what happened to 16 and 28ga

[chas08]

To the OP, ammo is widely available on-line. The UPS man sets them both on my front porch a couple of flats at a time when needed. I love the 16 & 28 they are my two favorite gauges for their intended purposes. I've been hearing they, along with the 10 are on their way out for 50+ years. I don't believe it for a minute.

 

[Dr Dave]

Like the previous poster said, buy online.

http://ammoseek.com/

came up with 454 hits on 28ga, and 512 hits on 16ga.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

This last revival in the 28 was a fad

As long as people are shooting skeet or SC, I think the 28 ga will be around. Last time I checked, Remington was still making 28 ga Wingmasters.

I've got a 1970s era Wingmaster and a Baikal SXS in 28 ga. Great for introducing kids or recoil sensitive adults to shotgunning.

Specialty Sports in Colorado Springs sells 28 ga ammo by the case. Also, WalMart here has it too.

 

[barnetmill]

Years ago there used to be light short double barrel quail guns in the short 16 ga chambering that built around that load. It was an optimum balance of weight, dimensions, and pattern for hunting quail in the southeastern US. I have only seen one of these old guns.

 

[Dave McCracken]

I've liked every 28 I've shot, from a hammer single "Hardware" rustbucket to a few fine doubles of both kinds. If I had one, I certainly would reload for it and get some of those Krackr premium loads from Polywad.

If I were cornered and while bright lights were shone into my eyes and thumbscrews applied, I might admit that my idea of The Perfect Upland Double gun was a 16 gauge with the name Ansley H Fox on it....

 

[klutchless]

I have found both my favorite loads on ableammo.com And a very uncompromising golden pheasant nickel plated #6 that makes my modified 28 o/u pattern like a full choke.Comes in handy to take a wounded bird out.

 

[DM~]

what happened to 16 and 28ga

Nothing happened to my 16's, they still work "perfectly".

DM

 

[huntsman]

Not in quail country. The 28 ga has maintained a very strong following among quail hunters. It's regarded as the Gentlemen’s shotgun. I can understand why it may not be popular in other parts of the country.

yeah I bet it's sweet when gunning over pointers as it would be for woodcock if there were still any around.

 

[T.R.]

The 16 barrel was typically threaded onto a 20 gauge frame and that was the BEST. Light but powerful. But when the companies began threading 16 barrels onto 12 gauge receivers, the weight advantage faded quickly.

20 gauge quickly passed the 16 in sales and it faded.

I still hunt the uplands with my 16 because I love it!!

TR

 

[DHunter]

I'm still using Grandads old 16ga. It's a real pheasant getter.

 

[Buford57]

The Meijer stores in our area generally stock Remington 16 ga. Game Loads i #6 and #8. The last I bought were $5 per box.

 

[JPG19]

I sure hate to see ammo for the 16 become more and more scarce. The first firearm I ever owned, and still own for that matter, is a Belgium made Browning Sweet Sixteen passed down to me from my late grandfather. It's a real pleasure to shoot but dang is it expensive compared to a 12ga.

 

[MCgunner]

I have a mec reloader for my 10 gauge to reduce cost of 3.5" T steel I use on geese. I really can't see bothering for 28 or 16. I might get a 28 someday, but really, 20 gauge will do anything the 28 will do. The 28 is probably a quicker quail gun than 20 if built on a true 28 gauge frame, but I hunt doves with my 20, don't have dogs, don't quail hunt. I really don't wanna reload for 20 or 12 because the shells are about as cheap store bought. I own a 16 gauge, it's an old single shot Iver Johnson and I don't ever shoot it. It's in good shape, but it's a 30" full choke and that is NOt really a gun I need. It was my first goose gun, given to me by an uncle, so I won't sell it, but may hand it down someday.

Anyway, there's nothing a 28 could do for me that my little light, short 20 gauge 20" barrel Spartan can't do. There's really nothing a 16 can do for me that one of my 3 12 gauges can't do. There's no substitute for my 10 gauge for goose hunting. Those are my 3 gauges. Why do I need bother with 28 or 16? Nah, I'm a practical guy and 20 and 12 are cheap at wallyworld. I can even get Winchester Hispeed Xpert 3 steel for ducks for well under 10 bucks a box. What's 16 gauge steel shot going to run me? Hey, I hunt doves and waterfowl. I hunt little else with shotguns unless forced to by public land rules.

 

[MtnCreek]

I own a 16 gauge, it's an old single shot Iver Johnson and I don't ever shoot it. It's in good shape, but it's a 30" full choke and that is NOt really a gun I need

Load that bad boy up with some stout 7.5 shot and take it with you in the dove field (along w/ your dove gun). When that high flying dove comes across the field that everyone is shooting at, but no one can reach, nail his butt with the 16!

 

[MCgunner]

That's an idea.

 

[jcollins1007]

If you look at it economically, the 16ga really doesn't offer enough softer recoil to prevent you from getting a 20, and doesn't have enough power to prevent you from getting a 12. Plus, 12ga shotties nowadays come with 2.75, 3, and 3.5" chambers which provide more versatility than any other gauge. Sure, 16s are nice (especially Belgian-made Sweet 16s), but ultimately more people want 12s because of higher versatility. Thus, more money can be made by producing 12s than 16s, so 16s are fading away.

 

[451 Detonics]

I never have problems finding shells locally for either 16 or 28 ga, my local Dunham's and Rural King both carry them in stock, even the local Wally World has some.

My 16 gauges are built on 20 gauge frame, the only 28 I have right now is a 20/28 combo SXS set. I reload for both btw.

