{"id":8938,"date":"2022-07-20T12:09:07","date_gmt":"2022-07-20T12:09:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/?p=8938"},"modified":"2025-10-01T20:51:32","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T20:51:32","slug":"28-gauge-vs-410-bore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/28-gauge-vs-410-bore\/","title":{"rendered":"28 Gauge vs 410 Bore"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 28 Gauge is a great shotshell for hunting upland game. Within 30 to 35 yards it\u2019s capable of downing grouse, quail and dove with ease. Plus, its utility at trap ranges and sporting clays courses is indisputable.<\/p>\n

But if you\u2019re interested in buying a small-bore shotgun, why not go with the even smaller 410 Bore instead? Its effective range for hunting is roughly the same as that of the 28 Gauge, and you may already have noticed that 410 Bore ammo is easier to find.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re caught in the crux of the 28 Gauge vs 410 Bore dilemma, never fear! Everything you need to know about the two rounds\u2019 relative performance is about to be revealed.<\/p>\n

What Is the Difference Between 28 Gauge and 410 Bore?<\/h2>\n

\"28<\/p>\n

Size. The 28 Gauge is substantially larger than the 410 Bore, although the two shotshells\u2019 different naming conventions don\u2019t make that fact immediately clear.<\/p>\n

A shotgun\u2019s gauge simply indicates the diameter of its bore. When we call a shotgun a \u201c28 Gauge,\u201d we are saying that the largest solid lead ball which could fit within its barrel would weigh 1\/28 pounds. A 12 Gauge shotgun, which has a wider diameter bore, can fit a much larger 1\/12 pound lead ball in its barrel. (For reference, a 1\/28 pound lead ball is 0.550″ in diameter; a 1\/12 pound lead ball is 0.729″ in diameter.)<\/p>\n

The 410 Bore is often called\u00a0410 Gauge<\/a>, but technically, this is not correct. It is the only centerfire shotshell which follows the naming convention typically reserved for metallic cartridges. As such, a 410 Bore shotgun literally has a 0.410\u201d diameter bore. We could just as accurately call the 410 Bore shotgun a 67.62 Gauge!<\/p>\n

In fewer words, a 28 Gauge shotgun\u2019s bore is 0.140\u201d wider in diameter. This sounds tiny, but in practice it makes the 28 Gauge far more powerful than the 410 Bore.<\/p>\n

28 Gauge vs 410 Bore – What’s More Powerful?<\/h3>\n

\"28<\/p>\n

The 28 Gauge shell\u2019s larger size means it is able to hold more powder (aka the stuff that goes \u201cker-pow\u201d) and more shot pellets (aka the things which fly out of the barrel and ultimately damage the target) than the 410 Bore shell.<\/p>\n

Appreciating the difference the 28 Gauge\u2019s greater size makes is as easy as comparing several 28 Gauge and 410 Bore shotshells side by side. In our comparison table, note that 410 Bore shells range in length from 2-1\/2 to 3\u201d, whereas all 28 Gauge shells are 2-3\/4\u201d in length. Regardless, the 28 Gauge is inevitably more powerful than its narrower cousin. Also note that ammo manufacturers do not typically report a shell\u2019s muzzle energy when said shell is loaded with shot pellets. We have calculated that data in order to show just how much more kinetic energy the 28 Gauge\u2019s combined shot column possesses the instant it tears out of the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Shotshell<\/th>Length (in)<\/th>Projectile<\/th>Shot Weight (oz)<\/th>Shot Weight (gr)<\/th>Muzzle Velocity (fps)<\/th>Muzzle Energy (ft lbs)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
28ga Federal Upland Steel<\/td>2-3\/4<\/td>#6 shot<\/td>5\/8<\/td>273.4375<\/td>1350<\/td>1106<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
410 Federal Upland Steel<\/td>3<\/td>#6 shot<\/td>3\/8<\/td>164.0625<\/td>1400<\/td>714<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
28ga Federal Top Gun<\/td>2-3\/4<\/td>#7.5 shot<\/td>3\/4<\/td>328.125<\/td>1330<\/td>1289<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
410 Federal Top Gun<\/td>2-1\/2<\/td>#7.5 shot<\/td>1\/2<\/td>218.75<\/td>1330<\/td>859<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
28ga Federal Upland Hi-Brass<\/td>2-3\/4<\/td>#7.5 shot<\/td>1<\/td>437.5<\/td>1220<\/td>1446<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
410 Federal Upland Hi-Brass<\/td>2-1\/2<\/td>#7.5 shot<\/td>1\/2<\/td>218.75<\/td>1200<\/td>699<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
28ga Winchester AA<\/td>2-3\/4<\/td>#8 shot<\/td>3\/4<\/td>328.125<\/td>1200<\/td>1049<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
410 Winchester AA<\/td>2-1\/2<\/td>#8 shot<\/td>1\/2<\/td>218.75<\/td>1300<\/td>821<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
28ga Winchester Super-X<\/td>2-3\/4<\/td>#6 shot<\/td>5\/8<\/td>273.4375<\/td>1300<\/td>1026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
410 Winchester Super-X<\/td>3<\/td>#6 shot<\/td>3\/8<\/td>164.0625<\/td>1400<\/td>714<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
28ga Remington STS<\/td>2-3\/4<\/td>#9 shot<\/td>3\/4<\/td>328.125<\/td>1200<\/td>1049<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
410 Remington STS<\/td>2-1\/2<\/td>#9 shot<\/td>1\/2<\/td>218.75<\/td>1275<\/td>790<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
28ga Remington Express XLR<\/td>2-3\/4<\/td>#7.5 shot<\/td>3\/4<\/td>328.125<\/td>1295<\/td>1222<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
410 Remington Express XLR<\/td>2-1\/2<\/td>#7.5 shot<\/td>1\/2<\/td>218.75<\/td>1250<\/td>759<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
28ga Remington Premier Nitro<\/td>2-3\/4<\/td>#7.5 shot<\/td>3\/4<\/td>328.125<\/td>1300<\/td>1231<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
410 Remington Premier Nitro<\/td>2-1\/2<\/td>#8 shot<\/td>1\/2<\/td>218.75<\/td>1300<\/td>821<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

The 28 Gauge\u2019s muzzle velocity<\/a> is not necessarily greater than that of the 410 Bore; indeed, the shells often deliver identical muzzle velocities. But because 28 Gauge ammo<\/a> is so much wider in diameter, it is able to store considerably more shot pellets \u2013 potentially twice as many, in fact!<\/p>\n

This is why the 28 Gauge transfers more deadly energy to its target. Perhaps just as importantly, it is also why the 28 Gauge\u2019s shot pattern is so much denser. For example, 1\/2 ounces of #7.5 shot equates to 175 shot pellets \u2013 but 3\/4 ounces of #7.5 shot contains approximately 263 shot pellets. The denser pattern created by more pellets makes it easier to hit a fast-moving target. That density provides a greater margin of error to compensate for any shortcomings in your aim. Simple enough!<\/p>\n

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\n $18.95 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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\n 25rds - 28 Gauge Fiocchi Exacta Target Loads 2-3\/4\" 3\/4 oz. #8 Shot <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
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\n $149.95 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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\n 250rds - 28 Gauge Fiocchi Exacta Target Loads 2-3\/4\" 3\/4 oz. #8 Shot <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n