what was the downfall of the 16 gauge?

[m14nut]

Of all the bore in shotguns, as of late I have been finding that I like the 'ol 16 the best. Not quite the power of a 12, but better off than a 20, my only 16 SxS has proven me well on upland hunts so far.
This guage seems to be the perfect balance between those two other gauges, with light enough loads for quail, grouse and bunnies, and heavy enough # 4's to drop a phesant.
My stevens has a true "16" frame, and at just over 6 pounds, makes for an enjoyable hunt; meaning not having to carry a heavy gun all day.
I am currently finagling to purchase an 1148 in 16 also. It is recoil operated, like an A5, rather than gas operated like an 1100 and the like.

So why, when the 16 bore makes for such a great upland gun, is it that shells are few and far between, and that the gauge is not that "popular" any more? Was the onset of popularity of the 20 the demise of the 16, or was it the versatility and overall popularity of the 12?
It did not get the handle "sweet sixteen" for nuthin...
what are your thoughts?

 

[confed sailor]

isnt the 16 still very popular over in europe?
my 2 cents is we have been swept up in 3 1/2in magnumitis.

 

[LHB1]

IMO the demise of the 16 gauge was caused by the overlapping of loads for 12 gauge and 20 gauge. Loads for 12 gauge range down to 1 oz and loads for 20 range upward to 1 1/4. Just doesn't seem to leave any room for 16 gauge, especially when 16 gauge shotguns are not noticeably lighter than 12 gauge guns. Just my opinion.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

 

[Okiecruffler]

My bet goes to the 3 inch 20ga cartridge. Kinda put the 16 into a nitch that no longer exsisted. Still it's my favorite gauge, probably because my favorite hunting was always upland.

 

[TrapperReady]

IMO, the other posters are right on the money. An ounce of lead shot, being propelled out of a relatively lightweight gun has long been regarded as an "ideal" setup. The 16ga is well set up for that... as long as the gun is scaled down appropriately.

The 20ga frame makes for an even lighter gun, and if the shell manufacturers can still put that same ounce of lead in there (forget how it patterns, since a depressingly large number of hunters never bother), then so much the better. As things progressed, companies sought to streamline their production and optimize revenue and the 16ga didn't have enough going for it to stay in the lineup.

I firmly believe that one of the things that lead to its resurgence has been the skyrocketing of prices among older "collector" guns. Lots of people with no experience with them (myself included), started looking closely at them, since their prices lagged behind those of the more popular guages. However, when folks started buying them, they realized what sweet guns they are. Heck, I've got three, which see me through a good chunk of my hunting.

I currently use a cylinder choked Winchester Model 12 16ga for grouse and woodcock, and sometimes use a 16ga Auto-5 for pheasants. I'm sorely tempted to see if I could reload Hevishot and use the A-5 on ducks. That may be a project the pursue over the summer.

BTW, if I ever fall into a well full of money, I'd be sorely tempted to have a custom 16ga SxS sidelock made on a 20ga frame.

 

[scubie02]

I had an old 16 gge side by side that was one of the only guns to survive all the way through college when I was starving and needed money, partially because it probably wasn't worth selling. Perhaps thats part of why I've always had a soft spot for it. To me they are the "just right" of the Three Bears in a side by side--20's just tend to look too small, 12's too big, but the 16, its "just right". But really for most game except ducks/geese, and of them will do. I've knocked pheasants down with all three, and every other small game in NY too--rabbits, squirrels, grouse. They all work.

 

[berettashotgun]

The 20ga 3" shell and the reluctance of the American public to get what is enough. I am very guilty of overindulgence, the 2 gold 10's , O/U, and SxS in 10ga testify to that. Heck, I got my favorite field shotgun in a 3.5 chamber- 686

 

[bakert]

I've been using a Remington 870 in 16 gauge for a lot of years. The barrel had been chopped off when I got so had a Polychoke put on to make the barrel 21 inches. It does everything that I need in a shotgun. Fairly light and easy to carry and also makes a good house defense gun. Only problem is Wal-Mart and other places don't carry shells, especially the heavier loads at times if at all. Also the shells are higher than 12s or 20s. I agree wiith the posters about the 3" chambered 20 gauge guns causing the 16 to become less popular.

