Is 28 Gauge the Ultimate Turkey Hunting Chambering?

The 28-gauge shotgun has been an upland staple for decades, and it’s becoming more popular among duck hunters who enjoy shooting puddle ducks at modest distances. But, with Tungsten Super Shot (TSS), the 28 has become an ideal gauge for killing turkeys, too.

A generation ago, the right turkey shotshell was whatever lead load was leftover from pheasant season. Hunters used 12-gauge field guns, like the Browning Auto-5 or Winchester Model 12, to hunt spring toms. Now, manufacturers make turkey-specific guns with shorter stocks and barrels, as well as mounting systems for red-dot sights and pistol grips for improved stability. Turkey load technology has also advanced. TSS has become the most lethal (not to mention expensive) shot type hunters can buy, offering better pattern density and more energy at impact than lead, bismuth, steel, or tungsten composites.

The “problem” with modern turkey loads is that they produce substantial recoil, as they use heavy payloads to maximize the number of pellets sent downrange. Most turkey guns are built to be light for easy carrying afield. But a sub-7-pound gun isn’t great for soaking up recoil, unless you’re shooting a lighter load. This is where the 28-gauge shines because most 28-gauge guns are light, but so are the TSS payloads you can pair with them.

KILLER PATTERNS

To show how effective the 28 gauge is at producing patterns capable of anchoring a turkey, I took a Beretta A400 (chambered for 3-inch 28-gauge shells), a Weatherby Element 20-gauge, and a Remington 870 12-gauge to the pattern board. I shot Hevi-Shot Hevi-18 loads for each gauge, with a payload weight of 1 1/4 ounces of No. 9 TSS (451 pellets) from 40 yards onto a 40-by-40-inch piece of butcher paper. Stock full chokes were used in each gun. I also tested a pair of Carlson’s aftermarket turkey chokes in 28 gauge to see how well they patterned.

The results, shown in the first table (above, right), revealed that the 28 put more pellets inside a 10-inch circle than the 12- and 20-gauge with all three chokes. Now, that’s a bit misleading because 12- and 20-gauge shotshells can hold more than 1 1/4 ounces of No. 9 shot. However, the patterns do show that the 28 is a capable turkey gauge.

MITIGATING RECOIL

One of the most challenging aspects of shooting turkey loads is managing the recoil they can produce. This same factor can also make it difficult to get younger and smaller-framed hunters interested in turkey hunting. Even seasoned hunters will anticipate heavy recoil and flinch just before pulling the trigger, which can lead to errant shots.

When paired with the proper load, a 28-gauge produces little recoil compared to a 12- or 20-gauge. Recoil energy can be determined through a mathematical equation that considers the weight of the shotgun, payload, muzzle velocity, wad weight, and the amount of gunpowder (or other accelerant). To prove this, I did the math for you, using Benelli’s SBE3 shotguns in 12, 20, and 28 gauge, and pairing them with common TSS turkey loads. Note the difference in recoil energy in foot-pounds (ft./lb.) from a 12-gauge 2 1/2-ounce payload versus the 28-gauge 1 1/4-ounce charge weight.

Currently, there are only a handful of dedicated 28-gauge turkey guns on the market. Still, the platform has gained popularity among core turkey hunters and was the buzz of the 2025 National Wild Turkey Federation show. Federal Premium (and other ammo makers) have begun mass producing 3-inch 28-gauge shotshells, so you can bet gun manufacturers aren’t far behind, designing pumps and auto-loaders to complement the new offering.

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• This article was featured in the March/April issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe.

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