 

[Leaky Waders]

"If you look at it economically, the 16ga really doesn't offer enough softer recoil to prevent you from getting a 20, and doesn't have enough power to prevent you from getting a 12."

Recoil is a function of payload and velocity, gun weight and gun fit - not gauge. 'Power' is based upon the projectile and it's speed. A #5 shot travelling at 1300 fps has the same effect regardless of which gauge it was fired from.

"Plus, 12 ga shotties nowadays come with 2.75, 3, and 3.5" chambers which provide more versatility than any other gauge." Hull length increases are mainly for water fowlers needing more payload to for use with steel shot, which is less dense than lead. Also, shotties isn't a word...it's ghetto and imho...people who use it generally are ignorant of what they are talking about.

"Sure, 16s are nice (especially Belgian-made Sweet 16s), but ultimately more people want 12s because of higher versatility. Thus, more money can be made by producing 12s than 16s, so 16s are fading away." People want 12's because 1) more people are familiar with that gauge nowadays and 2) most stores do not stock flats of 16 gauge hulls. There are very good deals to be had on 16 gauges by people in the know who purchase flats online and/or reload. All shotguns are versatile...being able to fire various sized shot and payloads to hunt different game.

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // 16ga. is available at the local sporting goods store, it is $2.00 more per box than 12 or 20 ga. though.

I have a Stevens 311 SXS and a 1960 Remington Wingmaster in 16ga. both are very comfortable. the 311 is my quail gun.

The only time I took the 16ga. WM out for Dove there were no opportunities.
I do take both when we have a skeet shoot and everyone enjoys them as an oddity.

Other than the extra $ per box on ammo the main difference in 16ga. is the lower cost of the used 16ga. shotgun.

I don't have a 28ga.

 

[TonyT]

The 28 ga. is still a popular item on the skeet fields. The 28 ga. guns always had a n excellent reputation for patterning uniformity. For years my favorite grouse gun was a 4 1/2 lb. Italina O/U - it was a joy to carry affield.
The 16 ga started it's demise after the 3 inch 20 ga. became available. More recently companies have offered 16 ga. versions opf their guns but on 12 ga frames which negates the benefit of having a smaller gauge field gun .
I shoot both 28 ga and 16 ga.. As a reloader I can produce 3/4 oz. 12 ga. loads for use in a very light S/S.

 

[oneounceload]

One other thing that hurt the 16 was it being dropped early on from the skeet regimen. What kept the 28 alive would have also dramatically helped the 16 in the same regard.

Both are said to have that magical "square" load, thus having better patterns. Personally, I think my 3/4oz 12 gauge has a squarer load (and better pattern), but both the 28 and 16 do seem to pattern well with their proper loading.

IF all I ever used shotguns for was hunting, I would be perfectly happy and capable with a 28 and a 16

 

[MCgunner]

I just ALMOST sprung fo an old stevens made sears branded twice pipe (that's redneck, not ghetto...) in 16 gauge at a gun show a while back, talked him down to $350 tax included and it was in great shape. I'm not sure why I didn't do it, sorta beat myself up for not doing it. But, hell, I'm sure it was a money thing, didn't wanna spend the money. I'm tight when it comes to money and, well, I didn't NEED it, but I did WANT it. :banghead:

IF all I ever used shotguns for was hunting, I would be perfectly happy and capable with a 28 and a 16

Then you don't hunt waterfowl, obviously. Steel shot mandates is what brought back the 10 gauge. I hunt ducks with a 12 and 2 3/4" fasteel 3s, but geese can be way up there on less than optimum days and they're tougher to bring down from altitude. My 10 is the BEST patterniing gun I've ever owned, shoots over 90 percent with steel Ts, standard 40 yard 30". It's a might heavy for doves, though, LOL. That's why I have a 20 for that. 20, 12, and 10 work for me, but I could sub the 28 for the 20 and get away with it if I just wanted to. I don't think the 16 with steel 3, if they make it and I could find and afford it (I do a lot of duck hunting) would work as well for me as the 12, frankly. With lead shot, hell, when I was a kid, I hunted ducks with a 20 gauge and number 5 high brass, deadly. I have NOT found the 3" 20 that patterned worth a toot, so I stick with the 12s on ducks.

As to recoil, what leakywaders says is what I'd THINK in theory, but my 20 with 7/8 ounce loads in a little, light Spartan SxS coach gun is considerably easier on my shoulder than even my Winchester auto in 12 gauge with 7/8 ounce loads. Perhaps the powder charge is lighter. Powder charge is in the recoil equations I've seen. Whatever the reason, the 20 with an equal shot payload IS ligher on my shoulder than a 12. I don't think that's really true of my 16, kicks about like a 12 with 1 ounce payloads, I mean, just using my calibrated shoulder recoil detector.

 

[oneounceload]

Then you don't hunt waterfowl, obviously.

Correct, at least not since they banned lead - my 20 gauge with #4's did a number on ducks, and the 3" #2s did a number on geese in the "old days"

As to recoil, what leakywaders says is what I'd THINK in theory, but my 20 with 7/8 ounce loads in a little, light Spartan SxS coach gun is considerably easier on my shoulder than even my Winchester auto in 12 gauge with 7/8 ounce loads

More likely one gun fits better - besides, the Spartan is FAR from light

 

[murdoc rose]

I don't see either disappearing any time soon.

 

[Tom Held]

vintagers

If anyone one is going down to the Vintager's shoot in Maryland at Pintail Point in September you'll see thousands of unbelievable double guns including a lot of 16 gauge and a few 24 gauge and 32 gauge guns. There are events for all gauges: 10, 12, 16, 20, 24, 32, and 410. Great place for crab cakes and cold beer.