Your favorite 16 Gauge Shotgun

[andrewdl007]

I love 16 GA shotguns. When I was around 12 I started using my dad's 16GA Winchester 21 that had been passed down through the family since my great grandfather bought it new in 1936. That shotgun made me fall in love with the 16GA and i want to get more. I particularly would like to get my hands on a 16 Gauge Winchester model 12 and a A5. Who out there has a favorite shotgun in 16? Pictures would be great. I looked for one of mine, but cant find any. I will have to correct that soon.

 

[Dryft]

I would love a 16 gauge - but the lack of availability of shells keeps holding me back. What do you do about it?

Either way, I'm jealous!

 

[Mr. T]

A-5 Browning "Sweet 16"...that gun is the best shotgun I've ever worked with.

 

[denster]

Mine is a SXS French guild gun built in the 1930's.

 

[chas08]

I have four, all pumps. Winchester Model 12, Ithaca Model 37, Remington Model 31, and an old Stevens 520. I love them all for different reasons.

The Model 12 is the smoothest, the Model 37 is the best fitting and the lightest. The Model 31 exudes the quality in a pump gun from a bygone era and much like the model 12, handles nicely. The Model 520 has the most unique takedown feature I've ever seen on a pumpgun, but doesn't fit me as well as some of the others. All are choked Modified except for the 520 which is Full.

I would like to own an O/U in 16ga, A Browning Citori perhaps someday, but I'm unsure if they are scaled to gauge. I've never had trouble finding ammo. The UPS man drops them off at my doorstep a couple of flats at a time. A great gauge when the gun is scaled to gauge.

 

[eastbank]

my three 16ga,s, a double barreled baker batavia leader in 16ga., a winchester model 12 in 16ga., and a older remington 1100 in 16ga. all are 16ga. scaled recievers. eastbank.

 

[Guns and more]

I have the Iver Johnson 16 ga. that my dad took when we went hunting.
It's a single shot and I think he had it when he was a kid (circa 1920).
He thought the barrel was too long, so he took a hacksaw to it, drilled a hole for a front sight, and put a twig in the hole to aim.
I learned everything I know about gun safety on those day walks.
I'll never sell it.
I have one 16 ga. shell as a memento. I wonder if it would even fire?

 

[Beach Nut]

I agree with Mr. T, a Browning Sweet 16 is a bird hunting machine and
a pleasure to shoot. It swings on target so naturally, like it's an extension
of your arms.

 

[Remo223]

I have a belgian sweet sixteen. very good bird gun. Another I really like is a monkey-wards model 35 16ga. That's a good shotgun in any gauge. 16 ga guns are the perfect power level for birds. You can literally should unlimited shells and never get a shoulder bruise even if you don't have a padded shirt or rubber butt pad. They are more powerful than a 20ga magnum so they are better than 20ga.

The sweet sixteen and the model 35 seem to have better ergonomics compared to other shotgun brands. I prefer the semi-pistol grip shape of the model 35 just a little bit better.

 

[451 Detonics]

Winchester Model 24, these were built on a 20ga frame, mine has the 26 inch barrels choked IC/Mod. Perfect upland game gun with 7/8 ounce loads.

 

[6x6pinz]

Best shooting 16ga I have ever fired 11-48 Remington

 

[35Rem]

Eastbank, the 1100 is based on a 12 ga frame. I have one and love it.

My favorite is my grandfather's Remington Model 11. Much like the OP. I nver knew him, though. He passed 11 years before I was born. It's my best connection with him and has fueled a love of Remingtons and the 16 ga.

 

[Bud Tugly]

Back in my youth the 16 was a very popular choice for the man who could only afford one gun. Enough punch for most waterfowl but 1/2 pound to 1 pound lighter (if properly designed) than a 12 so it carried easier in the field.

IMO the 3" 20 gauge shell and the ban on lead shot for waterfowl are what made many turn away from the 16. Plus it seems like lots more folks can afford to have 2 or more shotguns these days.

If they'd come out with a 3" chambered 16 it might regain its popularity for hunters. I wonder why they don't?

 

[olafhardtB]

16 gauge

My current 16 is a Stevens 335. l put a straight English stock on it. It seems really nice. l can always find a few boxes of shells at Wally World.

 

[03Shadowbob]

Here is my favorite. Beautiful and slick action on this almost 100 year old gun.

 

[oneounceload]

You might want to check out the folks here:

http://www.16ga.com/

 

[Grousefeather]

16ga

Mine is a French St. Etiene, SXS, 27" barrels, open chokes for a euro gun, narrow sling swivels, very classic. My go-to gun for grouse and woodcock.

 

[mnrivrat]

all are 16ga. scaled recievers

Model 12 Winchester . I appreciate the guns that are scaled to the guage.

I personaly shoot the 20ga. , But for a 16ga I will take the Model 12.

 

[Gordon]

My Winchester 24 16 ga SxS is exactly like 451's and it is very close to my heart since it was made in 1946 like me.
My French Darne Pheasant weighs right at 6 pounds and is very posh, it is saved to shut up snobs.
I too have a wonderfull 1940 Remington 31 Deluxe 16ga and it IS the "Ball Bearing Corn Shucker" as advertised!
I have others, I rarely shoot 16 ga Lately due to the steel shot requirement of Condor Country. Ah things were better in the Olde Days and it sucks getting old!

 

[Remo223]

Back in my youth the 16 was a very popular choice for the man who could only afford one gun. Enough punch for most waterfowl but 1/2 pound to 1 pound lighter (if properly designed) than a 12 so it carried easier in the field.

IMO the 3" 20 gauge shell and the ban on lead shot for waterfowl are what made many turn away from the 16. Plus it seems like lots more folks can afford to have 2 or more shotguns these days.

If they'd come out with a 3" chambered 16 it might regain its popularity for hunters. I wonder why they don't?

I think you got it all wrong. A short fat shell is better than a long skinny shell. I'll take a 16 over a 20ga magnum any day. I don't even own a 12 or a 20ga. But I got every other gauge made.

 

[ky40601]

Here's mine.

Browning Belgium Auto-5 Sweet Sixteen Improved Cylinder (1971)

 

[Bud Tugly]

Remo, I certainly agree. Most 16's will pattern better than a 20 with an equivalent load, but how many people take time to compare? IMO many people just saw that the 3" 20 overlaps the available loads for a 16 and that's a major reason why most folks gravitate toward a 12 or 20 while ignoring 16's.

It's a shame because a 3" 16 would probably still make it an ideal all-arounder, but the manufacturers don't want to go there.

 

[Remo223]

^if they are going to invent a new shell, I'd want a short 10ga before a long 16ga. I've been saying for years and years I wish they would make a 2-1/4" 10ga shell and a shotgun with a short action to shoot it.

 

[451 Detonics]

For the same reason a 2 3/4 16ga patterns better than a 20ga 3" and 12ga 2 3/4 would be better than the 3" 16. The 12 is still probably one of the top all around gauges with the ability to shoot 3/4 ounce loads and up. I really like my 16's but for something requiring a much heavier load like geese I will always reach for the 12.

 

[beachnutjim]

I've got a bolt action Mossberg 16 gauge with poly choke that I got in a trade for an old catcher's mitt in the mid sixties. Did a lot of small game hunting with it back in Nebraska in my youth.