Has 16 gauge become popular again?

I don't know but when I was in South Dakota bird hunting I couldn't find any 16 gauge shells at one local gun shop and the other only had 2 boxes of high brass #6 shot with dust all over them. It was bad. I'm glad I brought enough 16 gauge shells from home.

No, the 16 isn't becoming more popular. The guys who shoot them tend to love them, but there aren't a lot of new shooters searching for 16 gauges. Certain guns like Browning A5 Sweet 16's, Remington 1100, and a few others will bring a premium in 16ga just because there weren't a lot of them built. Around here you can find all the Ithaca 37 and Winchester model 12 16 gauges you could ever want for under $300. They seem to run about the same price or a little less than 12's, with 20 gauges bringing quite a bit more.

The Walmart near my office in Denver metro has several loadings for 16 and 28 ga prominently displayed in the ammo aisle.

I think the 16 ga. is all but gone. I have about 60 lbs. of 16 ga. ammo left over from my bird hunting days which ended about 30 years ago. I've not seen 16 ga. ammo for sale anywhere for several years.
Its a shame really. All of the males on my mothers side of the family used 16 ga. from my Grandfather to 5-6 Uncles. One of which gave me his 16 ga. Model 12 Winchester while he was still living. Its built on a 20 ga. frame making it 20 ga. light but able to put more shot in the air. The Uncle that gave it to me killed many a rabbit, quail and pheasant with it and I did the same after I got it. Its a beautiful shotgun, easy to carry and dead on. I love it and because of the circumstances by which I came by it it is one of my most cherished possessions

I think maybe the ammo manufacturers put pressure on gun makers to discontinue the 16 to reduce manufacturing costs.... dunno for sure but seems logical.

Hmm? That'd mean I could finally stop hoarding 16ga ammo but availability doesn't seem to have improved yet. We'll have to wait and see, it'll be hard to change the dominance of 12ga, though.

I suspect as the shotgun shooting population ages and dies off the 16 will continue to decline. I see them in use a lot less than I used to. Way back when I used to chase wild quail quite a few guys were always touting the 16, but when I was shooting a Bernardelli 20 I sure couldn't see any temptation to change. The gauge has a loyal following, and there have been many good guns chambered for it, but it isn't growing in popularity. We all have our idiosyncrasies; I like the 28.

There has been a revival of the 16 gauge shotgun. I see more of them in the sport of Field Clays. I suspect it has much ti do with the popularity of the older classic shotguns.

The 16ga.com is still going strong despite loss of its original founder. Local chain sporting good retailer had Kent Bismuth 16ga shells for less than 12ga and 20ga loads. Maybe there is resurgence of sorts I don't know. What I know is one can get very light sxs once made by A.H. Fox and Parker Bros. (on small frame). The A.H. Fox were made by automaker from Philadelphia PA and Parkers were made someplace in NE USA though they had nothing to do with Parker pens. Many wonderful 16ga from Europe are still going strong. Makers were: Sauer, Linder, Guyot, Merkel, Auguste Francotte, Merkel, Fanzoj,......

Yep, most newbie shotgunners clamber towards the 12 and 20. 16 is an old man's round without a real purpose.

It'll be dead in 20 years.

The Walmart here has a couple boxes of 16ga----but its still quite dead

Bought 2 boxes of 16 gauge slugs today. I want to shoot my Dad's old Remington 1100 16 gauge & the outdoor DNR range I use only allows slugs. Says they had too much target stand damage with shot.

16 may be dying, but I have good memories of hunting with this one!

I've always liked 16 as a pheasant and upland gun. I have one 16ga. , my grandpa's H&R single. The only hunting he did was pheasant, and a lot of it. My oldest son will get it when I feel he's ready.

I don't think it's becoming real popular again, but it ain't dead yet, either. I own one and I love it, and have another new one in my sights...
http://www.browning.com/products/firearms/shotguns/a5/current-production/a5-sweet-sixteen.html

or even this...
http://www.browning.com/products/firearms/shotguns/bps/limited-availability/bps-medallion.html

It'll be dead in 20 years.

That's what they said 40 years ago! Though loadings and shot sizes are limited, ammo is widely available on the internet. Even non - toxic waterfowl loads.

The 16 has been in decline since the 3" 20 gauge hit the market. It is not coming back, but will not go away. Too many good old guns chambered in 16. Been seriously thinking of adding a 16 Ga. model 12 to the herd. When I see the right one at the right price, I shall do so. Carries like a 20, hits like a 12. Most vintage 16's I have seen were built on a 20 gauge frame. A 16 Ga. Model 12 is a sweet handling shotgun.

Two things must occur if the popularity of 16 ga is to return; drop the price of 16 ga. ammo and put more of it on the LGS shelves. I enjoy shooting clays with my SxS 16. The shells have 3/4 as much shot as 12 ga, and the gun is lighter and easier to swing than my 12 ga SxS. However, I can buy three boxes of 12ga for what I pay for one box of 16. When I can find it.

The same shotgun in different gauges:

12 ga $100
20 ga $80
16 ga $70
410 $200
10 ga $200
28 ga $300

Every place I go into around here that sells ammo, has 16 ga. ammo, including Walmart. It's been that way right along, no problem at getting it at all.

Maybe not a lot of choices and a buck more a box, but it's always there...

DM

Here in the UK 16 bore cartridges are generally expensive compared to other calibres. Nice old shotguns can often be bought quite cheaply as a consequence.

The 16 ga I would think is more of a personal choice. If you see a lot for sale .....it could be folks are just getting rid of them.

bersaguy said:

Is 16ga making a comeback?
Is the Ithaca 37 becoming collectable?
Or were these fellas at the show all smoking the same stuff?

Click to expand...

No.
Yes.
Probably.

16ga. works just fine for me!



DM