When the 28-gauge was introduced in North America, the "standard" shell was 2 1/2 inch with a load of 1 3/4 drams of bulk smokeless powder pushing a load of 5/8 ounce of shot. Instead of offering 2 3/4, 2 7/8 and 3 inch cases as they did in 20-gauge, the only longer length paper hulls for the 28-gauge were 2 7/8 inch. Sporadically the loading companies offered 2 drams of bulk smokeless powder pushing that same 5/8 ounce of shot from the 2 7/8 inch hull. Back before WW-I gun cranks, namely Chas. Askins, were hand loading 2 1/8 drams of powder and 3/4 ounce of shot in the 2 7/8 inch hull and shooting this extremely hot load in his 30-inch barrel 6 3/4 pound Parker Bros. 28-gauge!! The high velocity, progressive burning powder 28-gauge Western Cartridge Co. Super-X load with 3/4 ounce of shot in their 2 7/8 inch case was introduced in March 1931. From the April 1932,
Field & Stream --
Shortly before WW-II Western Cartridge Co. began putting up a 3/4 ounce Xpert 28-gauge Skeet Load in a 2 3/4 inch case. See the very bottom load on this table XS83C --
