Author Topic: CZ Bobwhite SxS: 20 or 28 (Read 4844 times)

Old No7 · « **on:** February 07, 2006, 04:17:10 PM »

Decisions, decisions...

I'm considering the purchase of a CZ Bobwhite side-by-side, with 26" barrels in the English-style straight grip. Now it comes down to the gauge...

A 20, or a 28? Hmmm...

The 20 seems more "practical", as I already reload for the 20, so shooting will be much cheaper. Then again, how many shells will I fire in a year? The 20 also weighs ~0.5 pounds more than the smaller 28.

While I've yet to actually find a CZ 20 or 28 side by side (pun intended) on the rack to fondle, I mean handle, I've checked out other import brands and the 28's seem to handle so much better. With the smaller frame, they seem really sweet in the hand. The "class" factor for the 28 seems to be pretty high too (which might help explain the cost of the shells, huh?).

So...

Would you go for a 20 or a 28, and why, or why not?

Or maybe I need to decide what type and how much shooting I'll be doing first?

Thanks in advance for your comments.

Old No7

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** February 07, 2006, 05:28:39 PM »

Get the 28 and never look back. The standard load for it is 3/4 oz compared to 7/8 for the 20. Winchester sells one ounce loads for the 28 and that's all you can get in a 20 in a 2-3/4" shell. Unless you're going to 3" shells in the 20 you'll never know the difference. In fact my skeet scores are better with the 28 than with a 20.

I have the same gun you're talking about getting but in .410. Wish I'd gotten the 28 and may in fact trade it for one eventually.

George Foster · « **Reply #2 on:** February 07, 2006, 11:57:16 PM »

Actually you can get the short Mag load of 1-1/8oz in the 2-3/4" 20ga. Both this load and the 1oz load in the 28ga are more or less worthless loads in my opinion. Either gauge is a nice upland gun but the 20ga is a much more verstatile gauge than the 28ga. The 28ga is all done at about 30yds and the 20ga is good for another 15yds at least. Also you have to use tighter chokes in the 28ga at all ranges.

spinafish · « **Reply #3 on:** February 12, 2006, 06:58:12 AM »

just my 2 cents..go with the 28...all you need for doves, quail, cottontails,and most other small game. I own two..a model 1100 Remington and a Browning pump. My next shotgun will be a 28 also. It kills far better than the paper ballistics say it should. More youth model guns should be so chambered in my humble opinion.

Graybeard · « **Reply #4 on:** February 12, 2006, 11:33:52 AM »

Quote

Actually you can get the short Mag load of 1-1/8oz in the 2-3/4" 20ga. Both this load and the 1oz load in the 28ga are more or less worthless loads in my opinion. Either gauge is a nice upland gun but the 20ga is a much more verstatile gauge than the 28ga. The 28ga is all done at about 30yds and the 20ga is good for another 15yds at least. Also you have to use tighter chokes in the 28ga at all ranges.

I've looked hard for that old 1-1/8 oz load in a 2-3/4" 20 ga. case and can no longer find it in factory form. Sure it can be reloaded still but I can't seem to find a factory load of it any longer. My Browning has only 2-3/4" chamber and I'd love to be able to find some, not a lot of them for times when a wee bit more is desired.

On what are you basing your judgment of the 28 ga and the one ounce load for it? My experience is vastly different than you state. I've cleanly broken clays with the once of 8s load by Winchester on sporting clays ranges to 45 and perhaps 50 yards with this load. It's a dandy to 40 yards for game also. Used with IC and MOD chokes it will kill dove or quail at 40 yards if you put it where it belongs. In my guns it has patterned well and been a real target and bird killer.

Why would you say you need to use a tighter choke in a 28? Just don't agree. Choke is the same for all. It puts a certain percentage of total shot into the 30" circle at 40 yards by definition. I've found no real world difference in the 3/4 vs. 7/8 ounce loads using same choke. In fact on clays I have higher percentages with the 28 and its 3/4 oz load than the 20 with its 7/8 oz.

