doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 28ga. field gun weight preference?

I have an A&F Zoli/Rizzini 28 bore scalloped boxlock that I purchased for my girls to shoot. It weighs 5lbs 1oz. and is too light for me to shoot or take hunting. I like all of my hunting guns right around 6 lbs and I can find more effective English 20's, 16's and 12's in that weight category, so I don't need one in 28ga. Just picked up a 16ga hammer double with 29" damascus barrels and a 15 3/8" stock weighing 6lbs even and can't wait to get in the grouse woods with it for a trial run!

If you are looking for a 6 pound OU think about the Ruger red label. Almost a cult gun these days. But 6-,6 1/4 pounds in 26&28”with choke tubes. But buy and shoot what you like, just not a ugly gun.

There's method to my madness. It's my only 28 and it serves as a sub-gauge gun at sporting clays shoots, with it's .410 and 28 ga. barrel sets. Then, in the quail and woodcock woods it's never for more than a half day at the time.

If I had to bust brush all day like some of you guys I'm sure I'd opt for a lighter gun. I know what it's like to struggle going from a 9 lb. duck gun to a sub-5 lb. .410. It's tough.

Didn't someone start a thread on here a few years ago showing how he went about modifying and lightening a 20 ga. Red Label?

My AYA #1 with 28 inch barrel comes in at 5.81 lbs, The Rizzini 702, o/u with 28 inch barrels comes in at 6.89 lbs. For fun, I put the CSMC Inverness, 28 inch barrels, 20 gauge came in at 6.51 lbs

I do not have a recommendation on maximum weight, but for snap shooting pointed grouse and woodcock in heavy cover, the lighter the better, IMO.

My Jeffery 28b weighs 4 pounds 5 ounces with 26” barrels, and I love it.

This 28 bore user, writing in the August 1936 issue of “The Gamekeeper” under “Pseudonym 28-bore” seemed happy with 4 1/2 pounds. That was probably a single hammer gun as he later refers having “climbed as high as a second -hand 20 bore hammerless”.



In those days (from same issue) .410 cartridges were cheaper than 12 bore from the same maker.

I cannot even imagine getting a gun that light to settle down when popping it to the shoulder. Maybe if you are 5' tall and weigh 110 lbs. Also, recoil must be pretty sharp at that near-toy weight. No thanks.
JR

No trouble at all shouldering my 4# gun. I'm 6'2" and about +/- 230#'s.

Oh, I'm sure you have zero problems shouldering it. Holding it steady, well...
JR