Virtually from the introduction of the 28-gauge, the shells came in two lengths. The "standard" was the 2 1/2 inch shell which packed a load of 1 3/4 drams of bulk smokeless powder or the equivalent in dense pushing 5/8 ounce of shot. Our North American ammunition companies also offered a 2 7/8 inch shell with 2 drams of bulk smokeless powder or the equivalent in dense pushing 5/8 ounce of shot. Rem-UMC bulk smokeless powder loads --
28-gauge Bulk Smokeless Powder Loads 1915-16.jpeg
dense smokeless powder loads with Infallible or Ballistite --
28-gauge Dense Smokeless Powder Loads 1915-16 Infallible or Ballistite.jpg
and dense smokeless powder loads with Walsrode --
28-gauge Dense Smokeless Powder Loads 1915-16 Walsrode.jpeg
A box of 2 1/2 inch shells --
NITRO CLUB 28-ga 1 3-4 dram, 5-8 ounce.jpg
A box of 2 7/8 inch shells --
Early Long 28-gauge Peters TARGET.jpg
Chas. Askins the senior wrote quite a bit about having a 30-inch barrel, 6 3/4 pound Parker Bros. 28-gauge and he was hand loading somewhat hotter/heavier loads in the 2 7/8 inch cases than the factories.
It wasn't until 1932, that our ammo manufacturers got around to applying progressive burning powder to the 28-gauge, and Western Cartridge Co. brought out their high velocity Super-X 28-gauge load with 3/4 ounce of shot in the 2 7/8 inch case.
1933 to 39 Super-X 28-gauge.JPG
From the April 1932 issue of
Field & Stream --
NID 28-ga Field & Stream April 1932.jpg