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

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.

I've owned and have several thousand rounds through a Franchi AL 48 28ga. I've shot everything from doves to Canada geese with it, I dearly love it. That said, I'd not start a new shooter w/the Franchi over a Beretta 400. Between the recoil of the actual ammo and then the bbl coming back and working the action, the recoil w/the Franchi is significant. It's far more than a 7/8oz 20Ga target load from a gas-gun. AA's from the Franchi recoil like 1 Oz field loads from a gas-20. FWIW I have several 20Ga 302/303 Berettas and a half-dozen 391's and I've shot them all back-to-back w/the Franchi often shooting either Skeet or Sporting Clays.

The Franchi also needs a FIRM plant on the shooter's shoulder to cycle reliably. Again, I LOVE the little thing, but, I'd not start a new shooter with it.

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.
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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.

Very well spoken and iI agree whole heartedly........

25% less shot. Which makes little difference on anything you center up inside of 25 yards or so, but patterns get thin quick past 30 yards.

Couple dollars a box more for shells.

True to scale 28's are very light and quick, but too light and quick to my taste. All of my field shooting is with 1100's and 870's, which weigh about the same as the 20 gauge frames they are built on.