Hammer1, I'd like to suggest that your original premise of whether or not the 28 gauge can be made to have the pattern density of bigger gauges should be modified to "given fewer pellets, can the 28 be as effective as the larger gauges"? You don't have to match the pellet count you just have to put enough pellets where they count. The 28 gauge can do that out to the ranges that most of us shoot our gamebirds.

I personally like improved cylinder and skeet chokes in my 28 gauge field guns. I use them for grouse, huns and sharptail, but manage to bag a dozen or so roosters each year. If I had to choose a gun just for pheasants, it would be a 12 or 16 gauge, but the 28 works fine.

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Ptarmigan hunting with a 28 gauge and my setter May in Colorado at 23,000'. Well actually 13,000' but I might as well have been at the top of Mt. Denali. My lungs will be scarred for life after chasing that little speedster up the mountain.