Anybody got any significant experience shooting skeet with both the 28 and 20. Am interested in moving down to a 28 O/U [from a 12 Win 101] and have only been able to find one or 2 28's to shoot, but not for many rounds. On paper targets and cans and such, have not seen remarkable diff from 20 in same ammo, but again, have not shot clays or birds with one

The 28 is the smallest gauge that still feels like a "real-gun". If you pay attention to NSSA scores...you notice scores in the 28ga. evnt pretty closely mirror those in the 20. I have not competed in NSSA for anumber of years. When I was an active Skeet shooter, and fired a LOT of competition rounds annually through a "tube set". I used the 28 more than all of the others combined for practice, recreational "fun shooting",and hunting. IMHO, the 28 is kind of addicting..provides sufficient challenge, while still offering the potential for excellent results.

Two problems w/ 28ga.
Finding ammo and the co$t when you find it!

Friend won a raffle for one and sold it to me, for the cost of his tickets, so my daughter could start to shoot clays and dove.

The statistics show the 28 ga produces results very close to the 20. You can find 20 ga ammo anywhere and at decent prices. If you reload you still have a problem getting a good supply of hulls and if you reload it is no trick to duplicate the 28 with a 20. I think the 28 is just something that you must want to do rather than need. The truth is most 28s are built on 20 gauge receivers.

Yeah, 20 gauge is affordable ammo. I see a fair number of shooters using the 20 gauge for trap -- PRACTICE. For competition everyone uses 12 gauge.

20 gauge puts out the same pattern size as 12 gauge, just less dense.

The guns are lighter, preferred for hunting upland game on steep or open terrain where the gun is being packed around.

If recoil is your issue, shoot trap loads -- less than 3 dram equiv. and 1 oz or less shot.

Trap shooters locally run 3/4 oz loads a fair amount. You'll need to adjust your lead on the bird if you reduce velocity -- especially back of the 16 yd. stations.

I use 28ga on trap, skeet, dove, quail and pheasant. While shooting trap, I actually break the birds better with my xs Browning in 28 than my XT 12ga Browning trap gun. You have to be willing to reload with the 28 or have lots of $$$$$

I don't shoot targets any more (outside of occasional informal practice), but I think the 28 ga is the perfect gun for skeet.

If you are shooting skeet then you are SURELY reloading, so ammunition cost is essentially the same as with larger gauges, other than a small saving on powder and shot with the 28 gauge. Primers cost the same, wads cost the same, and hulls last about the same number of shots. You save an eighth-ounce of shot as compared to a 20, and maybe a grain or two of powder.

The 28 kicks less, which makes doubles a little easier. Perhaps the thinner pattern of the 28 allows it statistically to give up 1 or 2 birds in a round of 100. But in a sport where the "kill" norm is pushing 100% it adds a little interest to the game.

Most registered shooters will have averages almost identical between the 28 and the 20 ga. Personally, I shoot the 20 ga. better and it seems to "hit harder" ie. I get more smokers with the 20. I don't know why (other than the obvious)!
Having said that, I am shooting the 28 exclusively now, so perhaps I will improve!
Peter.

I might add that quite a few shooters use the 20ga. in 12 ga. events, however I know of no shooters who shoot a 28ga. in 12 ga. events. From this I presume that there is indeed a difference between 20 ga. and 28ga.!
Peter.