A great thread -- Thanks, Pat.
I propose that the best quail gun is one you shoot well and have confidence in; and that you use, preferably over dogs you've trained yourself, in covers you love.
I've used all gauges on quail except a 10. I only use a 12 when I think I might run into a pheasant (which is not often where we hunt).
I've probably killed more quail with a 28 than any other gauge, but mostly because I used one during those years when we had more quail.
I recently bought a nice Watson Bros. 28 with beautiful 28 inch Damascus barrels and it performed perfectly during the 3 or so weeks I used it this year.
A 16 with light loads throws wonderful patterns in the right gun, and a 20 -- well, let's just say it's a proven gauge.
Here's a couple of 28s that have served me well in the quail fields.
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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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