I'm talking myself into a light 28 gauge gun for hunting, skeet, and sporting clays.

I really like the new 28 gauge Benelli Legacy semi auto, which weighs about 5 pounds. Trouble is, it throws the empties pretty far, I'm told. Not good for skeet. 28 gauge shells cost so much that you have to reload.

That leaves an O/U. But a lot of these are really 20-gauge frames with 28-gauge barrels and some of them even weigh more in 28 gauge than in 20 gauge.

Some makers build both--real 28 gauge guns and 28-gauge barrels on 20-gauge frames. Does anyone know the model numbers and weights of REAL 28 gauge O/Us by Browning, Benelli, Beretta, or whomever?

Check out the Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I. These are built on the baby frame in 28 gauge. Market price in my neighborhood, $1899.

The Ruger Red Label is said to be build on a 28 gauge frame and is likely your least expensive entry point... there are some around here that will bash the Red Label but if you are just going to shot it fairly casually, I think they are pretty decent guns and very often they are found with great wood character on standard models.

Beretta 686 is about as good as it get in a 28 ga O&U

The Benelli 28ga is a very sweet little gun. Is it really that hard to pick up your shells after you shoot? Wish I had held onto my Benelli 28ga, might just have to pick up another it was a sweet little grouse and woodcock gun.

The Berettas on the baby frame, with longer barrels, ring in at very close to 6 lb. Here are some nice ones:

http://joeletchenguns.com/30in41028sets.htm

I think mudstud has it right. I would have recommended a Red Label 28, but I suspect that they will be both expensive and hard to find since they are no longer made. Mine is a gem; I'm glad I ordered it with 28" barrels.

But a Beretta O/U is NEVER a bad idea if you can afford one. They are light, well made, and never break. I would recommend the 28" barrels on that one, too. Much better follow-through on the swing; I'd only order a 26" if I intended it for the grouse jungles and nothing else.

I shoot a Winchester 101 Pigeon Grade in 28 gauge and might possibly be the last gun I would ever get rid of.

I would highly recommend the Beretta Silver Pigeon 1. I've owned one for a few months now and couldn't be happier. Mine has 30" barrels and the siver pigeon 1 is built on a true 28ga frame:

I wrote up a review here:

http://28gasociety.46.forumer.com/beretta-silver-pigeon-i-field-30-28ga-pics-t2182767.html

I have a Browning Cynergy Euro Sporting with 30 inch barrels and is sure handles nice.

A local shop had a Beretta 686 in 28 guage that I drooled over for a year or so, sweet handling little thing.

My old roommate from college had an 'in' with the SKB importer, got a 28 guage with upgraded wood. I shot it on the skeet range and it handled about like a 2x4. He tried to force himself to like it, but now after sitting in the safe for a few years he is looking to sell it.