Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns 28 vs 20 - and Semi or O/U ? What say you?

TSS shot in a 28 turns it into 12+

Or possibly buy an over/under that you can just swap barrels between 20 and 28.

Looking at a Beretta A400. Wanted my daughter to try out a Franchi AL48 but could not find any in our locale. Guess we'll end up with the A400 xplor.

Friend has the A400 Xplor in a 20 Gauge...really nice SA...However, the one with the Kick-off recoil reduction unit can be a little long in the LOP....Especially with added hunting clothes..

1oz loads don't give up much...

A400 is good too. I have both and prefer the Benelli but the A400 is a good shotgun.

Find an A400 20-ga. "Upland" model with the Kickoff recoil reducer. It is in the middle of the stock, which allows you to shorten the stock if she needs that.

20-ga. recoil is not that great a concern in hunting because so few shots are fired, but if she ever starts shooting clays with it, the Kickoff is real nice.

Only problem with my Buds A400 xplor was it didn't like Kent steel shot and steel rimmed shells...Fed it Federal, Winchester, Remington and it was flawless....Maybe not normal with other examples....

Benelli Montafelto 20 ga. Never look back. Thank me later

Second that !!

Sounds like we have some more looking and experimenting to do. Have some time before it warms up enough for us to do sporting clays anyway.

I have a Beretta A400 Xplor 28 ga 28" barrel, Only owned it for a month but its turning into my favorite skeet gun. I shoot it just as well as my At400 Xcel Black 12 ga Sporter with the Kickoff on skeet. 5.5#s, zero jams in the first 500 shots. Shooting AA HS cases, Alliant 20/28 powder and Clay Buster wads, 3/4 oz shot.

Good article on "Handloading Harder, Denser Shot" by John Barsness in this month's "Handloader" Magazine (Feb 2021 #330). He reports using a 28 ga with #7 lead shot for an entire upland bird season and never found the 28 ga to be "...too small, even on pheasants and sage grouse." He also talks about how the late Bob Brister did a detailed analysis on bird shot patterns on moving targets (including shooting a long board mounted on a trailer towed by the family car driven by his wife!). So there is some science behind why the 3/4 ozs loads are deadler than expected.

I have been shooting a sweet little AYA No.4 28 ga for about 15 years. IC & M chokes. I use it for nearly everything including pheasants over dogs. The standard 3/4 ozs lead loads have left me wanting nothing more, as long as I kept within 40 yards or so. Late season roosters and ducks - out comes the 12.

But I confess, I did drink my bathwater when I was a baby. Who else shoots 5 lb 28 gauge sxs these days?

Friend occasionally shoots a AyA 28 or a Urgartechia in the same. Great shotguns, that are under the radar to most.

My 2 coppers... if you already have a 20 gauge, get the 28, but if you don't have a 20 gauge, get the 20... it is a much more versatile gun and can be used on tougher birds and at longer ranges... late season pheasants and sharpies require a heavier payload. A 20 can also stand in on turkeys and waterfowl in a pinch.

I had Citori 525's in 20 gauge and 28 gauge and needed to let one go, the 28 lost that argument, even though I already have a BSS Sporter 20.

I've had a Beretta 686 28 on the small frame for over 20 years. To say it's my favorite upland gun would be an understatement. Probably the best way to describe the first time you pick up a small frame 28 is with a family reunion analogy.

You're at your annual family reunion and have hugged all the hefty aunts and cousins. Some of them are pretty sturdy, kind of like your large frame O/U's. Your cousin John arrives a little late. You haven't seen much of him for several years as he has been stationed overseas for a couple of enlistments and just got stationed back stateside. He has with him his new wife, a lovely, tiny Korean lady, maybe 4'10" and 90 pounds. Everyone welcomes John and his new bride and you hug your favorite cousin and then give his wife a hug. You marvel at how tiny and petite she is. Markedly different than the aunts. That's what it's like to pick up a small frame 28.

Looking at a good deal for the 686 silver pigeon I combo with 20/28” and 28/28” barrels. The 28 gauge is the slimmer model I believe.
All around upland and sporting clays.
Thoughts on this combo?

The Beretta 680 shotgun series are probably the most durable shotguns ever made....not always the best balanced-there have been more than a few barrel adaptations-or comparatively recoil friendly, but they will last and do so with only minimal attention to care.

The 20/28 combo is on the 20 gauge frame and the 28 and 28/410 combo is one their small frame, referred to as the baby frame by some. I have the 28 on the small frame SP1. Mine weighs 6 pounds 4 ounces. My previous 686 Onyx 28 weighed 5 pounds 14 ounces. Both 28 inches. The only difference I can imagine for the weight difference is the wood. My current one seems to have a denser piece of walnut than my old one.

I looked hard at the 20/28 gauge combo several years ago. I sure wouldn't be afraid to go that way, especially if your shooting clay target events with the two gauges. I hunted hard with the first Beretta 28 gauge I had. It was my primary upland gun for may years. I got in a side by side sweat for a few years and sold it. It was an expensive mistake. I found out I just don't shoot side by sides as well as O/Us and pumps. So they went down the road and I went back to O/Us and a couple of pumps. I thought hard about the 20/28 combo and the only reason I didn't go that way is I got such a good deal on the Blackwing 20. Then found a good deal on a slightly used 28 gauge SP1.

I really like the 28 for an upland gun, especially with a pointing dog or a close working flusher. I think the combo would offer you some added versatility. Especially is you do any driven bird shooting or want to press the 20 gauge side of the combo into some waterfowl service. From what I've read the TSS shot turns the 28 into an 8 bore (might be a slight exaggeration) but cost a bunch. There are some less expensive 20 gauge non toxic options.

The Ruger Red Label in 28 ga is a magic wand.
The 20 and 12 ga Red Labels are a little heavier which is fine for Clay target shooting, or hunting with 3” shells, but the 28 has that slender hunting balance. Pity they stopped making them.