cushion wad and don't see any real difference in the patterns. I would normally use FFFg but my 28 ga; is an old original smooth rifle, so I like to think I get a lower pressure.

Spence

41.5" barreled original fowler, with 55gr. 1.5 Swiss and 7/8 ounce of 5.5 nickle plated shot. 1/8 inch over powder card, one leather wad lubed withe EVOO/bore butter, and then 1 thin card over shot. Good for up to 30 yards. :hatsoff:

for small game I use 55grs 3f and same vol of no#6 shot bees nest wading over powder and over shot

Yea, I have.

60 grains of FF pushing 90 grains of 4 with a paper over shot card and a quarter inch of felt wad in between. Shot penetrated a license tag at 90 feet.

There is alot of stuff on our search button...I think. Lot of shooters here have these guns.

Hope this helps

Slippyfoote said:

60 grains of FF pushing 90 grains of 4 with a paper over shot card and a quarter inch of felt wad in between. Shot penetrated a license tag at 90 feet.

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Thanks, good info.

Spence

Spenser: The Hodgdon Data Manual lists 3 different loads for the 28 gauge.

2 drams( 55 grains) of 2Fg powder, with 3/4 oz. of shot give a MV of 1074 fps.

2 drams of 2Fg powder and 5/8 oz.(48 grains) of shot gives a MV of 1088 fps.

1 3/4 drams( 48 grains) of 2Fg powder and 5/8 oz. (48 grains)of shot gives a MV of 1020 fps.

These loads are described in the manual as " Heavy, Medium, and Light" respectively. Considering the size of squirrels, #6 or even # 7 1/2 should be adequate for good patterns, and to kill squirrel out to 25-30 yds.

I tend to prefer the heavier shot sizes, so that pellet energy is enough even at the longer ranges to completely penetrate the animal. In my 20 gauge, I prefer to use #5 shot, because I get better pellet energy and more shot in a 1 oz. load's pattern. Because of the smaller gauge using a 28 ga., I think you need to consider using #6 shot, instead, to get enough pellets in a pattern with these small shot loads. Otherwise, patterns get pretty thin beyond 25 yards.

I also believe that this data manual relies too much on cartridge reloading, where the amount of shot is limited by the length of the casing. With a true MLing smoothbore, you can load more shot, and that change helps to fill out patterns with a minimal increase in chamber pressure, using FFg powder. I do not agree, however with using 1 3/8 oz. of shot( 90 grains by volume) in a 28 gauge shotgun, nor with using 3 drams of powder. I know some people feel comfortable using such heavy loads in their New Englanders, with their heavy octagon barrels, but most fowlers, and double guns are made to weight a lot less than these guns, and the recoil from such heavy loads will "say hello" to the shooter of a 5 lb. gun! :thumbsup:

paulvallandigham said:

The Hodgdon Data Manual lists 3 different loads for the 28 gauge.

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Thanks for that info.

I tend to prefer the heavier shot sizes, so that pellet energy is enough even at the longer ranges to completely penetrate the animal..... Because of the smaller gauge using a 28 ga., I think you need to consider using #6 shot...

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I do the same, and have tried both #5 and #6. Good point about #6 giving more dense pattern with lighter shot charges.

With a true MLing smoothbore, you can load more shot, and that change helps to fill out patterns with a minimal increase in chamber pressure, using FFg powder....

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In my old 28 ga. I usually increase the shot to powder ratio, but more in the range of 55-60 gr. powder and 70 gr. equivalent of shot.

Thanks,

Spence