Love for 16ga

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Seedy Character

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I have been somewhat pleasantly surprised at the number of comments, in other threads, of those who appreciate the 16ga.

Growing up in the 60s, mainly an upland bird and small game hunting family. We all shot a 16ga.

I still have and use 3. A Rem 1100 that I got for Christmas at 15. Dad's 870 from 1953.
Papa's Rem 11 recoil operated, Browning pattern.

If I ever come across a nice SxS in 16ga. I will have it.

It fills a nonexistent niche between 12 and 20, but, nonetheless, I like the 16ga.
 
I still occasionally hunt with my dad's Valmet 16ga O/U. He got it as his 60th birhday present in mid 60's, complete with a brass plaque embedded in the stock, and that gun really deserves to be taken out to the field every now and then.

Other than that, 16ga seems nearly obsolete these days. Finding ammo is a real PITA, anything second hand chambered to 16ga gathers dust on gun shops' shelves and it's been a while since I've seen a new 16ga shotgun in person.

Then again, you can pick up nice Browning Auto 5:s in 16ga for little over $100 whereas 12ga starts at about $400, so there's a silver lining in near-obsolescence...
 
hq said:
Then again, you can pick up nice Browning Auto 5:s in 16ga for little over $100 whereas 12ga starts at about $400, so there's a silver lining in near-obsolescence...
Click to expand...
Where do you live? If I could get an A5 in 16ga for $100ish, that would probably be worth the trip:). Personally, I love 16ga. My first "real" shotgun was a Stevens 77F pump in 16ga. I still have it. I've had it since I was 16, and it was a slightly unloved relic when I got it, so it certainly shows its wear. But nothing swings and gets on target like that old workhorse. I'd love to find a wingmaster or 1100 in 16. As far as ammo, its definitely more expensive than 12, but in my area it tends to be available enough.
 
You said it - nonexistent niche. I have no love for the 16. I put my extra love on the absolutely necessary 28 gauge. :) To each their own. I do get somewhat annoyed at those 16 gauge zealots attributing all sorts of imaginary prowess to the gauge in a vain attempt to enlist others to their cause.
 
As my username may imply, I too do love the 16 gauge. I killed my first deer, woodcock, quail, and pheasant with a 16 gauge as a young teenager, and I own a fair amount of shotguns in 16ga. Through the pandemic the only shells I could find locally were 16ga, and I could find 16ga shotguns for roughly 60% of the price of their 12 ga. Counterparts. Personally, I think vintage SxS shotguns is where the 16ga really shines. My 1921 16ga Ithaca flues is 6.5 pounds, and can shoot a payload similar to a 12ga.
 
Growing up my primary shotgun was a Model 12,12ga full choke. Many of my hunting companions used 16 gauge shotguns of various configuration. One of my hunting buddies had a LC Smith 16 gauge. I was smitten with this gun and when he let me borrow it for a few passes. I put the smackdown on every pheasant that got up in front of me. I tried to buy it from him but due to family ties he would not sell it. I could not blame him for that.

Moving forward about 10 years ago I managed to buy it's twin at an estate auction. I have taken this shotgun out a few times and had to smile every time I pulled the trigger. I do roll my own for this LC as it's chambers are short chamber. This was typical since may old 16 gauges were set up to shoot old rolled crimped shells. I can see why these were called endearingly "Sweet Else" .
 
I to like the 16. I have a 1954 Wingmaster 16 that was a full choke and now has 10 tho. constriction in the barrel. I am 79 and have spent a lifetime hunting pheasants. The 16 is just fun to me, plus a lot of good memories of an old hunting partner, now gone, who used a Ithaca 37 in 16 gauge.
 
Saw a 16 gauge Stevens 555 O/U at the local gun store this week.....

2 problems - the $750 price tag and made in Turkey. Aside form that, a beautiful looking and relatively lightweight handling shotgun.
 
20+ years ago I was having dinner at some older friends’ house and the wife mentions she is going to trade her 870 16g in at the local gun store for a shotgun that fits her better (she is short statured and would be better served by a youth model). The gun had been in the family for sometime, though I didn’t know it’s origin. I offered to trade one of my 12 gauges for it and then have her take the 12g into the LGS to make her deal. She liked that idea so we made the exchange. I take the 16g out every fall for some partridge hunting, and periodically use it for some very informal clay pigeons. When it is time for the gun to move on l’ll give it to her son. He has memories of using it when he was a teenager.
 
I do load my own. Found an old Pacific loader, at garage sale, late '80s. After much self control, seeing it was a 16, the guy sold it a box full of parts and accessories for $10.
He had got it in a box of stuff from his Dad's estate. He didn't have a 16 and had never reloaded.

