Why no more 16 gauge?

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The English believe a man should shoot a 12 gauge and regard the 16 as being best left to effete members of the aristocracy who were caned so often in private school they began to like it and large rawboned women of uncertain sexual preference.

i like the theory... but i am not sure its true
 
My daughter and I have been shooting hand guns and rifles together for about ten years. I think she needs a new challenge and recently uncased an Ithaca SXS in 16 that my wife gave me for Christmas 30 some years ago. Truth be told I was never any good with it, but I'm looking forward to trying it again. I was planing to order shells but was surprised to find the Walmart in town had a couple of choices.
 
First gun I ever hunting with was a 16 ga automatic (truth be told I'm not even positive on the brand - it was my uncle's gun that my dad borrowed for me to hunt with before I had my own).

For dog driving deer with buckshot they were great guns.

Alas, I have to say that while I would like to buy one for nostalgic purposes, between my 12ga's and my 20ga there's no gap in usefulness that needs filling.
 
re;16

I say-let's face it.There is a niche for the venerable 16.I use 12's & 20's for skeet because of the price and ready availability of ammo.Bird hunting,since I don't go everyday,is special and the 16 NID goes along.Also the 28.I have 3 16gas.NID,Rem 11-48,ancient Riverside sxs with ears.Paid a grand total of $800 for all three and love 'em all.There's just something about birding with a 16.Nostalgia I guess.Same reason I like old shotguns over new.Everyone who has several shotguns should have at least one 16 in their collection.You may be surprised how often you take it huntiing.:)
 
It's a shame it seems, with all these company's revamping shells and rounds that the 16 never got its own 3 inch mag version, or perhaps even a 3.25. Version. I think I'm going to be keeping my eye out for a Browning a 5 sweet 16. Being that was one of the few true built to be 16 gushed frame, insteed of just slapping it on a 12 gauge gram.

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If there was a 16 Gauge 3 inch magnum it would have killed off the 12 gauge, just as the 3 1/2 inch 12 gauge is killing off the 10 gauge.

With a 3 inch 16 gauge and the 28 gauge there is no need for the 10,12,20, and 410!!

I think as time go's on the 16 will become more popular as hunting area's will demand smaller shot payloads and non toxic shot. A 1 oz. load from a 16 will do the same job as 1 1/4 oz. from a 12 gauge.
 
A Place For the 16GA.

The article (link) posted by ATLDave brings up a good point. While the 20 and 12 both have a place, and I own both (SKB550 20ga. and Ainsley Fox 12 ga. Sterlingworth), I still love my Ithaca Featherlight 16. The Fox goes with me for open country pheasant, and the SKB is a nice little woodcock gun, but the Ithaca was my only shotgun at first

It's light enough to carry all day in tough cover, throws enough shot to get that grouse before he can duck behind the nearest tree, and will knock down a mallard that I "jump" while walking alongside a stream. Yes, I can get as much shot and velocity from a 3" 20ga., but the tube is smaller, and the shot string is longer. It's easier to miss a 50mph bird with the 20 ga.
 
I think everyone talking about a rebirth for the 16 is experiencing wishful thinking. They've been saying it for 40 years. It is what it is. It's not dying, but it isn't growing either.
 
Virginian, thats because the stupid gun companys want to make 12 gauge HD guns as cheaply as possible.

The loading company's are making a huge proffet from the 20 gauage shells, same price but less materials (less powder/shot).
 
My first buck with both antlers intact was taken with a 16ga loaned from a family friend. I don't remember the make or model, just that it was a 16ga with purple shells.


Buck was about 20 yards away staring right at me, I centered the bead on his chest.. click.. forgot to chamber a shell.. done... re-aim bang flop.
Dropped my buck in his tracks with a lucky pellet in the brain. 5 points, still have the antlers with the buck-shot hole in the skull at my father's place.

yeah, it was a shotgun rut kill. Back then I apparently hunted with some people who didn't follow all the rules and I hadn't yet become privy to them.


Did the 10ga kill of the 8ga? Wish i could get one of those in safetyl shootable condition for under an $armandleg.99 + tax
 
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The 12ga comes in from 2" to 3.5" shell lengths with extra light game guns weighing <6lb to 8lb+ wildfowling guns so there is no need for the 16ga. What can be accomplished with 16br can be surpassed with purpose built 12br.
 
Every time a gun company makes a run of 16s they last forever and ever. Not even those that like them are willing to fork over the money for a gun that won't really do anything their other guns can't do, and unless they reload, will cost more for ammo that is harder to find in wide variety.
 
Please name one. There was 3 inch un-crimped made but it was not 3 inch over all. So I say again please name a company which made a true 3 inch 16 gauge shotgun.

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Sorry, I haven't seen any 3" 16 gauge guns or shells. Yet.

Since the 16 is a superb performer with either an oz or 7/8 oz of shot, I do not expect to see any 3" versions.

If you need for than an oz of shot for something, maybe a 16 is not the best choice....
 
I do believe there were a few Winchester 21's built chambered in 16ga 3", and numerous others.
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Your original post got my curiosity going. So I googled it several different ways, checked the 16ga Society website, and a couple of other forums. I drew blanks everywhere I looked. If they were numerous they would be easy to find, if they in fact did exist. So now I'm through looking. Personally, I think that for what a 16ga, is, the 2 3/4" version is all that I will ever need or want.
 
Same here.This did get my curiosity spiked.I did some googleing myself, and looked at a number of cartridge collecting sites and turned up nothing.Would like to see an example. If the world of firearms has taught me something, that would be to never say never. I'm sure somebody has probably tried it.
 
You must not have looked very hard on the 16ga site,
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I have an ancient English double-barrel shotgun, sixteen gauge of course, that fires three inch shells.
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I saw a box of winchester 3"-16ga shells on gun broker 3 or 4 months ago,Starting price $1600.00.
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Nope, that one got by me. I thought we were talking modern day "American" stuff, not special runs. And all this time I thought $3.00 a shot to kill Ducks was expensive...lol...chas
 
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