Love for 16ga

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I'm thinking about getting a 16 gauge simply because I've seen the ammo (bird shot mostly) stay in stock better than 12. My ammo of choice is Remington Express XLR and the last time I was at the local feed n seed, guns, and hunting dog store they probably had two dozen boxes of it... All 16 gauge. Also have noticed used 16 gauge guns going for significantly less than their 12 gauge cousin on GB
 
Appalachiannative said:
Also have noticed used 16 gauge guns going for significantly less than their 12 gauge cousin on GB
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This is true but it brings up one of the more interesting realities of gun collecting contradictions. Generally speaking, rarity fetches higher prices than normalcy, like in most other things "collectable". For instance, everything else being equal, Winchester "Pre-64" Model 70 rifles chambered in the scarce .35 Remington or .358 Winchester are worth far more than the ubiquitous .270 Winchester or .30-06 Springfield chamberings. But if you are collecting shotguns, generally speaking, the far less common 16 gauge chamberings aren't worth nearly as much as their way more prolific 12 gauge siblings, everything else being equal. o_O
 
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You think so. Try finding an L.C. Smith in 16 ga. for what a same grade and condition as a 12 ga. is. Or an A-5. Or a Model 12. Or a Model 97. The better the condition, the more the gap in price.

Now if you are talking Savage 311's, yes that certainly is true.
 
SwampWolf said:
This is true but it brings up one of the more interesting realities of gun collecting contradictions. Generally speaking, rarity fetches higher prices than normalcy, like in most other things "collectable". For instance, everything else being equal, Winchester "Pre-64" Model 70 rifles chambered in the scarce .35 Remington or .358 Winchester are worth far more than the ubiquitous .270 Winchester or .30-06 Springfield chamberings. But if you are collecting shotguns, generally speaking, the far less common 16 gauge chamberings aren't worth nearly as much as their way more prolific 12 gauge siblings. o_O
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That definitely is kind of a mystery
 
TarDevil said:
I took a lot of squirrels with a 16 ga Fox SxS in my teens.

Would love to still have that gun.
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Was that an A.H. Fox, or a Savage Fox B?

I'd love to have an A.H. Fox, but I do have a Fox B in 16 gauge. I don't shoot it much because ammo is more difficult to find and ridiculously expensive when you do.
DSC08163 (2).JPG
 
Appalachiannative said:
That definitely is kind of a mystery
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I noticed when I was younger that there was alot of contempt for 16ga. Shotguns, at least among the people I hunted with. The general consensus was that they were lower than dirt and impossible to find ammo for. My grandfather even said he wouldn't take one if it was given to him. I'm sure that attitude contributes to the 16ga variants of certain shotguns lower price point, and while I'm not happy to see the rising prices, I'm happy to see that sentiment change.
 
Well I went and done it. Bought my very first 16 gauge. It's a Remington model 11 sportsman. Got it because I used to have another 3 shot automatic hump back browning style gun. It was a savage 726 upland sporter 12 gauge. Traded it for a Winchester pump that sucked and have regretted this since. Seen this Remington that is made in the same style I miss so much for a price I can afford and had to have it. So I suppose I'll be learning to love 16 gauge. As previously stated I like the way the ammo doesn't go out of stock when panic buy surges occur. At least not around here
 
The only auto shotgun I currently own is a Remington Model 58 in 16 gauge. That’s about to change as I recently took up quail and duck hunting, but I’ve killed several quail with the old 58 in the past couple weeks. I’m a 16 gauge fan.
 
16 gauge will kill duck just fine was long as you get the right shells:

https://www.mackspw.com/WINCHESTER-HIGH-BRASS-16GA-2-3-4-1-1-8

in steel, or if you have a full choke, or need other non-toxic shot options,

https://www.mackspw.com/Hevi-Bismuth-16-Ga-2.75-1-1-8-Oz-Case

These are the two best, IMO. My opinion is not based on personal experience, as the one year I hunted duck with a 16 was before non-toxic was mandated. I used 1 oz. of 4's, they were Remington IIRC. Several friends have puddle jumped with steel, and others have used Hevi-Shot over decoys, the two loads listed here.
 