I have never had a problem finding shells or components. Finding a specific load, yes.
 
I do not own a sixteen yet, but would definitely be interested in a good vintage example, or one the H&R/NEF guns- that would round out my collection of the major gauges for that platform.
 
I have an old eastern arms that has put more food on my table than any other gun I own. It’s a sixteen gauge single shot. I think it was made in turkey a long time ago. It belonged to a friends grandfather. He gave it to me and said he wouldn’t take care of it right. I may wait until his sons old enough to give it to him. But only if I find out his wife will let him keep it. I hadn’t seen him in 15 years but saw his obituary. He was pending on a case that might prohibit his ownership anyway. But I love to hunt with that old gun. Ducks and rabbits galore. Squirrel to. Kind have to edge them with shot so you don’t melt them.
 
Due to the scarcity ammo during even the good times, I'll pass on the 16 gauge. My first shotgun was a 16 gauge. I'll held onto it close to 40 years. I recently let it go.
 
I grew up with a 16 ga. 311, and using my Dad's 16 ga Model 97-until he sold it to my cousin. I always had a hankering for a European 16 ga. SxS, particularly a Sauer, and recently got one. It is light, and the short chambers keep the recoil down to a dull roar. Now I just need to relearn how to shoot a SxS, I seem to have forgotten over the years....:oops:
 
Always thought a 16ga would be a nice bit of nostalgia. A few years back a LGS had a 870 collection for sale, only the 12 & 16 hadn’t sold. I picked the 16 that looked unused. Got it home and read some negative reviews about them and was a little disappointed. It was one of the early 2000 models with the heavy barrel and choke tubes. Turned out to be a good purchase. For some reason the value of theses guns have gone up (triple what I payed) and I really enjoy bird hunting with it. Before the ammo shortage my local Walmart had a clearance on 16ga shells for $4.00 a box, I’ll be hunting the16ga with my lifetime supply of ammo for a while.
 
I have my paternal grandfather's 16 ga side by side. I also have the 12 ga side by side cousin to the 16 ga gun. When we lived in the UK around 1960, Dad ordered a custom case for the pair from James Purdey and Sons. The case is probably worth more than the shotguns but is a nice family heirloom.

I have a few old 16 ga shells. I guess I need to gear up to be able to reload some 16 ga shells for the nfuture.
 
tachelberry said:
Growing up my primary shotgun was a Model 12,12ga full choke. Many of my hunting companions used 16 gauge shotguns of various configuration. One of my hunting buddies had a LC Smith 16 gauge. I was smitten with this gun and when he let me borrow it for a few passes. I put the smackdown on every pheasant that got up in front of me. I tried to buy it from him but due to family ties he would not sell it. I could not blame him for that.

Moving forward about 10 years ago I managed to buy it's twin at an estate auction. I have taken this shotgun out a few times and had to smile every time I pulled the trigger. I do roll my own for this LC as it's chambers are short chamber. This was typical since may old 16 gauges were set up to shoot old rolled crimped shells. I can see why these were called endearingly "Sweet Else" .
Click to expand...
I have a 20 and a 16 gauge L.C. Smith. Both of them just "feel right" when I shoulder them. They have their own dedicated frame size, not a larger 12 gauge frame fitted with 20 and 16 gauge barrels. For those who haven't shouldered a shotgun with a frame to match the gauge, it would be hard know how much difference it makes. That 16 nearly handles as well as a 20. The balance is just "right".
 
Oh, duh. It's your drilling. Thought it was a double. All those German actions start looking alike after a night of perusing Guns International and Simpson Ltd..........;)
 
I kept two of the 16s I had so far, I kept an Imp Cylinder Model 31 Remington which shoot everything ,and my non recoil padded little Darne double which I had chambers and longer forcing cones reamed to 2 3/4 from 2 9/16ths many years back. That gun is chamber Imp cyl. Improved Modified and of course I won't use steel shot , but it dotes on plated shot from #5 - #7 1/2 with 1 .oz loads . A few shots in a day of Pheasants over dogs is wonderful with this 6 pound gun . The 16 ga. guns are mostly made back in the day with a smaller frame than the 12, usually a 20 gauge frame , and are just - "Sweet" for field loads around 1 oz. !!
 
Gordon said:
The 16 ga. guns are mostly made back in the day with a smaller frame than the 12, usually a 20 gauge frame ,
Click to expand...

There's an old adage that describes a 16 gauge gun as being a "20 that shoots like a 12". But that only counts if the receiver is scaled "appropriately". Sixteens made on 12 gauge frames (not uncommon) could rightly be described as being a "12 that shoots like a 20". :scrutiny:
 
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