20 or 28

L

lizziedog1

New member
If a bird hunter already owns a 12 gauge field gun, what would be a more logical, lighter second shotgun, a 20 or 28 gauge? I am not asking about ammo availability or ammo cost. If that was the focus the twenty would win. I am talking about having a lighter gun and versatility.
 
Fiocchi is now making 3" ammo for the 28 ga. I haven't checked to see who is making 3" guns.

I don't think it's necessary, but what do I know.

I think 12 and 20 are too similar. I like my 28.
 
A 3/4 28 gauge load will do whatever you need in the uplands.

Quality 28 gauge guns tend to be built on a smaller frame than the 20, thus making the gun lighter. If all-day carry with ease is your goal, you might find more choices in that regard, especially among nice SxS guns. There are two semi autos (Franchi and Benelli) that are advertised at being 5# as well.

Light guns can be tricky to master a good swing on, however, as they are easy to start a fast swing and just as easy to stop - practice on a skeet field will help.

The issue with Fiocchi's 3" gun is the availability of GUNS - I haven't seen one yet. IMO, if you feel the need for a 1oz, go with the 16 gauge - the pattern will tend to be better, of go with one of the 6# 12 gauge guns using alloys.
 
I love my 28s, but there's a catch, they're all tubes sets in 12-ga O/Us. They are great comp shooters -- recoil like a .410 and hit like a 20; but, I wouldn't want to hump one after birds all day.

My friend, oneounceload, is right on the mark with his comment about light guns being tricky to master. That jerky little 28-ga may be easy to tote and soft recoiling, but you may be shooting holes in the sky. Take a look at a typical comp Skeet shooter's average card: their 12 and 20-ga scores will be fairly close, then a step lower for the 28-ga and a big step down to the .410. And, most comp shooters are using a heavy, smooth swinging gun. If they were using a light upland gun, then their 28-ga average would be lower. For the casual shooter, a light 28-ga gun can be almost as difficult for bird harvesting as a .410-bore. Unless you are willing to put in some serious practice time with your 28, you may be better served with a 20-ga (or larger) gun.

What's Fiocchi thinking… who has (or wants) a 3-inch 28-ga gun??
Shot shells have a specific bore-to-length ratio for optimum pattern development, and it's not 3-inches in the 28-ga. As oneounceload indicated, if you want an efficient pattern in a 1-oz load, look to a 16-ga gun.
 
Zippy is right buy suggesting the 16 gauge, the guns are lighter than the 12's and come up faster when shooting at birds.

Be careful when looking at 16's though some, like the Remington were built on 12 gauge frames. The Winchester Model 12 is made on a 20 gauge frame but is heavy compared to a Ithica Model 37 in 16 gauge. Take a hard look at whats out there.
 
Maybe it is the time of year, but I am seeing more and more 16's coming out to the club on the 5-stand. Most of these are very nice SxS's, one being the Merkel 1620 - a 16 gauge built on a 20 frame.

IF all I did was upland hunt, then I'd have a 16 for large birds and a 28 for small ones AND reloaders for both.

For ME in MY situation, I have compromised with 12 and 20. I DO have 2 28 gauges, but I am trying to sell as we speak. There's nothing wrong with them or the gauge - I just don't need three different bore sizes to reload for right now
 
I like the 20ga and the 28ga ....but I like the 28ga when its built on a 20ga receiver.

+1 to OneOunce and Zippy's comments about weight, swing, etc ....

Balistically - the 20ga is more versatile. You can go to heavier loads - 1oz / or stay at 7/8oz which is standard for the 20ga / or drop it down to 3/4 oz like a 28ga...especially if you reload.

But there is just something special about a 28ga ....it just feels good !!

But I like my 20ga, 28ga and my .410 ....O/U's at a minimum of 7 1/2 lbs ...and sometimes, I'll increase them up to 8 1/2 lbs ( all built on the same receiver, all the same barrel length ) so they feel, balance and swing about the same ... I'm not a serious competition shooter like Zippy was - but I'd never give up my stand alone 20ga, or my 28ga ...or my .410 ...

but if I could only have one extra gun ...it would be a 20ga ....(followed closely by a 3rd one ...in 28ga ....).
 
If I had to choose only one gauge (which I only own now) it'd be the 20.
The 20 can shoot enough shot to rival the 12 in most applications and the 28 is a step too far behind.
My first shotgun was a 20. I then had 12s, 16s, and 410s with 20s at various times in my latter years.
I ended up downsizing my shotguns to one, a 20 Beretta Silverhawk S/S and never looked back.
 
While the 20 is a decent compromise for most folks, especially those who do not reload, the 28 payload does remarkable things. I am now loading 3/4 oz in my 20 and 12 gauge. When I do MY part, my 28-gauge sized payload in my 12 will break as many targets as my 7/8 and 1oz did - AND I get over 533 loads per bag of shot, compared to 400 for 1oz and 450 for 7/8.

Best of all is the light recoil
 
Since the question is based on already having a 12 gauge, a 28 gauge may make more sense if you want two guns specifically designated for different purposes.

That said, if a person has just two guns (one of them being a 12), a 20 with a 3" chamber would certainly fill in better for the 12 gauge if you needed a backup.
 
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If you are especially including any kind of waterfowl, I would wholeheartedly agree. And there are some 12's built with alloy receivers that weigh just about what a common 28 does - downloaded ammo will give you the same result without the higher-priced 28 ammo
 
I have two Rem 28's--1100 and 870. Both are deadly out to 35 yards. I use a Briley skeet choke. They are light and a joy to handle. Browning makes A 28 GA BPS, which is a tad heavy.
 
i have a rem 870 in 28ga and it is my rabbit gun, win. 1 oz high base #6,s, kill like a 12ga out to 35- 40yds, i also use a browning bss 20ga along with 4 other 20ga,s and i like them all,even tho i own 10 or so 12ga,s i seldom use them.eastbank.
 
Go 20, no 28

I have owned and shot both. Yes, 28's are sweet, no question. But I can load the 20 ga down to a 28 level (ie 3/4 oz shot) and get the same basic results. The big plus with the 20 ga is the abundance of empty shells for little or no money. In fact, I shoot mostly 20 ga 3/4 oz loads more than any thing else these days (wife and kids like this load alot also). Fun for skeet and short course sporting clays. Bigger selection on hunting loads with the 20 GA also, including buck and slugs. 20 gauge hulls with also give you longer hull life and they are easier to reload.
 
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