20 vs 28 vs .410

I have no experience with 28.

I own both 410 and 20g. If I had to pick one, its the 20g. 410 is far too limited in its range and payload. I only use mine on grouse sitting at less then 20m. Nothing flying and nothing beyond that range. It mostly gets used for killing nuisance squirrels around the camp.

As noted above - check ammunition availability and cost. 410 is very expensive for a "common" calibre. 20g is cheap in comparison. Like half the cost (a flat of target loads in 20g suitable for grouse vs a few boxes of 3" 410 hunting loads).
 
Myself I found the 410 just fine on rabbits out to 30 yards using a full choke. I use a Burris red dot optic too but that's beside the point.
Nothing fancy, 2 1/2 inch shell #7.5 size. But I did discover a long time ago a true cylinder choke 410 is only a fifty percent killer at 20 yards regardless of shot size.
 
I use 2 20 guages for all my upland shooting. One is a single barrel Beretta FS1 full choke. I don't know what it weighs but it is very light. I know exactly where it shoots and I head shoot the grouse when they are in the preflight position. The other 20 is a Beretta BL3 it weighs 5 pounds 13 ounces on the postal scale and I had the bottom barrel which was originally modified bored out to skeet. I have never felt under or over gunned. I don't hunt waterfowl anymore so the only thing I need a 12 for is turkeys.
The 20 works for me in the uplands..
 
It's all preference, i find they pattern better given same load between 16ga and 20ga. they are roughly the same weight as a 20ga, but can provide the knockdown power of a 12ga. Ever hear someone say "Carries like a 20, Shoots like a 12"

Upland Hunting is a Gentleman's Sport, and a true gentleman carries an english stocked, double triggered SxS chambered in the owe so Sweet Sixteen, at least according to the old hunting magazines in Britain anyway. Likely why i dont have one, i'm not british or a gentleman, more of a redneck, who prefers his barrels the wrong way round for hunting, but still always grab a 16, even for ducks. Iv'e had everything from a big'ol 8ga down the diminutive .410, and the only gun that I will never sell in a million years is my Citori White Lightning 16ga.

As for shell selection, yeah that's pretty much non existent over here, gotta load your own, lots of data out there,

But i'm also not saying that there is anything wrong with a 20ga, just not my style.
 
My 410 with full choke and 2.5" #8 puts more pellets in a 12" circle at 30 yards than my ic choked 12ga with 1 1/8oz load of #8. Funny how the numbers work in the real world and birds and bunnies drop just as dead with a 410 as they do with a 12ga. Even my slow loaded 410 reloads had no trouble killing crows inside 35 yards the other evening
Sure the 12ga throws a wider pattern but someone who practises well alot isnt so disadvantaged with a 410 as some may think.
 
Shooting them in the pre flight position has also been known as "dry gulching" them. At least with myself and the fellows I used to hunt them with. (mostly passed on now).
 
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