Season before last, I acquired a 28ga during the grouse/woodcock season. Wanted to try it out; was given a box of the 10's. I don't recall what, but I had a handful of something else I was using in the 2nd barrel. I hit 2 woodcock with the 10's, put them down, had them fly off again. Got one of them on the 2nd flush, never found the other. Hit one on a crossing shot at relatively close range--with no choke in the R barrel--and it had a LOT of little pellets in it.
I really like small shot for woodcock, and even grouse early in the season. I have no problem with 8 1/2 or even 9, especially in the 28ga. And I really like RST shells. But the 10's are too small for me.
That being said, if you read "classic" woodcock literature--like John Alden Knight's woodcock book--you will find references to hunters shooting woodcock with 10's.