 

[Dave McCracken]

The 16 has been used on stuff up to goose size with gratifying results. Some reasons it has lost its old place with American hunters are....

Magnumitis. No 3" 16 gauge was ever marketed.

Those folks fond of power went with a 12, those wanting portability went to a 20.

Fashion.

And a concentrated effort by gun and ammo makers to eliminate it.

In 1940, there were about 2700 loads available on the market. Right now, less than 300. Since the 16 did nothing unique, the makers de-emphasized it by not making 16 sized frames. Some used 12 gauge frames, Winchester used the Model 12, 20 gauge frame and made a delightful and effective pump upland hunters loved and still do.

But, these last nigh forever, and upland hunting has waned due to the increased urbanization since WWII. With fewer hunters, the 16 has taken a road to oblivion.

For a while, savvy bird hunters bought used 16s for a pittance, loaded their own shells and enjoyed carrying these lighter guns for stuff not requiring a teacup full of 2 shot. But the word got out and now 16s oft run higher than 12s or 20s.

If you have a 16, cherish it. Most are quite usable. As with all older guns, a good smith should go over it and see if it can be used with modern ammo.

 

[tuna]

I've always enjoyed the 16 ga. My first and until this year only one has been a H&R single shot. I left it idle in the back of the safe for many years, or brought it along as a spare gun, but always used either a 12 or 20. Last year I took it out as a primary gun, and was impressed with its performance. This year I came across a good deal on an A5 and snapped it up whistling "happy birthday to me". I've been carrying it constantly this season and love the way it handles.

Only problem is if I don't do my part, I can miss 5 times really fast, as opposed to missing only once with the single shot. But I can shoot faster, so that counts for something, right????:banghead: :banghead: I've gotta put the plug in the mag tube to save me from my stupidity. I have NEVER been able to catch up with a miss, EVER.

 

[PJR]

I'm not sure it was a concerted effort by manufacturers to stamp out the 16 as much as the steadily decreasing demand. Unlike the 12, the 16 isn't a skeet gauge and shells and components aren't as common. If skeet shooters shot 10 gauge, 16 gauge, 24 gauge and 32 gauge shells you can well imagine that those would be the dominant gauges.

The 1 oz. 20 did it major damage as did the trend toward lighter 12 gauge loads and guns. My game gun is a 12 gauge sxs built on a 16 gauge frame and with 1 ounce of shot it's the best of both words.

 

[huntsman]

death of the 16

My favorite chapter (the little gun) in my favorite book (New England grouse shooting) shows that in the early days the 16 was an oddity. The old timers coming out of the muzzle loading era carried the 12 or 10 gauge; foster describes their suspicions about the small bore and its abilities. Their acceptance was only after strenuous field testing , even so by the time the book was written (1942) foster himself was recommending the 20 and 28 gauge for grouse, so even though the 16 got the rep as a upland gauge, the real upland hunters were already looking to lighter carrying guns.
I think PJR nailed it, why carry a 16 in the field when you can get a 12 gauge as light or lighter. Maybe before that meant you had to spend more money, but if the Gold Label takes off I think you’ll see the real death of the 16 as a field gun.

 

[TrapperReady]

if the Gold Label takes off I think you’ll see the real death of the 16 as a field gun.

I sincerely doubt that will happen. In fact, I'd be quite surprised if Gold Label sales will affect 16ga offerings much at all.

BTW, anyone interested in a nice lightweight 12ga should look at the Casear Guerini Magnus Light. I came really, really close to getting one about a month ago, but in the end decided to save the money for another future purpose.

 

[dfaugh]

You nailed it

is it that shells are few and far between, and that the gauge is not that "popular" any more?

I think this has a lot to do with it..As mentioned there was a lot of "overlap" with the others...

However, since many of the new guns are built on a 20 size frame, the weight isn;t all that different, and at least in some circles, we're seeing a resurgence on the 16.

 

[longarm]

my understanding is that because it has not been used in competition like the 12 and 20 has the demand/popularity of it and its components dramatically dropped off.