When the 28-gauge was first introduced in North America in the Parker Bros. doubles and the Remington Arms Co. singles, the "standard" load was 1 3/4 drams equiv. and 5/8 ounces of shot in a 2 1/2 inch case. However, virtually from the get go, the longer 2 7/8 inch 28-gauge case was available from the ammo companies. But just like the longer shells in larger gauges, back prior to WW-I, the longer shells only got more and better wadding from the ammo factories, not a heavier payload. In his 1910 book The American Shotgun, Chas. Askins, the elder, writes of handloading 3/4 ounce loads in 2 7/8 inch cases for his 6 3/4 pound, 30-inch barrel Parker Bros. 28-gauge. The 2 1/2 inch 5/8 ounce load remained the "standard" 28-gauge load until 1932 when Western Cartridge Co. brought out their Super-X 28-gauge in the 2 7/8 inch case with a 3/4 ounce load and a max charge of progressive burning powder. The other ammo companies soon followed suit. The introduction of this more powerful 28-gauge shell caused Ithaca Gun Co. to begin cataloging 28-gauge NID doubles again. Ithaca had quit cataloging 28-gauge doubles with the introduction of the NID in 1926, and its availability in .410-bore. They did make NID 28-gauge guns between 1926 and 32, but they were not catalogue items.
The Winchester Model 12 wasn't introduced in 28-gauge until 1937, and it was introduced chambered for 2 7/8 inch shells. Shortly after WW-II the ammo companies standardized the 28-gauge shells at 2 3/4 inch and later 28-gauge Model 12s were chambered for 2 3/4 inch shells. Since then various ammo companies have been stuffing 7/8 and even a full ounce in 2 3/4 inch 28-gauge shells!
Our good buddies at RST are making delightful little 2 1/2 inch 28-gauge shells again.
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