28 Gauge, to be different, to reduce recoil, and to save it from oblivion.

As an aside: With the advent of TSS, 28 Gauge is the new 12 Gauge. Perhaps even the new 10 Gauge.

 

Side question: Does your 28 ga barrel have to be rated to shoot steel to shoot TSS?

 

20 ga., more models of guns available, cheaper ammo, 3" steel shot, 1 1/4 oz pheasant loads, rifled slugs and sabots. 28 ga guns do not seem nearly as popular in the real world as with people on this forum.

 

I shoot both 20ga and 28ga. For SC, mostly 20ga but some 28ga. For upland and doves, all 28ga. For waterfowl, I have traditionally shot 12ga although, in recent years, I have been shooting more 20ga for ducks with good success.

The 28ga has a certain fun factor to it that is satisfying. The guns are light, often very pretty and there is a sense of accomplishment getting the job done (which the 28ga does well) with 3/4oz loads.

 

It depends on what I am shooting at. The 20 gauge goes to the dove field because I like the weight for passing shots. I hunt quail with a 28 gauge because it weighs less than 6 lbs and carries light all day. Clay targets? Mostly 28 gauge, because it’s all I need to break skeet targets and it’s cheaper to reload.

 

Both.

 

Yup!

 

I’m shooting both. It’s the only correct answer.

Sometimes, I’m shooting 3/4 oz 20 gauge reloads. That’s the best of both worlds, all the joy of 28 GA with no anxiety over hull life.

 

Icyclefar hit the nail on the head for me. I really enjoy3/4 oz in my 20 tubes for skeet.
28 also is fun on the skeet field.
the 20 ga has a real fun element for me when shooting SC, lets me excuse a miss or 5, haha.
Dove is purely 20 for recoil and handling weight too.

 

When I shoot 28g Fitasc I am always amazed at how far they’ll crush a target.

 

Crush targets or Pheasants.

 

I shoot 28g and reload them.
I mainly shoot skeet so no issue there.
I generally shoot the 28g better than the 20g,YMMV

 

Both, but 90% 28. Low recoil and a little cheaper to reload. You can also load 7/8oz 12 and have basically the same thing as a 20.

 

Or, you can load 3/4 in 12 and have a low recoiling payload; just choke 1 constriction tighter for pattern density

 

I shoot a 20ga because ammo is cheaper (I don't reload), more readily available with more choices. I have owned a couple of 28's, both were on 28ga frames. They were great to carry but, it was always difficult to find ammo and when I found it was twice the cost of 12's or 20's.

 

Both.
The 28, as stated, isn't as common as the folks on this forum present it to be, but it is a very nice gun to have available. It's fun, and can be a very capable gun in the field with the right loads. I'm not recoil sensitive, but I can tell the difference between shooting 150, 28ga. shells, versus shooting a 150, 12ga. shells.
You kind of have to want to shoot the 28ga. Like the 16ga., a person is a bit on their own with respect to ammo availability, and many reload the 28ga. to have the shells they want/need, and save $$$$..
The 20 is the 20. It seems as if everyone has one, or wants one, and uses it to great success on a variety of game and shooting sports. The ammo, unlike the 28, is cheaper and easier to find, and in broader offerings. The shotgun industry may revolve around the 12ga. but there is widespread industry support for the 20 also. I don't think a person could go wrong owning a 20ga.
Life is short. Buy one of each.

 

two of each. TIFIFY

 

20 gauge. Plenty light for upland carry, ammo more available. If I want to be different I shoot my 16 gauge.

 

My first hunting shotgun was an 870 Express in 20GA. I shot ducks and doves with it. I'm not hunting ducks anymore, so it sits in the back of the safe. My baby frame Beretta SP1 in 28GA is my tool of choice now. Why? Because I love the way it fits and shoots. I am more careful with my shots than before. I don't care about limits, I only care about being out there and having a good time with my son in law and grand kids.

 

I shot 3/4 ounce 20 gauge #9's for Skeet, and 7/8 ounce #8 for Sporting before I gave my Beretta SP 1 to my son. I still have a Remington 1100 20 gauge Lightweight I have to try 3/4 ounce loads in. But now I mainly shoot Trap, so the 3/4 ounce shooting is on the back burner.

 

It’s not realistic to claim any advantage to the 28ga.

 

Fun factor ???

 

Neither but I have owned several 20s and two 28s.

The issue is there is no single picture of a 20 gauge or a 28 gauge.......gun weight and bulk varies, as do loads that can be stuffed into a case....expressly or somewhat secretly.

As was earlier stated as a reason...."to be different" is likely what drives the choice between the two when afield, which can involve both practical reasons and ego.
For clays, where weight is not considered as much a negative.....the 28 likely aids those folks needing some relief in recoil or cost or, "look at me, please".

If someone really wishes to know an answer to either-or then, limits and parameters need to be in play.

Other than that, perhaps choose only based upon what you like to look....at, as not much will not work when pointed and triggered correctly.

 

I love the 28 as well! I believe that my skeet scores are better with a 28 because of the lack of recoil and zero flinch.

 

My competitive shooting is almost exclusively 12 ga. But in the field I am known to shoot everything from .410 to 10 ga, depending on what I am hunting.
I have always been fascinated by the 28 ga, and often hunt with it. I am more than happy to embrace all the magical myths attributed to it, and feel the same way about the 16 ga.

