Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
Back before WWII, the 16 gauge, oft in a SxS, was the darling of upland gunners. Usually more than half a lb lighter than a similar 12 gauge, it carried well and still was potent on stuff smaller than turkeys.
Browning's A5 in 16 gauge, whether it said "Sweet Sixteen" or not on the receiver, became a legend in the uplands and still is a very good choice.
I used a 16 gauge Single shot starting out in the 50s and accounted for 40 geese or so as well as lesser stuff before moving on to a 12.
But as time went on, the 16 faded from view.Improvements and fashion decreed the 20 gauge would fill the gap, and while the 20 is oft bad at launching an oz of shot, few folks then knew enough to pattern and test.
16 gauge ammo choices diminished, and the gauge seemed almost as dead as Diplodicus. Still, some folks kept their 16s, which still worked and worked and worked.
Things seem to be different now. Browning brought out some O/Us in 16 gauge and the few remaining are advertised in gun mags at markup prices. Remington re issued the 870 and 1100 in 16 gauge and Connecticut Shotguns are reporting sales of their high end Foxes and Model 21s in 16 are rising.
Divers makers in Europe and Turkey are turning out 16s that are imported here, oft modeled after classic British game guns.
Ithaca, rising Phoenix like, has a 16 gauge Model 37 in its lineup that should gladden many hearts like the old ones have. My guess is it runs about 6 lbs, perfect for the oz of shot the 16 throws.
And maybe this is a good time to talk about square loads. That's a load where the shot column is only as tall as it is wide.Supposedly, this magically conveys every pellet to its proper position in the pattern. And, supposedly the 16 has square loads with a 1 oz payload.
Be that as it may, I've not patterned a truly bad 1 oz 16 gauge load. Top ammo produces beautiful patterns and humanely harvested critters. A short shot string means more shot gets to the target at the same time.
Many 16 gauges handle very well. The SxS versions oft do so superbly, whether they are Parkers, 311s or a foreign make. The lessened weight and carry fatigue means we're more apt to make shots late in the day three ridges away from the truck.
An oz of hard lead works for stuff smaller than wild ringnecks and even then with close working dogs during the early season.
And the rising costs of ammo may see us needing to go to lighter loads anyway.
I'm not privy to the ammo companies plans, but a 2 3/4" 16 gauge has a hair more room to put non toxic pellets than a 3" 20 gauge does. If a 3" Hevishot 20 gauge load is effective, and it is, than a 16 gauge load should be at least as good.
How about 1 1/8 oz of Hevi 3s out of a 16? I think it'd work for everything within 45 yards, and few of us have any business shooting further on things that can suffer.
Caveat, non toxic loads aren't for shotguns made before 1980 and not all shotguns made since.
Some downsides exist.
Some companies took the easy way and put 16 gauge barrels on 12 gauge receivers. These save no weight and oft handle less than satisfactorily.
OTOH, Winchester did their 16 gauge Model 12s on 20 gauge frames, and produced a fine repeater thereby. "Carries like a 20, hits like a 12".
Another downside is ammo availability. Choices are few and supplies are spotty at times. Reloading for the 16 is an even better idea than for the 12.
I'd love to see what can be done if the newer barrel tweaks like overboring and long forcing cones were done to a competition grade O/U in 16 gauge. Stoked with ammo similar to the top target stuff in 12 gauge, betcha it'd raise a few eyebrows.
What's YOUR opinion on the 16?....
Browning's A5 in 16 gauge, whether it said "Sweet Sixteen" or not on the receiver, became a legend in the uplands and still is a very good choice.
I used a 16 gauge Single shot starting out in the 50s and accounted for 40 geese or so as well as lesser stuff before moving on to a 12.
But as time went on, the 16 faded from view.Improvements and fashion decreed the 20 gauge would fill the gap, and while the 20 is oft bad at launching an oz of shot, few folks then knew enough to pattern and test.
16 gauge ammo choices diminished, and the gauge seemed almost as dead as Diplodicus. Still, some folks kept their 16s, which still worked and worked and worked.
Things seem to be different now. Browning brought out some O/Us in 16 gauge and the few remaining are advertised in gun mags at markup prices. Remington re issued the 870 and 1100 in 16 gauge and Connecticut Shotguns are reporting sales of their high end Foxes and Model 21s in 16 are rising.
Divers makers in Europe and Turkey are turning out 16s that are imported here, oft modeled after classic British game guns.
Ithaca, rising Phoenix like, has a 16 gauge Model 37 in its lineup that should gladden many hearts like the old ones have. My guess is it runs about 6 lbs, perfect for the oz of shot the 16 throws.
And maybe this is a good time to talk about square loads. That's a load where the shot column is only as tall as it is wide.Supposedly, this magically conveys every pellet to its proper position in the pattern. And, supposedly the 16 has square loads with a 1 oz payload.
Be that as it may, I've not patterned a truly bad 1 oz 16 gauge load. Top ammo produces beautiful patterns and humanely harvested critters. A short shot string means more shot gets to the target at the same time.
Many 16 gauges handle very well. The SxS versions oft do so superbly, whether they are Parkers, 311s or a foreign make. The lessened weight and carry fatigue means we're more apt to make shots late in the day three ridges away from the truck.
An oz of hard lead works for stuff smaller than wild ringnecks and even then with close working dogs during the early season.
And the rising costs of ammo may see us needing to go to lighter loads anyway.
I'm not privy to the ammo companies plans, but a 2 3/4" 16 gauge has a hair more room to put non toxic pellets than a 3" 20 gauge does. If a 3" Hevishot 20 gauge load is effective, and it is, than a 16 gauge load should be at least as good.
How about 1 1/8 oz of Hevi 3s out of a 16? I think it'd work for everything within 45 yards, and few of us have any business shooting further on things that can suffer.
Caveat, non toxic loads aren't for shotguns made before 1980 and not all shotguns made since.
Some downsides exist.
Some companies took the easy way and put 16 gauge barrels on 12 gauge receivers. These save no weight and oft handle less than satisfactorily.
OTOH, Winchester did their 16 gauge Model 12s on 20 gauge frames, and produced a fine repeater thereby. "Carries like a 20, hits like a 12".
Another downside is ammo availability. Choices are few and supplies are spotty at times. Reloading for the 16 is an even better idea than for the 12.
I'd love to see what can be done if the newer barrel tweaks like overboring and long forcing cones were done to a competition grade O/U in 16 gauge. Stoked with ammo similar to the top target stuff in 12 gauge, betcha it'd raise a few eyebrows.
What's YOUR opinion on the 16?....
