SlowFuse
Member
I recently purchased my first 16 gauge, a Rem 11-48. I wish it were a little more popular, not exactly easy to find ammo locally. I do however love shooting it, the recoiling barrel is interesting.
Your thoughts on the 16 gauge?
- Thread starter leadcounsel
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What can be done with 16ga can be done even better with light weight 12ga. The recoil in light weight 12ga shotgun (6lb to 6&1/2lb double) can be made reasonable with light weight loads which are available in 2", 2.5", 67mm, and 2&3/4" shotshells.
Furncliff
Member
The 16ga is one of those things that just never quite caught on. Now the expense and limited availability of ammo gives everyone pause before buying a used one. A friend of mine had a great sxs 16ga, can't recall the make. It was as smooth as silk and fit me like a glove. Told him if he ever decided to sell it, to call me first. He didn't and some guy who had a trade he wanted talked him out of it. So, I almost had a really good one...close, but no cigar
splattergun
Member
My girlfriend shoots a Sweet 16, so I bought a 16 ga conversion kit for my Lee loadall2 and she loads for it. I took her S16 grouse hunting last fall and it was a joy to shoot.
When I saw an old Western field 16 pump in the lgs a few months ago for cheap, I reasoned that it only made sense, as I already had the reloading gear for it. I dont know if it's built on a 12 frame, but it's lighter than my Mossberg 500 12 ga and shoots just as hard. Counting down to grouse season.
When I saw an old Western field 16 pump in the lgs a few months ago for cheap, I reasoned that it only made sense, as I already had the reloading gear for it. I dont know if it's built on a 12 frame, but it's lighter than my Mossberg 500 12 ga and shoots just as hard. Counting down to grouse season.
ccsniper
member
others have already said it, but the 20 gauge has really come into its own over the past couple of decades. Used to be that people thought quite little of the 20 gauge and generally for good reason. I personally love the 16 gauge, but I don't own one, ammo is just too expensive for the amount I would want to shoot it. Many furry little animals and turkeys have been taken by the sweet 16.
J-Bar
Member
At one time I owned a 16 gauge side by side and a 12 gauge superposed.
I went dove hunting on opening day with the 12 gauge, got in the blind, loaded it just as the sun came up. The gun went click click when the first two birds flew by. I found I had dropped a pair of 16 gauge shells that had been left in my coat pocket into the 12's chambers and they fell forward and jammed out of reach in the chambers.
Ok it was stupid and yes there are ways to prevent it, but I just made myself a promise to never again give Murphy's Law a chance. At this time I own 12 and .410 gauge shotguns. I am not going to mess with 20's or 16's because I don't want to mess with any ammunition problems like I had before.
I went dove hunting on opening day with the 12 gauge, got in the blind, loaded it just as the sun came up. The gun went click click when the first two birds flew by. I found I had dropped a pair of 16 gauge shells that had been left in my coat pocket into the 12's chambers and they fell forward and jammed out of reach in the chambers.
Ok it was stupid and yes there are ways to prevent it, but I just made myself a promise to never again give Murphy's Law a chance. At this time I own 12 and .410 gauge shotguns. I am not going to mess with 20's or 16's because I don't want to mess with any ammunition problems like I had before.
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