Just wondering who here has used 28 ga on wild birds? What is your experience? How does it compare to 20 ga with regard to performance?

Lots of people use a 28 on quail. I plan to use mine this year I have stepped up to #7 shot where #8 in 20 puts them down hard, going from 7/8 oz, 20 to 3/4 oz. 28. I do roll my own by the way, If my skeet shooting doesn't get any better I may need an 1 1/4 oz. 12

I have some 1oz. #6 for my 28, knocks 'em dead. If you have to walk a lot, you can't beat a 28. I usually carry the 28 for back up if I'm riding

The shells cost twice as much. You can load the 20 with the same amount of shot. Good new thread.

I shot a 20ga all my life till about 8 or 9 years ago. My experience is that I can miss them just as well with a 28ga. But it's light and carries better.

Your right Bill, the shells are more expensive. But I don't shoot that much anymore. I've got shotgun ammo in my closet from several years ago.

I use mine some every year, 28 gauge 1100. I just hate hunting for the ejects. They have the same speed as a 12 gauge so messes me up a little on leading if taking a longer shot(usually shoot a 20 gauge). That is more of an issue with dove hunting than quail.

You will usually shoot better with a .28 on small birds. (due to very low recoil you make more second shots. Pattern is about the same as a .20. ) Most good skeet shooters shoot .28 better than any other gauge. The downside is the cost of shells due to the the lower production. I used to shoot a 1100 .28 --almost no recoil but the hulls were impossible to find. Now I go with an over and under.
If you reload you can shoot .28 for about the same price as a .20. Since you really don't shoot that much over pointed birds, the cost new of shells per year is not as bad as one would think. If you can kill quail with a .20 or a .12 you will find that you can kill as many with a .28. 7.5 or 8 shot is all you need.

I also use a .28 on pointed pheasants and prairie grouse. But due to the cost of shells, I shoot a .20 on doves. Driven pheasants are another matter, but it doesn't matter since I don't bother with them because there is no dog involved.

As Bill points out, you can load a .28 or even a .12 with handloads that approximate the amount of shot and the low recoil a .28 has--however, you will still be carrying a heavier gun in the field.

There are plenty of 20 gage guns at 6 pounds. 28s come in at 5 3/4. I don't see 1/4 oz enough to justify

I reload so 28 gauge costs a little less than other gauges. Currently, they cost less than $3.50 per box.

I have two that I use, 3/4 oz. 7.5s at 1200 fps. Choked IC and IC. Works great on quail. And recoil is minimal.
I also load a 7/8 oz. with 5s at 1275 fps. Choked IC and Mod. Works great on pheasant that flush fairly close.
For longer shots on pheasant, I move up to 20 gauge.

My 28 gauge guns weigh in at under 5.5 lbs., which makes them easy to tote all day long.

If you hit the bird you get him , if you miss him you won't .

Same can be said about a Pellet gun.

I bought a Franchi Instict SL in 20 instead of going down to 28 for long walks. 5.4lbs of 20ga with cheap and highly available ammo.

I still want a 28 though.

I buy 28 ga flats at my local gun club for $75. About $10 more than a flat of 20 ga. I like to shoot 28 ga and I guess $1 a box doesn't make much of a difference to me when I don't usually shoot more than a box per day. As mentioned above, I always shoot dove with a 20 ga, because I'll go dove hunting 4 days a week.

As for the performance of the gun...I don't notice a bit of difference between it and a 20.

What's up fellas. It's been awhile since I've had a chance to throw out my 2cents. Hahaha. 28 gauge, love it, bought one for my kiddo to quail hunt in a yildiz O/U and my wife took it over. Light, shoots good, what more could you ask for. Yea the shells are expensive, but hey, there's a trade off. As for me, I love my 20 gauge. I kill, pheasant, duck, quail, anything with it. But just maybe I see a SxS yildiz 28 gauge in my future! Good luck this year and hope your hounds are ready like mine are!

I've lost more birds with my 28 then anything else. The pattern is less dense so instead of a few pellets hitting the bird you might get one. So just cause you hit a bird doesn't mean you get it. In our lease in the rolling plains there are rat holes everywhere so we've had cripples mysteriously disappear enough times to make it an issue. Man I hate losing a bird.

I've experienced with tighter chokes and bigger shot. I think bigger shot is a better option. Eventually I ended up just going to a 20. The 28 has a different recoil. It's a quick snap and I think it's actually worse after a box or so. The 20 is a slower recoil and seems easier to me. I have a pretty little 28/20 sxs. That 28 barrels are collecting dust now.

chet knows shooting quail

I'm an expert shooter, my only problem is getting them on the ground. I've had dogs get in small groups and talk about me and not in a good way. But love my 28ga. And I believe I can hit just as many with it as I could with my 20ga. If you get it on them they fall.

I told you Chet knew shooting quail

I just got done looking at one of those new Savage/Stevens 555s O/U in 28 ga...it is a nice little gun...light, points good, nice walnut stock, 5 chokes, etched "engraving" of a pointing dog and flushing quail...only potential issue I could think of with this particular gun is that it comes with extractors and not ejectors...which typically can be fine...except for quick reload situations in the field...best part was the price...$550..I might need one...

Love the 28ga I use one all the time. My go to guns are a 28 or .410. I reload so cost is not an issue. I shoot 7 1/2 shot. I have found at the end of the day I usually have as many or more birds than the guys shooting 12 or 20 ga shot guns. (the king ranch will not let you shoot a 12)

Sounds like Chet's shooting makes some great campfire stories

I have never had a problem with extractors. Most landowners expect, or at least appreciate your picking up your hulls anyway during hunting. Cows seem to have a problem digesting plastic and brass. Extractors make that easy.
Now if you are going to Argentina for a dove hunt, you might want to consider a different gun for those fast and furious situations.
As for me, I certainly would not feel undergunned with a double with extractors...That said, mine have ejectors.

I like the idea of loading your own shotgun shells...can anyone suggest a good "getting started" reference material?

Buy a MEC reloader and a Shot shell reloading manual. There great directions with both. After that don't mix powders and follow the recipe to the letter.