Have you ever actually used a 28? I've fired at least 15,000-20,000 rounds of it.

Bullseye · « **Reply #5 on:** February 14, 2006, 02:16:38 PM »

I picked up a Ringneck this weekend in 20 gauge with a 26" barrel. They also had the Bobwhite in both 20 & 28 gauge. The 28 is a small package and would be sweet to carry all day. I went with the 20 because I have never shot a 28 would need to use one before I would want one. In my opinion the 410 is pretty much useless and the 28 falls somewhere between the 20 & 410. Now I am not questioning anyones experience with the 28, because Graybeard has shot one plenty, just giving my own whacked out personal reason. Plus around here the 20 gauge shells are easy to find, but I do not see many 28's.

On a side note, these appear to be real nice guns. I shot 10 skeet with mine Sunday. Clipped the first one, smoked the next 5, smoked a double and then screwed up and missed the last double. Not bad though for the first ten shots with a new gun. If these guns had selective ejecters they would be about perfect for the money.

George Foster · « **Reply #6 on:** February 15, 2006, 12:43:33 AM »

First to start with both Federal and Winchester make the 2-34" 1-1/8oz loads, to find them go to Graf&Sons, Natchezs, Dicks, Gander Mtn or others. I have looked and they have them.

Secondly I am basing my finding on a pattern board both the 10z for the 28ga and the 1-1/8oz for the 20ga are poor patterning loads. YES the choke tells you will get say 50% patterns with either gun but the the pattern is going to be less dense with a smaller payload and with a larger payload you can kill game at a longer distance with the same choke. To cleanly kill game at 40yds you will NEED a tighter choke for the less dense pattern as you progress down the gauges.

Thirdly YES I have used a 28ga, I use to shoot skeet with a Rem 1100 and I use to hunt grouse and woodcock with a 28ga Rem 870. I also know there is a heck of a difference between breaking claybirds and killing live birds cleanly. Also a lot of shooters use the 28ga in all gauge events for less recoil and it isn't that hard to break claybirds at at a max of 21yds.

Graybeard · « **Reply #7 on:** February 15, 2006, 04:27:26 AM »

Natchez won't sell to folks in Bama so I long ago stopped looking at their website. What's there is of no value to me. Gander long ago stopped selling via mail and there are no stores in the south so kinda hard for me to check them. I don't even know what Dick's is but again there are none in the south as far as I know. Never seen one at least. Graf I've not looked at lately but will check them out. I have bought from them in the past but haven't gotten a catalog from them in a long time.

I don't believe in pattern boards, they really prove nothing. Bob Brister showed that long ago. A shotgun is a gun used on moving targets not static targets. No matter what your pattern board looks like it's not representative of what you get on a moving target. So unless it's for turkey hunting I don't use one.

I trust my results on actual targets to tell me if a load works. In my guns the 1 oz. 28 ga. load works. I've broken plenty of targets with it out to 40-50 yards in sporting clays and the 3/4 oz load does fine with modified choke to 35-40 yards in my guns. With skeet choke it smashes targets and can smoke them on all stations just fine at skeet if you do your part. In competition back when I shot it my 28 ga average was one bird less than my 12 ga average and two birds higher than my 20 ga. average.

Guess we all have to decide for ourselves what works for us. But for me they work.

popplecop · « **Reply #8 on:** February 17, 2006, 04:07:35 AM »

Common sense tells you to buy a 20 ga. ammo cheaper, more versatle etc. Bur resist all that stuff and buy the 28 ga. I already had a light weight 20 SxS and a 28 ga. O/U. Fixed that problem, gave the O/U to my son and bought a CZ Bobwhite 28 ga. Wow I can hit my share of clay birds with it and it is a sheer joy to carry grouse hunting. For the money I think they are a great buy, I have more expensive SxSs, but am well satisfied with this one. I have a hang up on double triggers all my SxSs have to have them. Nice thing about CZ the least expensive ones are DTs. I find that buying my ammo by the case it is alot more reasonable. Don't like reloading shot shells.