 

20 gauge. I have yet to drink the 28 gauge koolaid but I may if I decide to pull my reloader out of storage.
I have 2 20 gauges. I have totally fallen head over heels for my new SP1 20 gauge 30” Sporting.
I prefer it shooting skeet doubles and really enjoyed shooting it for the first time in sporting. I was lectured by more experienced shooters to get my 12 ga. out of my car because the 20 would cost me birds. They shut up when I started hitting birds at distance they missed. The SP1 is the sleekest 20 ga. O/U I ever shot and some that see me shooting it ask if it’s a .410. I recently purchased a CG Summit 12ga. 32” but now I am starting to wonder how much I will use it compared to the little SP1. The CG feels like a club compared to the SP1 20 ga.

 

Both. Have several 20,s From O/U to SXS and a few autos. Love to shoot all of them but recently picked up a 28 auto and started hand loading for it. Its a blast to shoot from 3/4 oz. target loads right up thru 1 oz. Pretty versatile gauge ,especially once you start handloading for it. Of course the 20 is cheaper in factory loads to shoot.

 

20 gauge, both in a semi auto and O/U. I only shoot the 12 gauge for ducks and I'm planning on trying the 20 on them next year. I just don't see the point on shooting 28 gauge unless you are reloading. I want to shoot not reload. 3/4 and 7/8 ozw loads are a breeze to shoot out of a 20 gauge. If I was going to buy a 28 gauge I would want on a size appropriate frame, not a 20 gauge frame.

 

20 gauge for me.

I used to love obscure things that are marginally better, but got tired of fussing. 20 gauge is thinner and lighter than 12 gauge, yet a 3" 20 gauge shell can dish out 1.25 ounces of lead which is plenty for upland game.

28 gauge is rare, and the guns are so tidy and elegant! But I already champion 16 gauge for my obscure choice of team...

I'm not a good enough shot for 28 gauge.

 

Love the 28. Last October several of my cousins got together for a family sporting clays weekend. Shot 3 rounds of SC at Sportman's Trianing Center outside of Wichita KS. Due to shoulder replacement surgery in June, my Dr. hesitantly released me for the shoot, as long as I limited recoil. Therefore, I took my SBE3 28 gauge and planned to shoot it all weekend. First round was rough as the SBE3 is light and whippy and I only shot 55/100. All my cousins were shooting 12 gauge and their scores were in the mid 60s. Feeling a bit down, my cousin suggested I shoot his Citori 725 28ga with 32" barrels. Being very simiar in fit as my CXS 12 ga, the gun fit me well and had great weight. 2nd round I shot 71 and my cousins slipped into the low 60s. 3rd round the next day, my cousin suggested I shoot his Beretta A400 28 ga. Again light gun, but heavier than my SBE3, and I shot 62, and my cousins were in the high 50s/low 60s. I think for the weekend I ended up high overall, except for my cousin that loaned me his guns, he is a master class SC shooter and he was in the mid to high 90s for all three rounds. We didn't include his scores with my other cousins and me for our family competition, as we are amatuers at SC but have done a lot of hunting together. My other cousins are great shots when hunting.

I think it psyched out my other cousins a bit on the second round when I was shooting the Citori 725 so well. May have helped contribute to their lower scores. They are a bit on the competitive side.

With the correct gun setup and shooting targets at reasonable ranges for a 28 gauge, the 28 is just as effective as a 12 gauge.

 

Are you trying to say that you have a Benelli SBE3 the doesn’t shoot a foot high and in the next zip code vertically? We’ve been told by the experts that it’s not possible.

Love the 28. Last October several of my cousins got together for a family sporting clays weekend. Shot 3 rounds of SC at Sportman's Trianing Center outside of Wichita KS. Due to shoulder replacement surgery in June, my Dr. hesitantly released me for the shoot, as long as I limited recoil. Therefore, I took my SBE3 28 gauge and planned to shoot it all weekend. First round was rough as the SBE3 is light and whippy and I only shot 55/100. All my cousins were shooting 12 gauge and their scores were in the mid 60s. Feeling a bit down, my cousin suggested I shoot his Citori 725 28ga with 32" barrels. Being very simiar in fit as my CXS 12 ga, the gun fit me well and had great weight. 2nd round I shot 71 and my cousins slipped into the low 60s. 3rd round the next day, my cousin suggested I shoot his Beretta A400 28 ga. Again light gun, but heavier than my SBE3, and I shot 62, and my cousins were in the high 50s/low 60s. I think for the weekend I ended up high overall, except for my cousin that loaned me his guns, he is a master class SC shooter and he was in the mid to high 90s for all three rounds. We didn't include his scores with my other cousins and me for our family competition, as we are amatuers at SC but have done a lot of hunting together. My other cousins are great shots when hunting.

I think it psyched out my other cousins a bit on the second round when I was shooting the Citori 725 so well. May have helped contribute to their lower scores. They are a bit on the competitive side.

With the correct gun setup and shooting targets at reasonable ranges for a 28 gauge, the 28 is just as effective as a 12 gauge.

 

28 is a great gauge, but it is the one I shoot the least. I do love my 870 Wingmaster because it is a nimble, dynamic little pool cue, but otherwise the 28 just doesn't offer me anything. I have some real light 20s, that are light and quick enough, and some big, stable 12s for when I want that. With the exception of 410, I load 3/4 oz in 20, 16, and 12 gauge for skeet and 50% of my sporting clays. So the 28 really doesn't offer me anything.

I'm not knocking it, it is a great gauge. I just don't feel the magic.

 

I have several guns in both 28 and 20 gauge, so I shoot both of them. The 28s, gets dove hunting duty. The20s get some dove shooting and some preserve pheasant shooting.
I load almost 100% of the ammo that these two gauges shoot.