After 20 years of using my beloved belgian a5 12 ga, I am going to buy another upland shotgun. I am drooling over a Benelli legacy, and am trying to decide on the 20, or 28ga. I have never had a 28, and I am not familiar with its use in the pheasant field. Any thoughts, good or bad?? Thanks JCM

it takes 28 solid spheres of lead, that will fit the bore of the firearm, to equal a pound.

Any thoughts about how it will perform against a 20 ga?? Is it an appropriate guage for hunting upland game?

Here are a few things to consider

I own both a 28 and a 20.

20 Ga shells are easier to find and are cheaper.
28 Ga rounds is twice the price of 12 Ga right now - reason I reload for my 28.

Both will shoot basically the same. Just less lead.

Th 28 gun may be lighter in wt

Now I shoot O&U's my Berreta 28 is 4.5 lbs and is oh so nice to carry int he grouse woodcock woods. Far better thatn the 20.

The 28 is a bit light on pheasnats though IMO. So I use the 20 and at times the 12.

But go look at the cost of shot shells and then decide.

JW

Thanks JW,
The 20 ga is what I was really wanting, for weight, and ability. the 28 came into play when I was looking at the # of ea that were made. I think the 28 will be worth more in the long run, but since I will never sell either, that is not a very valid argument. Whichever I buy, I want a gun that will perform, without question.

Now, any thoughts about the Legacy??
It is a real looker, and it comes up to shoulder just perfect for me. With my Browning, I have to cock my head a little to get a clear sight down the rib. That is the biggest reason I want the Benelli.

thanks again.
JCM

Correct Gun Fit a person will just shoot better, cripple game less and thus be more confident on their shots!

I do own a Benelli Super Black Eagle 12 Ga 3.5" and use it for ducks and geese. Shot a few turkeys with it too!
However I do not use 3.5" rounds no more - too expensive and the extra half inch offers no more than using 3 inch rounds.
I did adjust the drop of the comb myself with the supplied shim kit. I had too as I hated this gun and then found out it did not fit me right. So I dropped the comb, went to the IC choke and I am now deadly on waterfowl.

I have beat the crap out of this shotgun. It is camo and does take a licking well!

I like the wt and feel of the gun. I like the fact of the inertia spring and it is almost maintenance free. If I see that closing the bolt is starting to slow down I will clean it. Otherwise I just shoot it.
It has been trouble free once I got the gun to fit this ole body!

So I have nothing negative to say about it at all. Liked it so much I went and spent the bucks on a Benelli R1 308 caliber for deer and have never looked back. Talk about sweet shooting rifles! man.......

JW

Ps ~ as with any shotgun one neds to spend a bit of time on a petterning board to make sure it shoots where you are looking. If it don't shim it or contact a gunsmith to help.

I'd recomend a 20 gauge built on a smaller frame (ie: CZ).

...........also makes for a good back up for "any" hunting or for self defense.

410 bore & 28 gauge ammo can get expense and not as effective on larger animals.

i hunt a great deal with a 28 ga. my go to goose gun is a beretta o/u and i shoot pretty fast steel through it. love it. my bird gun is a sxs with screw in chokes and for pheasant i shoot lite mod. and imp. mod. i hand load for it and shoot a 15/16 oz load at just over 1500 fps and use copper 7.5's. at that speed they have about the same energy as #5's in a regular load. really, really deadly and it only weights 5 #'s. i also have 5 20 ga. but rarely use them. as far as cost of shells go, worry about the price of gas and your beer. forget the shells

cheers

"i hunt a great deal with a 28 ga. my go to goose gun is a beretta o/u.................." 14 ga


I am sure you will find many who agree with you (Goose gun) on this site ~ I'm just not one of them. LOL

I can still remember shooting them as a kid, with my friend's Dad 36" barrel 12 gauge bolt shotgun, in a big open field just laying there with our backs flat on the ground.

Use a premium shell like HeviShot if you are going to
shoot a 28. The better shell will help a great deal