Looking at 16ga

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16s can be built on 3 different sized frames - 20, 16, and 12. Many companies in today's market eschew the actual 16 gauge frame because of the limited production quantities and only use 12 or 20 frames. 20s should weigh about 6-6.25, 16s 6.5-6.75 and 12s 7# and up - this isn't carved in stone, but it is a good rule of thumb for doubles
 
Still haven't gotten anything for this itch yet. Remembered my anniversary is coming up just in time so funds need to be diverted for a bit. Did find out my FIL has a 16ga pump he never shoots and says is too heavy so next time I'm around I'll have to see how much he really likes his favorite (and only) son in law.
 
My first real shotgun was a Stevens 77F 16ga pump. I still have it. 16 is the goldilocks load for dove, quail, rabbit, squirrel.. ect. I carried mine for deer season with slugs. Light enough to carry all day, and dosen't try to beat you to death when you fire. I brought home more than my fair share of squirrels with that Stevens. It survived the abuse and neglect of my teenage years. Literally rode hard and put away wet:( Today it is ugly as sin, with a couple of badly done cold blue jobs on it...but still a reliable, easy to point, game getter
 
Thoughts on a Browning BPS in 16? Found one local for around $500 that might be a good candidate for my wife's hunting shotgun.
 
Ithaca 37, new or used is a wonderful pheasant gun.
Yep I go to my Ithica 37 12g first thing. If I feel I need an auto loader it will be my 100 year old Remington M11 12g. Might be a bit heavy but it's a point and shoot dream.
 
If I had a 16, especially one with family history I'd cherish it, use it and pass it on to one of my kids. But it just ain't worth the time and trouble to me to seek out one. They no longer fill any niche other than just to be different.
 
My late Uncle gave me this Model 12 16 gauge while he was still living some 40 years ago an act of unconditional love IMO. It is quite possibly my most cherished possession. He carried it over many miles and countless days as I did after he gave it to me. It is built on a 20 gauge frame making it 20 ga. light but able to put more shot in the air. We both took care of it and it shows. I've willed it to my Grandson, never knowing his great-great Uncle I'm sure he will not be as fond of it as I...... maybe being Grandpa's will do

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My late Uncle gave me this Model 12 16 gauge while he was still living some 40 years ago an act of unconditional love IMO. It is quite possibly my most cherished possession. He carried it over many miles and countless days as I did after he gave it to me. It is built on a 20 gauge frame making it 20 ga. light but able to put more shot in the air. We both took care of it and it shows. I've willed it to my Grandson, never knowing his great Uncle I'm sure he will not be as fond of it as I...... maybe being Grandpa's will do

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That's a shotgun right there.
 
So I was looking around the shop at work and found a box of 16 gauge shells. Since the guy that used to shoot them is long gone they gave me the ammo. I've had worse reasons to buy another gun. What can you guys tell me about this gauge? I'm not terribly worried about availability of ammo as I'm already gearing up for reloading 410 so what's one more press?

Sell the shells. European 12ga game gun can be as light or lighter than most American 16ga shotguns. The only interesting 16ga was Ithaca 37/87 with fully-rifled barrel. That gun was great because Lightfield made sabot slugs especially for it. That is KOOL almost like having Holland & Holland Paradox along with boxes of H&H ammo for it. The ammo is not loaded by H&H so relationship is analogous except Lightfield packs will not have Ithaca Gun Co on them.
 
the only 16 ga I own right now is a 1950,s Winchester model 12 and I think its built on a 20 ga frame. I guess I should take it hunting this season. I mostly use a 20 ga browning BSS sporter double barrel for small game using 2-3/4 shells with 1-1/8 # 6 shot.

No need to play Model 12 frame game the Model 12 Featherweight 26" IC had unloaded mass of around 6.5lb.
 
I have 3 SxS and a Browing Sweet 16. I use them for everything except duct and geese since that requires steel shot. The 16 patterns very well and is an excellent all around gauge.
 
So took the wife out shopping for her shotgun last night. She really liked the 16ga BPS but the dang clerk had to point out that there was a 20ga BPS in the same condition and cost but engraved available as well. Guess I'll have to save up my pennies again but at least my wife got herself a hunting shotgun so I have that going for me.
 
The only complaint against 16ga BPS is the 7+lb weight. If one has the money new 16ga Auto-5 handles well and is not overweight.
 
I had both a 12 ga. Rem 1100, short barreled, straight-stocked, Special Field and a similar 20 gauge Remington 11-87 semi-auto straight-stocked, which I used to carry for bird hunting around Central Maine.

However, we tend to do a lot of road-hunting in the North Maine Woods, so I prefer to use my over/under 20s. The 11-87, 20 ga. is now in my grandson's hands and he does well with it.

I still use the 1100 12 gauge for home security, due to the relatively short barrel and sometimes carry it when hunting deer in tight woods. Both of the Remingtons have screw-in chokes, which make them even more flexible.

A semi-auto is great for deer hunting in the woods, especially with a red-dot sight, because they're very fast to employ if a deer jumps.
 
I owned desirable 1100 variant ie 16ga 26" VR IC for a while. According to barrel code it was employee purchase gun. Maybe that's the reason it came in at 7&1/4lb as early 70s literature suggested. Most were heavier than that. The 70s vintage light 20s with mahogany wood were actually pretty nice guns.
 
I'm not much of a shotgun guy, but when I think about 16 gauge, I consider it the best gauge for self defense because it has less recoil than 12, but larger size pellets compared to 20. Of course the problem with that line of thought is that buckshot ammo is nowhere to be found. Besides, reduced recoil 12 ga loads are easy enough to find today and will always be more versatile a shotgun.

For any bird hunting I can't see a reason to replace a 20 gauge with a 16.

I wouldn't go out and buy one simply because I found some shells. About the only shotgun gauge I would do that for would be 10 and that would be an H&R single shot.
 
So still can't kick the urge for a 16ga. After dove hunting a lighter weight shotgun really appeals to me. Looking around TriStar makes their hunter ex lt that will save me a pound and a half. Problem is confidence in sub 1k o/u seems to be pretty low in the shotgun community. Also don't know if I have any ability to hit with a o/u so borrowing one from a buddy to trap shoot this weekend.
 
I need to save more than pennies if I'm going to get a dream gun before I die!..LOL
 
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