28 bore and non-toxic shot

[Donnachaidh]

I'm thinking about buying a 28 bore to use when decoying pigeons and for early season partridge and pheasants. It looks likely that lead will be banned in the next few years. How effective are steel and other non-toxic loads in 28 bore? I realise cost and easy availability might be another issue.

 

[User00025]

IMHO the non toxic loads are just the same with the same results as in a 12 or 20 bore. Costs will be dearer as are lead 28's.

 

[Oh6]

The only non-lead cartridges I have ever seen in 28 bore, are Eley's VIP Bismuth:

Bismuth 28Ga - Just Cartridges

Bismuth in 28 Gauge is perfect for both game and wildfowl over lowland terrain near watercourses.

www.justcartridges.com

I haven't tried Bismuth in 28 bore, but (overlooking the cost) happily use it in other calibers, so I can't see why it wouldn't work fine.

 

[CarlW]

I have stocked up on plenty of lead for my 28-bore. The hippies can go f'k themselves.

 

[Basil H]

IF you are prepared to reload -
Some of the keen guys are killing very distant geese with one ounce loads of TSS18 in about size 7.
(That's tungsten Super Shot with a density of 18. There is a website devote to it somewhere).

 

[CarlW]

IF you are prepared to reload -
Some of the keen guys are killing very distant geese with one ounce loads of TSS18 in about size 7.
(That's tungsten Super Shot with a density of 18. There is a website devote to it somewhere).

Had never heard of this. I have to admit that it sounds amazing stuff. Dare I say it, even better than lead. However, 1kg of loose TSS18 shot is £76. You could buy 20kgs of loose lead for that.

 

[stalkerboydy]

Had never heard of this. I have to admit that it sounds amazing stuff. Dare I say it, even better than lead. However, 1kg of loose TSS18 shot is £76. You could buy 20kgs of loose lead for that.

Like any type of shot through any gauge of shotgun still has to be put in the right place.
As for the price of TSS order straight from China it's half the price you can buy in the UK even with shipping ( prices do go up and down almost daily ). I was given a small amount to trial size 7's i used it in .410 - 28ga and 20ga solely on Geese ( mainly foreshore but a odd one or two Inland ) all three Gauges hit and killed Geese at 40+ yrd as though they had been hit at 20yd with a Winchester 1-7/8oz Magnum from the Lead days. Awesome stuff can be bought cheaper than other Non Toxic Shot apart from Steel BUT does not suddenly turn us into wonder shots

 

[Malxwal]

Do the same rules as for steel shot apply with regard to maximum chokings ?

 

[stalkerboydy]

Do the same rules as for steel shot apply with regard to maximum chokings ?

I personally use same chokes as i did in lead days 1/4 and 1/2 but personally have used up to extra full with steel ( i know several dedicated Wildfowlers who use this combination )and other Non Toxic Shot

 

[Smellydog]

Who says lead is going to be banned?
I will have to stock up again if doom is looming.

 

[Jim xyz]

It looks like the shooting industry and the big shooting organisations have decided that lead is to be no more and that steel is the way forward for shotguns.

Not a problem if you have a new-ish gun with multi chokes or if you make your living selling these guns but for anyone with something older especially with fixed chokes of more than a 1/2 then it’s going to be a real issue.

And I reckon all those gun shops up and down the land with tens if not hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of older guns on the racks must be trying to work out how they can offload them before all this happens and they’re left with some very expensive paperweights.

You’d think that BASC et al would be fending this off until there was a real alternative (a similar cost to lead that could be used in all guns) but it would seem not. They seem to be under the impression that if we voluntarily score a massive own goal the antis will get bored and decide to leave us alone.

 

[User00025]

If you cannot use anything but steel there's going to be a lot of two and a half inch chambered Purdeys et al going cheap in the future.

 

[Donnachaidh]

Thanks for the replies. Whether I can hit anything with a 28 is another matter, but I'd like to give it a try.

 

[25 Sharps]

Thanks for the replies. Whether I can hit anything with a 28 is another matter, but I'd like to give it a try.

Just make sure you give it a try on clays first

 

[enfieldspares]

I've bought a slab of Eley 12 Bore 21 gram English #7 that will make my 12 Bore shoot like a 28 Bore. Well sort of for pigeon decoying. Given that they say that in a 12 Bore 2 1/2" gun that the steel load will only be 24 gram then effectively that, also, will shoot like a 28 Bore. My advice is save your pennies get an "el Cheapo" side by side 12 Bore or 20 Bore with twenty-seven inch barrels and shoot a lighter load.

 

[Apthorpe]

I recommend everyone just bombard their FEOs with variations for FAC 10 bore semi-auto shotguns. Good reason= We'll need the extra shots to finish off the birds that the steel shot maims. That may prompt a rethink.

I know that it is claimed there is no observed difference of lethality, but the only studies I've found demonstrating that are at really quite modest ranges. A steel cartridge will need to be 46g to contain the same number of pellets of the recommended size as the pretty standard game cartridges I use. This will NOT fit in a 3" 12 bore, and appears to be only available in super-magnum loads.

 

[EssBee]

The answer is to reload, as far as I know, none of the cartridge producers load steel shot for 28s. The cost of bismuth shells is ludicrously high. I have the kit for this which is available in the UK from retailers such as Clay and Game. Anticipating a lead ban some time ago. I also bought a 2nd hand MEC press and small book from the USA dealing specifically with steel loads for all calibres.
I'm comvinced that the whole lead ban is "totum scrotum est".

 

[steve sxs]

The answer is to reload, as far as I know, none of the cartridge producers load steel shot for 28s. The cost of bismuth shells is ludicrously high. I have the kit for this which is available in the UK from retailers such as Clay and Game. Anticipating a lead ban some time ago. I also bought a 2nd hand MEC press and small book from the USA dealing specifically with steel loads for all calibres.
I'm comvinced that the whole lead ban is "totum scrotum est".

I am at one with the last sentence

 

[EssBee]

I'm thinking about buying a 28 bore to use when decoying pigeons and for early season partridge and pheasants. It looks likely that lead will be banned in the next few years. How effective are steel and other non-toxic loads in 28 bore? I realise cost and easy availability might be another issue.

There is a small booklet available from Ballistic Products in the USA entitled" Status of Steel". This lists a full range of steel loads for 28g and all other bores plus wads, powders general and specific tips etc. A good buy.

 

[Heym SR20]

28 Bores and 410's are lovely guns to shoot, but cost of ammo is much higher than 12 or 20. Probably supply and demand coming to play. But cost of materials will be lower. Most modern 28 Bore over and unders are built on 20 Bore actions so to some extent why not just go for a 20 bore. Saying that a properly scaled 28 bore is joy. When Dickson's did their Alex Martin Over and Under I had the pleasure of shooting a straight gripped 28 Bore at one of their open days up at Dunkeld. Should have bought it!