16 gauge HD

[SlowFuse]

Anyone ever contemplated using a 16 gauge for defense?

I bout a few boxes each of Rem Slugger 4/5 oz. hprs and Federal PowerShok #1 buck (12pellets)

Just grabbed both on a whim honestly because I had never seen any before. Don't plan to use it for defense but curious if it came down to it, how does it perform? Mainly the buckshot. Seems like it would be just fine but I never hear people talking about 16 gauge buckshot and slugs. I realize it's not the most popular gauge...

I prefer #1 buck in 12 gauge when available over 00, is this the common size for 16 gauge buckshot?? Similar to #3 in 20 gauge?

 

[Steve C]

Pretty much any shotgun loaded with buck shot or slugs will work for self defense. The 16ga is closer to the 12ga in size and payload so there is little difference in the two except more ammo selection in the US in 12 ga and a lighter and perhaps faster handling shotgun in the 16 ga.

I have my Dads Browning Sweet 16. It was his only gun for a long time and when I was a kid it was the home defense gun as well as dads pheasant gun. Kept the magazine loaded with BB or #4 Bird shot. Not the best self defense ammo but it never had to be used anyway.



I found some of this 1Buck Aquila at Cheaper than Dirt some time ago just in case I may feel the need for a more potent load then bird shot.

 

[Barry the Bear]

Number 1 buck is going to be your best bet in a 16ga. I don't believe they even make 00 buck in 16 though I may be wrong.

 

[PabloJ]

Anyone ever contemplated using a 16 gauge for defense?

I bout a few boxes each of Rem Slugger 4/5 oz. hprs and Federal PowerShok #1 buck (12pellets)

Just grabbed both on a whim honestly because I had never seen any before. Don't plan to use it for defense but curious if it came down to it, how does it perform? Mainly the buckshot. Seems like it would be just fine but I never hear people talking about 16 gauge buckshot and slugs. I realize it's not the most popular gauge...

I prefer #1 buck in 12 gauge when available over 00, is this the common size for 16 gauge buckshot?? Similar to #3 in 20 gauge?

While I would never buy 16ga for HD or otherwise there is nothing wrong with using one if you already own it. You are blessed to have #1 BK at about 1250fps that is the load I use in my 12ga. The "MV" of 16ga Foster slug is close to 1600fps, therefore not something I would ever pick for HD. My 12ga "tactical slug loads" or large ball loads have "MV" of 1200fps to 1300fps.

 

[AI&P Tactical]

The best gun for HD is the one in your hand when the perp kicks the door in. So yep, the 16ga will get it done. Just don't be cutting down the barrel of a Sweet 16 to make an HD. When I am President my first Executive Order will be to make the destruction of classic guns a 1st degree Felony.

 

[SlowFuse]

I have an 11-48, all original mod bore barrel (ai&p) that I may use these in. My favorite bird and skeet gun. If I ever shoot them i'll resurrect the thread!

 

[cpt-t]

I grew up listening to this story and I heard it many times, it happened in the late 1930`s. On a small farm very close to the Indian Nations down in Oklahoma. A young woman and two small kids were are all alone, several miles from their nearest neighbours, the husband was working the graveyard shift in the Oil Patch. Two thugs kick the door down and break into the house about 2AM. The woman and both kids and german shepherd dog were all sleep in the same bedroom, at the top of the stairs. The sound of the door breaking and the dog wakes the woman up. The woman yells at them thru the door for them to get out of Her house. But these two thugs have done this befor and they start telling her just what they are going to her and her children. And up the stairs they come. The woman waits till they are about 1/2 way up the stairs. And then she just opens the door and with a 16 gauge Winchester Model 12 loaded with high brass 4`s in her hands she shoots both thugs two times apiece at about 10 to 15 ft. The stairway all the way to the front porch was a real mess, it looked like they had drug themselves out to their P/U truck and drove away. But they found them 6 or 8 miles away the next morning in a ditch both dead. The husband called the Sheriff when he got the next morning. But the Sheriff knew these two thugs and when He got there and seen the broken door and all the mess, and listen to the young woman's story. He just said those two thugs had needed killing for a long time, but he was sorry a Young Woman like herself had to do it. He never even took the Shotgun for evidence and that was the end of it. So IMHO I think a 16 gauge shotgun with even just high brass 4`s will do just fine for HD. Oh by the way, that lady said that shooting thoes two thugs never bother her at all, because she was protecting her children and herself. And the next Sunday morning this Young Lady and Her family were setting front and center at their church for Sunday services. And she complimented by everybody that she talked to about what had happened. Just a different time and a different place.
ken ,

 

[gunut]

I have a WW2 made 16gaWinchester model 12 riot gun....Keep a couple boxes of #1 buck handy in case I need it but it is more of a collector gun.....my other riot guns are 12ga.....

 

[kennedy]

I have an old mossberg 500 16 ga that i am looking for an extra barrel to cut down for HD, #1 buck fits in a 16 ga hull better then 00, three balls will fit per layer, 4 layers equals 12 balls.

 

[DM~]

WELL, this is the 16ga. that will greet you if you break MY door down,



SR

 

[PabloJ]

WELL, this is the 16ga. that will greet you if you break MY door down,



SR

Nice setup. I like thin wall choke tube system. Is rifle barrel in useful caliber ie something ammo can be had for or reloaded for?

 

[splattergun]

While I keep my Mossberg 500 12 ga with a 18.5 inch barrel loaded with 00 buck near my bed, I keep my old Western field 16 ga pump goose gun loaded with 1 buck handy in another room.

 

[DM~]

Is rifle barrel in useful caliber ie something ammo can be had for or reloaded for?

The rifle bbl. is a 8x57JRS, factory ammo is available, but I have only ever shot reloads in it... I load 200NP's to 2,350 fps and they have worked well on moose and bear on down, these days it's my deer rifle.... I prefer RWS brass and I keep 3 or 400 rounds of ammo/brass around for it.

It's been my "Go To" hunting gun since the 80's, and has put tons and tons of meat in my freezer...

DM