popplecop · « **Reply #9 on:** February 26, 2006, 11:59:06 AM »

Guess I like my 28 so well, I gave my 20 SxS to grandson. But I did order a CZ Bobwhite 20 ga. Should be here next week, crow season still open, will give it a work out.

oldelkhunter · « **Reply #10 on:** March 07, 2006, 03:54:04 AM »

I would get it in 28 Gauge ..this is a beautiful shotgun just beautifully designed.

popplecop · « **Reply #11 on:** March 13, 2006, 02:32:08 PM »

Well I got the Bobwhite 20 ga. and it is a good buy for the money. It is not as nice as my 28 ga., finish and wood not as good. Opens very stiff, needs a little more shooting. I put a box and half thru it Sun. then couldn't resist went back to the 28 ga. One great thing is it has 28" barrels so it is very well balanced.

Graybeard · « **Reply #12 on:** March 13, 2006, 06:15:42 PM »

I some how managed to come home with a new Huglu Ringneck 28 SxS a week or so ago. Dunno how that sucker slipped into my truck without me noticing it. Sure do feel nice tho. Think since it slipped into my truck like that I'll just keep it. :-D

popplecop · « **Reply #13 on:** March 17, 2006, 02:16:49 PM »

Well Greybeard you have had it for four days, where's your report? I shot mine the second day I had it. Come to think of it think I'll take both Bobwhites and shoot them in the Morning.

Graybeard · « **Reply #14 on:** March 17, 2006, 05:37:57 PM »

I'm afraid I'm not that fast in shooting new guns anymore. I have several I've still not shot and some of them I've had well over a year some perhaps even a couple or more years. Right now I have four double guns either O/U or SxS that I've not fired. I seem to have become more of a buyer than a shooter of late. Maybe soon tho.

popplecop · « **Reply #15 on:** March 19, 2006, 09:30:58 AM »

Graybeard, I can relate to that. I've started on a new program, I have a son, daughter and 4 grandsons that are advid hunters and shooters. So as I go through the gun safes and find some that have been there too long without use I dole them out. So far it has been a good program, of course some they will have to wait to inherit no matter what. Ithink you'll find that little SxS a joy to shoot and carry in the field.

Old No7 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 24, 2006, 12:34:32 PM »

Thanks to all for your replies, I appreciate your insight.

I got to handle a CZ Ring Neck 20 gauge 28" side-by-side today, boy, was she nice. Didn't care for the fancy Prince of Wales pistol grip, but the case colors, light engraving, fit and finish was awesome.

So do I get a 20 or a 28??? Well, I've made my decision...

And I will be getting a new...

(...wait for it...)

I'm getting -- a NEW SEPTIC SYSTEM!!!!

And the CZ will have to wait until next year..................................

Ain't life in the country grand?

Here's hoping your next firearms purchase doesn't go to $#^& like mine did!!!

Old No7

popplecop · « **Reply #17 on:** March 26, 2006, 03:26:17 PM »

Do like I did buy 1 of each. I got Bobwhites cause I want double triggers on all my SxSs. Shot a 100 rds thru each today and just loved it.

myronman3 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 07, 2006, 06:16:07 PM »

that is a riot. i went through the septic ringer last fall. really nice.

but i also have a cz ringneck in 28 gauge. a very nice little gun. i cant complain one bit.

gvnut · « **Reply #19 on:** April 24, 2006, 03:31:46 PM »

Greybeard,
Took your advice and got a 28 gauge Ringneck. It's a pleasure to shoot but out of the first 50 rounds, both barrels fired on four occasions. CZ said send it back so it's on it's way to Kansas City. Anyone else have this problem?
gvnut

Graybeard · « **Reply #20 on:** April 24, 2006, 06:37:28 PM »

I've not heard from anyone else who said they were having such a problem. I've still not fired mine but hope to remedy that within the next month.

