For those touting the 28 as doing anything a 20 will do . . . really? How about if you have to shoot nontox? If you've got a 3" 20ga, you can do OK with steel. You can get by on smaller or closer birds with 2 3/4" steel in a 20. With a 28, you're screwed. I say all of this while having made my longest consecutive run ever on pheasants with a 28ga and 3/4oz 7's I loaded up. But they were preserve birds over very good dogs. I've never made it a habit to take particularly long shots, but I've killed far more wild pheasants than any other bird, and I just don't think of the 28 as a gun for wild pheasants. There are those days when you only get a marginal shot or two, and I'd rather take those with something packing more punch than a 28 will throw.
Mike, I hear you about the training thing . . . but would there be any difference in recoil if those kids were shooting 3/4 oz 20ga loads? My "Shotshells & Ballistics" book says there should not be any difference.
My personal answers to your questions:
1. Within reason it will. It is not for all situations, and no one said it was.
2. I don't have to shoot non-tox where a I hunt.
3. I don't use steel.
4. I don't hunt preserve birds of any kind.
5. I don't hunt pheasants with a 28 gauge.
6. The 28 packs plenty of punch fit you put it on the appropriate target.
