I have a 12, 20 & 28 in O/U and 16 in SxS. No doubt in my mind. The 20 wins this contest. Better selection of ammo, cheaper prices, and generally a slightlylower weight to lug around. For skeet and quail and dove, there isn't a better gauge than the 20. The 28 is also a good skeet and quail gun that which throws a good patternwith very little recoil but it does haveexpensive ammounless you reload. For putting meat on the table, sporting clays and trap, I would have to go with the 12. The 16, while a fine gauge byitself, is just too overlappedby the 12 & 20.