I've never seen a 3" 28 ga gun, but I saw some 3" 28 ga ammo at LGS. I have a silver pigeon 28 ga with 28" guns. It is a terrific shotgun. I shoot it mostly on doves.

 

Benelli makes a 3" 28ga in the ethos I believe. Never heard of that in a silver pigeon.

 

I purchased a 687 SP III 28/410 combo from Joel Etchen on May 7. Both 30" barrels feature 3 inch chambers. Balance with both barrels is 1/4 inch in front of the hinge, what I consider absolutely perfect. Another pleasant surprise was that the fit is 100% perfect, so no need to convert the stock to an adjustable comb. As for shooting, I am a Skeet shooter and this gun is an absolute Joy to shoot, light, points perfectly, and a very light recoil in both calibers.

Note, the reason for this purchase was that I have found at 66 years old a tubed 12 gage just doesn't work for me, with the 410 tubes installed shooting with my 686 felt like swinging a telephone pole and I was unable to respond to wind gusts.

 

I think Fiocchi makes 3" shells.

 

I purchased a 687 SP III 28/410 combo from Joel Etchen on May 7. Both 30" barrels feature 3 inch chambers. Balance with both barrels is 1/4 inch in front of the hinge, what I consider absolutely perfect. Another pleasant surprise was that the fit is 100% perfect, so no need to convert the stock to an adjustable comb. As for shooting, I am a Skeet shooter and this gun is an absolute Joy to shoot, light, points perfectly, and a very light recoil in both calibers.

Note, the reason for this purchase was that I have found at 66 years old a tubed 12 gage just doesn't work for me, with the 410 tubes installed shooting with my 686 felt like swinging a telephone pole and I was unable to respond to wind gusts.

I bought the same set recently. I just checked and while the 410 has 3" chambers, the 28 does not. I use mine for sporting clays so it makes no difference. Did you by the sporting model or field model? Just curious on the difference.

 

Hi Dmc57,

I bought the field version, but it'll likely see more time at clay ranges.

I don't have a steel shot compatible waterfowl shotgun, which was a reason for going with a 12 gauge.

 

The 687 Silver Pigeon III 28 gauge does have 3" chambers:

https://www.beretta.com/en-us/687-silver-pigeon-iii/

I would use it primarily for upland game; hence 2 3/4 shells would be my choice.

 

The 687 Silver Pigeon III 28 gauge does have 3" chambers:

https://www.beretta.com/en-us/687-silver-pigeon-iii/

I would use it primarily for upland game; hence 2 3/4 shells would be my choice.

Mine definatly says 2 3/4. It also uses Mobil chokes. It's the Etchen special, maybe they use some older barrels for their sets.

 

My White Onyx 28ga made in 2006 says 2 3/4 chamber on the barrel. I haven't seen any 3" ammo to buy, but that doesn't mean it don't exist.

 

Hi Milkmaster,

My guess is 3" the chamber on the newer 687 Silver Pigeon is to add versatility. Versatility for what isn't been answered. I can't see it.

I used to hunt all upland birds with 2 3/4" 20 gauge upland loads (not high brass max loads). I bagged everything from pheasant to valley quail with that gun.

If I were able to use lead shot on upland game, I would not need anything other than standard loaded 2 3/4" 28 gauge loads.

I know that a lot of pheasant hunters prefer numbers 4 & 5 shot. I've never had a problem using #6 upland loads. But I never bothered wasting ammo on birds beyond my shotgun and ammo's distance.

I have a pronounced preference for lightweight, fast handling hunting guns. For me, a 26" barreled 687 28 gauge would be perfect for upland game, most especially flushed upland game when getting on a fast flying quail and tracking it before firing is crucially important.

For Rocky Mountain big game including bull elk, I much prefer an 8 pound 22" barreled .270 Win to heavier guns.

My next gun will be a 26" barreled 687 28 gauge. I'll use my 687 12 gauge for waterfowl and clay bird with light target loads.

An equally good gun for me would be a 24" or 26" barreled A400 Upland 28 gauge.

 

3 inch chambers now are just becoming the norm on "hunting" guns and or "target guns" tooling is cheaper for manufacturing the chambers, whether or not an ammo company makes a 3 inch shell doesn't matter, the 3 inch chamber is a nice option should an ammo company ever spin up 3 inch loads.

 

3 inch chambers now are just becoming the norm on "hunting" guns and or "target guns" tooling is cheaper for manufacturing the chambers, whether or not an ammo company makes a 3 inch shell doesn't matter, the 3 inch chamber is a nice option should an ammo company ever spin up 3 inch loads.

Your post makes a lot. of sense. Cost of production would motivate standardize chamber dimensions.

In all of my years afield, a commonality is that many hunters tend to prefer big. They'll believe that a mega magnum will kill Rocky Mountain bull elk deader than an '06. If they're happy, everyone's happy.

I've hunted upland game with hunters who used expensive high brass shells on upland birds and doves. They were convinced the extra cost (and recoil) was necessary to drop birds. I've never had a problem with Rem or Win upland game loads.

I did know of the importance of baby magnums when hunting snows and honkers. But for flushed upland birds to include pheasants, regular upland loads performed flawlessly.

I could put a lightweight 26" barreled 687 28 gauge to some serious upland bird hunting. For my intended use, 2 3/4" upland loads would be my choice.

 

I just checked my Joel Etchen Special and the 28 gauge barrel is indeed a 2 3/4 inch chamber barrel set. Apparently I just looked at the 410 barrel and then assumed that both barrels featured 3 inch chambers. It really doesn't matter to me, I'm just too lazy and old to go hunting with my shotguns. For me a shotgun is for busting little rounds discs. Primarily Skeet and Sporting Clays but I do sometimes stray and shoot Trap and 5 Stand.