Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns 20 vs. 28 gauge

I shot trap and skeet a lot as a teenager. Some of the older die hard skeet shooters used Remington 1100s in 28 gauge. As explained to me, they liked it because of it had a lighter recoil than a 12 gauge but hit just as well because of it's long shot column. When you swing on a bird as you touch off, you spread out the shot column out. A long column makes a long pattern which is good for breaking birds.

The 28 has a certain amount of coolness to it but IMHO there isn't enough difference in size to justify the $$ of the shells. Also the size of the guns are often not much. For example I have a Browning model 12 20 ga. I was comparing it to a 28 ga model and found the 28 was actually several oz. heavier. As to killing power there probably isn't that much difference in the loads to notice much.

There are reasons why a 28ga may weigh more than a 20ga when comparing guns that are identical other than gauge. I own several 20ga guns. 101 O/U, Grulla SxS side lock, 37 Ithaca, Beretta auto-loader, 1100 etc. I have a Citori 28ga 28" bbls and a Beretta Silver Pigeon S 28ga w/26" bbls. The Silver Pigeon is built on a true 28ga frame. I am getting too fat an old to chase chuckar, but when I did, I liked the 20ga repeaters. I just had more confidence with a 20. Having said too much already, I've been hunting pheasants in North and South Dakota for a long long time and I think the 28ga is impressive. I shoot a 28 80% of the time. It is efficent. There's more steel in a 28ga than a 20ga all other things being equal, barrel length, frame etc. The wood may very in weight but not much. Often times, the 28s are built on 20 gauge frames.

Just got back from a week in eastern oregon chukar hunting. I killed every bird with a 20ga BPS. 1oz of #6 for most, but 7/8oz of 7.5 for first shell a couple times. birds where holding good. If i had the same gun in a 28ga i expect i would have killed the same number of with a 28ga.

Well thanks for killing every chuckar.

I hope he doesn't take up pheasant hunting!

None.

Center up the bird (or clay) in the pattern, and it's game over.

I own 12, 20, and 28 ga guns, but definitely enjoy shooting the 28 the most.

ColdBore you got that right.

I agree, don't know of a bird that could tell you what ga. it was shot with if you do that. It just knows it is having a bad day.

I've hunted with 12 ga. guns almost my whole life, that's 54 yrs. of shotgunning for game. I've got some experience with both 20 ga. and even .410 bore guns on quail, etc, long before plastic shells and plastic shot cups came along.
With the old .410 bore paper shells, they'd kill fine as long as you did ask them to do so over 30 yds. out.
I found the 28 ga., with modern ammo, patterens fine all the way to 40 yds. with #7.5 shot. Even #5's look good for big birds like pheasants and Sage Grouse.
I found that, for some reason, I could shoot that 6.5 lb., 870 alot better on game than I could the 7-7 1/4 lb. 12's I've tried over the years. And it carries alot nicer for those long hikes into the high country for Blue Grouse and Mtn. Quail.
So, having done a few Chuckar hunts myself, I'd have no problem going after them with a light 28 rather than one of my 12's. E

benelli ultralight 20 gauge is 5.2 pounds
benelli legacy 28 gauge is 4.9 and cost a few hundred more

Not alot of difference in weight. 20 gauge ammo is easier to find, and you can shoot a heavier load if you feel the need. Just alot more versatile gun.

Your welcome.

A less dense shot pattern,not a smaller shot pattern.The size of the pattern is determined by the choke.

20 is more versatile and generally cheaper to feed.

But I wouldn't view it solely in terms of a 20 VERSUS a 28. Eventually, it should be a 20 PLUS a 28.

Finally, SOMEBODY understands!

Given the choice i would take the 28 GA which i will have to say I'm bias to. If you can shoot you will see very little if any different in killing power between the 20 and the 28. I prefer the 28 GA to the 20 GA and the best upland GA ever made is the 16 GA.