doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Wanted: Suggestions for a 28 ga. O/U

Hi All:

I have been bitten by the 28 ga. bug and I am looking to buy an O/U. The criteria includes, it must be between 5 to 6 lbs. A project gun would be fine as II will restock it with some of my killer wood.

The Franchi Veloche come to mind as a viable candidate as there would be a good choice for restocking without spending too much money for the basic gun.

The Beretta O/U 28 gage guns sometimes run a bit heavy as some of them are made on 20 ga. frames. Which ones are made on a true 28 gage frame, I do not know. Can anybody tell me which Berettas are made on a true 28 gage frame?

Any suggestions as what to do or does anybody have a gun for sale that fits my needs?

The gun will be used only for upland hunting.

TIA,

Franchi

Find an old Sig/Riz/LL Bean.

They had case colored frames and great wood.

Best,
Mark

Or an old Miroku. Looks like a baby Browning Superposed, probably cost you about a grand, more-or-less. Mine handles like a dream.

I may be wrong but I believe anything above the Onyx grade is now built on a 28ga frame... Silver Pigeon S on up (I am referring to new guns).

I have seen several 28ga frame Silver Pigeons sell for new for $2k.

That would be a great option. Plus, they look REALLY good when restocked.

Here is a .410 Silver Pigeon. Coles restocked it with some beautiful walnut, added double triggers, and added 30" sporting barrels. It listed at $2950... which is a really good price. If you were to buy a regular silver pigeon, and then send it to him to have the same work done, it would have costs much much more. Call him up. Him can probably do the same thing for a 28ga.
https://colegun.com/beretta-silver-pigeo...4a226f59aef4311

To the best of my knowledge Beretta has never made a to scale 28. The smallest framed box lock O/U was their AS20 series guns made thu the early 60's. It was never, to my knowledge, offered in 28ga.

You can fit 28ga. bbls., if you can find a set, to any of the BL series 20's and those same guns were offered in 28's as well, but they are hard to find for sale. Coles would be a good place to start. They helped a friend get a set of Beretta 32 ga. bbls. for one of his 6 series 20ga. O/U guns.

I think you might be able to put a 26" bbl'd BL28 that weighed within your specs together, but it would largely become a matter of the wood's density and stock & forearm configuration plus hollowing to bring it in under 6#'s. You could consider having the side ribs removed for further weight reduction, but those last few ounces often become quite expensive.

The older Miroku and Miroku/Daly O/U's came on both 20 and 28 gauge frame sizes, so know what you are buying. Good luck finding either one at $1K, even these days. When I have seen the baby frame Miroku 28's for sale, the asking price is usually twice that, or more. Of course, they are usually not selling at that price, either.

I have a 686 Onyx 28 on the 20 frame, and it is too heavy for a 28.

You did not mention barrel length or budget, but I would strongly recommend a Ruger Red Label in 28 ga. These have the trimmest frame you are likely to find anywhere, and look very nice with dark, figured wood contrasting the brushed stainless frame. One of the lightest 28's available, come with 26" or 28" barrels, PG or English grip. There was also a version with an engraved frame. Great little gun, and probably the absolute best value out there.

If you are not too concerned with frame size, take a look at the Browning Feather XS Sporting (discontinued), with 28" or 30" barrels. They kept the weight down by using an aluminum alloy frame on the Feather XS, and they do not seem to have had any problems with these guns in small bores. I have one in .410 and a buddy has one in 28. Extremely nice as bird guns, and some came from the factory with killer wood. The 30" barrel option separates this gun from most of the other lightweights out there.

The Sig Rizzini from Bean would be a nice choice, but heavier than the Ruger.

Connecticut Shotgun has a Silver Pigeon that they say is 6lb 1oz
http://www.csmcspecials.com/product_p/20098.html

They also have this LL Bean
http://www.csmcspecials.com/product_p/17169.html

I agree about Beretta. I do not believe they produced a true 28ga frame. If they did, I would appreciate being educated about it. For the most part, you are getting down to the weight of the stock.

Pete

small frame (Ie 20g frame) Beretta 68x guns can run a variety of weights depending on density of wood/etc.

I had a 687 L (no sideplates) with very nice factory wood that originally had a 20g 28" barrel that weighed 6lb 1 oz. I had Cole fit a 28g 28" tubed barrel and tune the trigger on it and it weighed 6lb 2oz with those barrels. I was able to use the same fore-end with both barrels and maintain similar handling.

The 28g 28" barrel option bacame very desirable since the 28G 26" barreled guns tended to be whippy and the extra couple ounces out front made for a very smooth handling gun.

IF you can find a European market 68X 28g gun with fixed chokes they weigh a bit less. BSA used to bring some over from UK on occasion.

Take a look at this Winchester 101.


http://www.dawsonsdoubles.com/details.php?ID=2184

Read my post above regarding the "Baby Frame" Beretta.

Here is a quote from berettausa.com referring to the 687.

"Available in a trim and racy 28-gauge made on its own properly scaled frame, this finely crafted shotgun with natural pointability is up to any hunting challenge"


Adam