I've killed more wild birds -- especially Bobs, grouse and woodcock -- with a 28 gauge which I used almost exclusively for almost 20 years. Now, I use small gauges almost exclusively for upland birds, but alternate among 28s, 20s, and 16s. When I went out west for prairie grouse and Huns, I used a 16. When I really want to shoot a pheasant, I'll take a heavier 16 or a light 12. I don't take long shots, but wild pheasants are tough birds.
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"Doubtless the good Lord could have made a better game bird than bobwhite, and better country to hunt him in...but equally doubtless, he never did." -- Guy de la Valdene (from A Handful of Feathers )
"'I promise you,' he said, 'on my word of honor, I won't die on the opening of the bird season.'" -- Robert Ruark (from The Old Man and the Boy)
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