Ruark on gauge for quail.....
 

One of my favorite writers of all time....

This from a guy who just bought a 20, eh?:)

I see he omitted the 28 gauge.

So, either he wasn't a fan of the 28 or he didn't know it existed. Personally I think it is the gauge of the older gentle man bobwhite or grouse and woodcock shooter, who knows his game and knows his own limitations and level of endurance. I'll take a 28 any day.





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I've NEVER felt under gunned or handicapped with the 28. To me the perfect gauge for whatever my dog can flush for me.

I have hunted wild quail since about 1962 with doubleguns. I now do not use larger than a 20 gauge. I use 28s on occasion but, IMO, a 20 gauge is just about perfect for wild quail. Nothing wrong with a 16, either. And, 28s and .410s are about perfect for released birds. Again, IMO.

A 26" 0 frame 16, carries like a 20 but hits like a 12.

Ya, but you have to be able to hit them with the 20, before you are excellent..... We will see, but I expect to shoot the new gun well. :)

Damn right Michael! I do like 28 ga, but never was all that enamored by them. I dont have a Parker , but shoot a Ugartechea 28 ga with 27" IC/M barrels and straight grip. Kill 3-4 grouse/yr and a couple pheasants(released). I have been wanting a 30" 28 ga, and may pick up a Dickinson.
Hunted quail on a SC plantation once and my 26" DHE 16 cyl/mod st grip 6lbs was the classiest gun out there. Actually ordered out of Georgia in 1905, so was probably a quail gun.

I do have a CSMC RBL 28 with 30" English grip and BTFE. It was one of the launch edition 28's. It took Tony 21 months to get it made. Absolutely a magic wand. I do need a Repro 16, 20 and 28. Gonna have to win the lotto for those.

Hmmm 28 works pretty well . Although this year I did use a 20 on one trip and a 16 on another trip . But if the 28 works for walk ups on pheasants (and it does) a quail is a piece of cake .