I know you all know this but, a bird hit with sufficient numbers of leathal sized shot to statistically cover the vitals with shot going of sufficient velocity, doesn't know the difference which gauge barrel it came from.
Sure, to get an equivalently dense pattern with a 28g, the pattern must be smaller diameter than larger gauges with more shot. It boils down to getting the pattern on target. Harder to do as the pattern gets smaller. Has nothing to do with whether or not the gauge is capable of killing. It's all about the shooter's ability no matter the gauge. Large gauges,less difficult to do. Smaller gauges, ever increasingly difficult.
I've reached for small gauges when birds are plentiful and/or conditions assure more bag. When conditions/game are more challenging, I tend to reach for my larger gauge guns. That's the reason I own more than one gauge.