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My dad had a Mossberg bolt action gun with a Poly Choke in 16 ga. When I reached a certain age he bought me an identical gun. Many years later I asked him why 16 ga? He said the hardware store had 12 and 20, he didn't know which to get so he split the difference. Thus began my fondness for the 16 ga.
Since then, I sold my Mossberg but now have his. My working 16 ga guns are doubles.
 
entropy said:
16 gauge will kill duck just fine was long as you get the right shells:

https://www.mackspw.com/WINCHESTER-HIGH-BRASS-16GA-2-3-4-1-1-8

in steel, or if you have a full choke, or need other non-toxic shot options,

https://www.mackspw.com/Hevi-Bismuth-16-Ga-2.75-1-1-8-Oz-Case

These are the two best, IMO. My opinion is not based on personal experience, as the one year I hunted duck with a 16 was before non-toxic was mandated. I used 1 oz. of 4's, they were Remington IIRC. Several friends have puddle jumped with steel, and others have used Hevi-Shot over decoys, the two loads listed here.
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The Winchester load you link is lead and illegal for duck hunting.
 
depends on the application for me, but the A5 sweet 16 I got a few years ago weighs just over 5# and is 1 of my favorites for pheasant/quail…

IMO what’s NOT to like for that-seems perfect to me and I shoot it really well.

On line ammo is how I buy mine and it’s nice to have all 3 options when things are tight.
 
My 16’s are a love hate relationship (the SxS has a lot more recoil than any one of my 12’s).
The Springfield/Stevens is a great small game shotgun and I can tote it around all day without noticing it.
BCD5AB10-F4C3-4B41-93CD-A70AAA247D9D.jpeg 8435F1BF-137A-49A8-940D-95B8A0C90D07.jpeg

The Columbia(for as old as it is) still pulls it’s weight, it’s taken a lot of squirrels.
The barrel was cut down to 18”
246041CE-4398-4126-8789-64AEB553F610.jpeg 519C23B9-FB18-415E-8D0A-87F62C360B89.jpeg
The Springfield is exactly like the one my father had, the Columbia belonged to my Grandfather.
 
Steel Hayes said:
My 16’s are a love hate relationship (the SxS has a lot more recoil than any one of my 12’s).
The Springfield/Stevens is a great small game shotgun and I can tote it around all day without noticing it.
View attachment 1059492 View attachment 1059493

The Columbia(for as old as it is) still pulls it’s weight, it’s taken a lot of squirrels.
The barrel was cut down to 18”
View attachment 1059494 View attachment 1059495
The Springfield is exactly like the one my father had, the Columbia belonged to my Grandfather.
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Is the frame on your single nickel plated? I've never seen that before. I normally don't go for shiny stuff but that looks cool
 
marksman13 said:
The only auto shotgun I currently own is a Remington Model 58 in 16 gauge. That’s about to change as I recently took up quail and duck hunting, but I’ve killed several quail with the old 58 in the past couple weeks. I’m a 16 gauge fan.
Click to expand...

I also have a Sportsman 58 in 16ga, Imp. Cyl. 26" that I grew up with, still use on many birds. Love it.
 
Cut My teeth on a H&R 16 full choke. Kicked like a Mule and Killed Everything I Shot at with it. My Dad had a Browning Sweet 16. Loved that gun Too. Only reason I no longer own a 16 is because I reload, and I am set up for 12 and 20 gauge.
 
My brother-in-law always shot a 16 gauge Stevens Fox double and was, in my opinion, one of the best wing shots I have ever seen.
I, on the other hand, graduated from a .410 SB straight to a 12 gauge Ithaca DB and never looked back.
He was born in the 40s and I in the 50s.
Both are excellent gauges!
 
There’s a lot to be said on owning gauges other than the US standard 12 gauge.
Recently with ammo so scarce, some of the less favored gauges seemed to show up on the shelves- namely 16 and 28 gauge!!!!
But sadly the 410 remains scarce.
 
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