Old No7 · « **Reply #21 on:** September 05, 2006, 02:37:14 PM »

Hello all...

Thought you might like to see my latest purchase -- here's a pic:

Old No7

Old No7 · « **Reply #22 on:** September 05, 2006, 02:57:09 PM »

Gee, I hope you all liked the picture of my new leech field!

With that project done -- on-time and under budget -- I was finally able to pick up my new CZ Bobwhite on Sunday. I went for the 20, since I load for that gauge already and they did not have a 28 in stock. The manager of the gun shop said he got a call from CZ last week saying they wouldn't ship any new orders for the balance of the year -- seems they're that backlogged with orders.

So far, she handles really well, shoots great (if I do my part) and looks even better! I sure am enjoying this more purchase than the septic repairs!

(Which my bride said "Was a lot of money down the drain...") And the best part is she really likes the l'il CZ too! And she's starting to ask how long she'd have to wait to get a 28......... How sweet it is!!!

Here's a pic:

Old No7

RandyWakeman · « **Reply #23 on:** September 06, 2006, 02:48:47 AM »

Quote from: Graybeard on February 12, 2006, 11:33:52 AM

Quote
Actually you can get the short Mag load of 1-1/8oz in the 2-3/4" 20ga. Both this load and the 1oz load in the 28ga are more or less worthless loads in my opinion. Either gauge is a nice upland gun but the 20ga is a much more verstatile gauge than the 28ga. The 28ga is all done at about 30yds and the 20ga is good for another 15yds at least. Also you have to use tighter chokes in the 28ga at all ranges.

I've looked hard for that old 1-1/8 oz load in a 2-3/4" 20 ga. case and can no longer find it in factory form. Sure it can be reloaded still but I can't seem to find a factory load of it any longer. My Browning has only 2-3/4" chamber and I'd love to be able to find some, not a lot of them for times when a wee bit more is desired.

Federal loads it: P256
20 ga.
2 3/4 in.
1175 fps
1 1/8 oz.

35Rem · « **Reply #24 on:** September 12, 2006, 06:45:05 AM »

Graybeard,

There's Dicks' in Hoover, soon to be one in B'ham....Spoting goods retailer.

crazyjjk · « **Reply #25 on:** September 21, 2006, 10:07:45 AM »

Thanks guys. I was also going through the 20 or 28 dilema. Now the owner of a 28 guage woodcock.

CallaoJoe · « **Reply #26 on:** October 11, 2006, 10:26:48 AM »

Congrats on the purchase ole No 7....

I bought the same shotgun back in February, and just love it. For the money, they're tuff to beat.

I like the double trigger/straight stock styling of the Bobwhite....

At the time I wasn't really too picky about the 26" 28" barrel, they had the 20 ga 28" in stock, and they didn't know if they'd be getting anymore anytime soon, so out to the truck it went with me. I wanted the 20 cause it was a lot cheaper to shoot if I wasn't going to handload. I can buy 10 boxes of Federal Estate shells for $35... The same case of 28's is over $50.

I mostly use mine to shoot clays and it does a heck of a job on them.....

RLB · « **Reply #27 on:** October 29, 2006, 02:59:54 AM »

Do they make that twice barrel in 16 guage.??

RLB...

popplecop · « **Reply #28 on:** November 01, 2006, 04:14:19 AM »

They do make the Bobwhite in 16 ga., 26" fixed choke, IC & Mod. barrels. Haven't been able to locate one yet. I sure wish they would offer it in 28" bbls.

32WINSPL · « **Reply #29 on:** November 05, 2006, 05:40:30 AM »

Old No7 and Bobwhite owners;
I too am interested in purchasing one of these shotguns in 28 ga. and have a question. I have read that, due to the choke tube use, the muzzle and last bit of the barrels are a bit larger than the rest of the barrels. Is this so and is it at all noticable? I am getting a bad impression that the shotgun looks like a blunderbuss, but that cannot be. can it?

Thanks,
32WS