Oddball, eccentric or a bit of both? The case for the 16 and 28-gauge shotguns

With the dove opener on Sept. 1 and small-game seasons following in November, the article uses the author’s own hunting habits to argue for the practical case of 16- and 28-gauge side-by-side shotguns. After years shooting 12-gauge for everything from deer and geese to Hungarian partridge and quail, the writer shifted to two-barrel guns for compactness, balance, and having different choke options on each barrel. While the 12-gauge remains a “do-all” tool, the author says the 16-gauge can “carry like a 20 and hit like a 12,” especially when built on a 16- or 20-gauge frame to reduce weight.