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

Nothing wrong with shooting what you like . . . as long as you don't try to give the RL Brownie points for light weight, which it does not deserve in comparison to other 28ga OU's. There are lots lighter ones out there. Whether they're "better" . . . well, that's a matter of what one likes. Some drive Fords, some Dodges.

The first generation 101 skeet came in 28" but I doubt that they were under six pounds. My 20 gauge 686 is well under six pounds.

My 20 ga 686 Onyx is exactly 6-3/4 with 28" barrels. My 686 Onyx 28 ga with 28" barrels is heavier. My Red Label 28 is lighter. I'm going to dig it out and weigh it.

I just bought 28 ga barrels for my 20 ga 687EELL and was surprised to discover that they are heavier than the 20 barrels, by 4 oz. The gun still weighs under 6.5 lbs but I expected that the 28 barrels would be lighter. Looking at them, the chamber walls of the 28 barrels are thicker so that they would match the 20 ga receiver - ie, the outside circumference had to be the same as the 20 barrels and the bore is obviously smaller, so the only option is to have thicker walls. I guess that is the downside to having a 20/28 combo instead of a true 28 ga frame like the SPIV.

The above is the typical problem with 20/28ga 2 barrel sets: almost always heavier with the 28ga barrels. Not a bad thing for targets, but if you're looking for a lighter field gun, you're going the wrong way. And that is indeed what happens when you put 28ga barrels on a 20ga frame. I had the same situation with a Citori Lightning Feather combo set. That's also why the Parker Repro 16/20 2-barrel sets are LIGHTER with the 16ga barrels: they're mated to a 20ga frame. But that's atypical.

I'd look no further than Browning Citoris or Berettas. One of my favorite guns is a Browning Gran Lightning Citori. 28" barrels and outstanding wood. It's not an extreme lightweight but it's fired at 1000 or more clay targets for every one shot in the field. Featherweight guns are not necessarily ideal for a lot of shooting with a little bit of carrying.

Jim, the OP specifically said he wanted a gun for upland hunting, and specifically said it "MUST" be between 5 and 6 pounds. The Citori just doesn't cut it.

Ruger has the absolute best customer service of any of the manufacturers listed above.
Anything goes wrong with it Ruger will fix it no questions asked!!

Handling guns that weigh less than 6 lbs sure is cool-shooting them at that kind of weigh is a whole different story. I don't know many who have tried and been very successful.

Best,
Ted

Look at the Guerini. They have a very light version with 28" barrels and screw in chokes, that seems to work well for me.