16 Gauge is NOT dead yet....!

cobra81

New member
I bought my first 16 gauge!! Found a deal too good to pass up on a Remington 1100 Classic Field 16 gauge. Must be last year's model, because I don't see it in the 2007 catalog lineup. Found it at Gander Mountain. Located some shells (took a little work!) and then tried some skeet with it. I think I'm going to like this gun! Mild recoil compared to my 12, and it swings great.

Any recommendations on a shell-catcher for the 1100? Those little 16 gauge hulls are a bit precious, and I didn't like having to chase them down all over the skeet range!
 

okiewita40

New member
I love my 16ga. granted it is an old stevens arms model 1893. But it is the sweetest shooting shotgun I have ever used. Jroth thanks for the link. I didn't even know such a site existed.
 

kgpcr

New member
i LOVE my 16ga guns. they are a dream come true for pheasants and upland. lighter and hit just as hard as a 12 and a hell of a lot harder than a 20. the only place they take a back seat to a 12 is waterfowl and i dont hunt the sky carp anymore.
 

BILLDAVE

Moderator
My first shotgun was a singlr shot 16 gage. Still love that shell. I've been looking to get a Browning A5 in 16 gage forever!! The sweetsixteen will make a comeback!!!
BILLDAVE
 

TheDingy

New member
I like the 16ga, it is a great gun between the too light 20 and sometimes too heavy 12ga for me. I have a nice side by side and ou each in 16ga.... The OU works very well for pheasant and quail.
 

mrsr71

New member
16's

I've got four Winchester Model 12's in 16ga with consecutive s/n's. I was contemplating selling 'em but I think I'll hang on to 'em a little while longer :D
 

WIN71

New member
Unknown sourse

This may be an old wives tale or maybe something true in the days before plastic wads. Anyway, years ago I heard that the diameter of the 16 ga. compared to the normal shot column length was ideal for the resulting pattern density. I have no idea if it's true. I do remember killing almost everything running or flying in the late 50's with an exposed hammer 16 ga. double. It was stolen in 1964 and I still miss it ...........
 

paul salchow

New member
When it comes to 16 gauge anything, i will grab it. with what i do in my shop i tend to buy the worst of the worst and restore it no matter what it takes.
My last build was a 5100 SxS 16, the barrels were broken loose and one tube was blown out, some of the internals were missing and it had no wood. i got it for $20.00.
3 months later it's back to better than factory with wood from blanks from Fajen from the 70's extra fancy oh-my god walnut.(what i said when i found it).New 28 inch tubes and recolor cased receiver.
I had the time and the ability but it was a one of a kind rebuild.
 

gak

New member
New to an old thread. Big 5 almost always has 16 ga. Rem field shot available, can almost always find 16 when needed without looking too hard...and not just the obscure shops some detractors claim--though it's true not often a full array of use-loads. I have not tried Wallyworld lately but it seems I found some 16 shells there not too long ago. Other people's experience about avalability?

The (capable) Rodney Dangerfield of the shotgun world. Absolutely a great gauge and the guns that shoot it.
 

.284

New member
My first semi was a Browning Sweet Sixteen. What a pheasant and duck gun that was. I sold it when duck hunting went to steel shot. I wish I had a do-over on that one.
 

JagFarlane

New member
My first shotgun was a single shot Sears 16ga. Was the perfect gun to learn off of for me...sure had a nice swing and could definitely make the clays turn to powder.
 

mpd61

New member
Sears Too!

Still have a J.C. Higgins 16ga Bolt tube feed 26" Mod choke. Size of a 12 gauge but feels and swings like a twenty gauge! Oh yeah paid $50.00 for it about ten years ago!
:D
Now I need a Conneticutt Round frame in 16 Are those good looking!
 

Farmland

New member
What would I ever do without my 16 gauge Remington Sportsman 48, the best semi auto shot gun I have.

This was my grandfathers and I use it for pheasant and rabbit. I never have a problem finding shells for it though.
 

shortwave

New member
Love the sixteens. Would rather use a sixteen for small game over twelve anyday. Wish more people used them, maybe ammo would be more available. Have found if buying anything other than target/field loads, price is crazy. Example: I wanted some #6 Rem. Expresses. Gunshop ordered me 6 boxes(min. quantity he would order), $17.95/box:eek:. Needless to say, if I can get shot I`ll start rolling my own.
 

BigJimP

New member
Any 1 oz shell - in 12ga or 16ga - performs the same balistically...

I'm not saying the 16ga is a waste / but the reality today, is you can make a 12ga behave exactly like a 16ga ( or a 20 ga for that matter with 7/8 oz of shot ). A 12ga shotgun with screw in chokes / and a variety of loads in 1 oz or 7/8 oz is a very versatile gague ....

With Skeet and Sporting Clays competitions in 12, 20, 28ga and .410 / the 16ga got left out a long time ago. Personally, while I reload all 4 gagues - my personal 12ga load is 1 oz of 8's for Trap, Skeet and sporting clays at around 1225 fps - soft shooting, good solid load.
 
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