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28 gauge history?

hunterinthethumb
I recently read that Winchester back in 1937 developed the 28 gauge as a 2and 7/8 inch shell. Were the only arms with that lenght chamber their now very expensive model 12 or were there other makes of that length. Also when were the last of the long 28s made? I know it has probably already been covered but could not access the archives. Thanks and Happy Holidays. hunterinthethumb.

joeb.
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7 comments

Date Votes
  • Old hickory
    The 28 goes way further back than 1937. Parker and several other great American double makers had 28's as far back as 1906? I'm at work and don't have my reference books. I will speculate that the 2 7/8 refers to the length after firing so as to accomadate all chambers that were floating around. My dad had a cheap 28 double as a teen ager in the 1930's I think called an "Excello" . His cousin sold it while he was in the army during WW2. I have a Beretta O/U which I love. Also once owned a 11/48 Rem which was great and an 870 which was good. wish I could own a M-12 but I'm sure I never will. Love the heft of 28 shells!!
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  • only winchesters
    Good morning hunterinthethumb: Winchester and Western shot shells (both owned by the Olin Corp.) Did manufacture 28ga shells with the length of 2&7/8s. However as Old Hickory said, the 28ga has been around much longer than that. I know 20ga use to be 2&1/2 in. and 16ga use to be 2&9/16 in., so 28ga must have been in there too.

    Yes Winchester came out with the Md 12 in 28ga. in 1937, and the barrel was stamped with "28 ga. 2&7/8 CHAM." They continued with this until 1952 or there abouts then changed it to 2&3/4 in. However they still made the barrel for 2&7/8. Easier than changing the tooling. But that wasn't the first or only 28ga. Winchester came out with. In 1936, they came out with the Md37 single shot in 12,16,20,28,& 410. The Md 21 was also produced in 28 ga. starting in 1936.

    From what I've seen under "Collectable Ammo" Winchester, Western, and Peters" made 2&7/8 shells into the mid 1950's, I'm sure others did as well but I don't follow that.

    At one time the standard 28 ga. load by Winchester or Western, was 3/4 oz. or 1 oz. Some shell manufactures for awhile had 7/8 oz. Today all I can find is 3/4 oz, (Winchester/Western, Remingron, & Federal) and Winchester/Western still is the only one who makes the 1 oz. load. Regards Dave
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  • Bert H.
    As far as I know, the very first 28 ga. shotgun made by Winchester was a Model 1885 single-shot (serial number 114699) in the year 1916. It has a 3-inch chamber. That particular gun currently resides in the Cody Firearms Museum.

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
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  • only winchesters
    Good morning Bert! I know you said your 20 ga. 1885 has a 3 inch chamber, that's interesting on the 28 ga. Stadt mentions the 28ga. gun in his book at the Cody Museum. He says it was made up for an employee. go figure a non-cateloged gun![:D]

    Although I collect early shotgun shells and boxes to go with my Winchesters, I've yet to see any pre-war, (WWII) 20ga or 28ga in 3 inch. Only 2&1/2 in 20 ga. and 2&7/8 in 28ga. I'm begining to wonder why Winchester would build guns for 3in and not the shells? I do know they developed a 3in in 16ga. but they never marketed the shells. Regards Dave
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  • hunterinthethumb
    Thank you all for the good information. I recently came into possession of 2 boxes of Paper Rem and 1 box of Winchester 28 ga. in 2&7/8 inch. Did not have my reading glasses on when I bought them. To "Only Winchesters". I believe PMC in their Golden Phesant brand have a 7/8 oz 28 load in nickle plated shot. And besides Winchester I think Selier and Belot are making a 1oz. 28 load. I think they all are in the Cabela's catalog. Again Thanks and Happy Holidays. Joe B.(hunterinthethumb) p.s. By the way I love my 1100 LW 28 ga!

    joeb.
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  • Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by only winchesters
    Good morning Bert! I know you said your 20 ga. 1885 has a 3 inch chamber, that's interesting on the 28 ga. Stadt mentions the 28ga. gun in his book at the Cody Museum. He says it was made up for an employee. go figure a non-cateloged gun![:D]

    Although I collect early shotgun shells and boxes to go with my Winchesters, I've yet to see any pre-war, (WWII) 20ga or 28ga in 3 inch. Only 2&1/2 in 20 ga. and 2&7/8 in 28ga. I'm begining to wonder why Winchester would build guns for 3in and not the shells? I do know they developed a 3in in 16ga. but they never marketed the shells. Regards Dave


    Good morning Dave...

    I have yet to figure out why Winchester made the high-wall shotguns with 3-inch chambers either... it certainly makes no sense to me, as I would have expected them to have 2-1/2-inch chambers. If I ever do solve teh mystery, I will be sure to include it in my book.

    p.s. Winchester made LOTS of different non-catalogued Model 1885s[^][:D]

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
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  • only winchesters
    hunterinthethumb: Thanks for the other shell brands! Always looking for something new to try!

    Bert: Winchester did some strange things, The Md 20 .410 was chambered for 2 1/2 until well after they stopped the general production run, and made them for export is when they switched to 3 in. The Md 37 was never chambered for 3in. in the 12ga or 20ga. The Md 12 Duck, was the only 3 in in that series, but the Md 21 both the 12 and 20 ga guns can be found with 3 in. chambers. All thier semi-autos were 2&3/4 in. (from the factory) Wish I knew the reasoning behind that! [:D] Regards Dave
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