16 gauge coming back?

BigUglyMan said:
Thanks to the rolled-cuff and moustache-wax crew, the 16 is the greatest thing to hit the upland fields. At least, that's what the world would have us think. The 16 has been around and popular for years and has done great work. Apparently, you're not an upland hunter of any import unless you carry one, unless you carry a 28 which makes you even more relevant.

Only luddites like me carry a 12 anymore.
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Get rid of the chiip. Life is so much nicer that way.

The rolled cuff and mustache crowd? I'm 63. A M12 16 was the first shotgun I ever bought when I was in my teens and have had over a dozen all told. But I also have 12, 20's, 28's and a lone .410.

The guys I know with 16's are a lot more like me than some hipsters afield.
 
Unfortunately, some 16 gauge guns carry like a heavy 12 and hit like a light 20.
Old promotional phrases are not that convincing.
16 gauge guns are not magic, but a really nice one does the job, just like they always have.
 
saskbooknut said:
Unfortunately, some 16 gauge guns carry like a heavy 12 and hit like a light 20.
Old promotional phrases are not that convincing.
16 gauge guns are not magic, but a really nice one does the job, just like they always have.
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Exactly !

I love 16s and I love Remington 1894s. But Ill never need a 7 pound 16 so I'll never buy a Remington 1894 in 16 gauge.
 
I would be interested to know how many of the 16ga guns the fish cops are looking at are old European doubles, such as the pipes of guns trade ex has brought in over the last 5 years.

I also wonder what seeing a lot more of em actually means - one or two a year is a lot more if you used to only see them once every few years for example.
 
Ah the 16, everyman’s compromise for when a 12 is not needed and a 20 just might not be quite enough. My first shotgun, an Iver Johnson single and also my second were 16’s and in a gun designed and built to be a true 16 rather than a 12 with a smaller hole they may be the most delightful upland shotgun of all.
 
I just bought one off of the ee. Still enroute, not held it or shot it yet. It’s just been something that’s been on my want list for a long time. I didn’t have a 16ga or a sxs. Figured I’d check both boxes the same time. I’m probably not going to shoot it a lot but it will most likely push me in the direction of starting to re loading for shotguns. Much like 45-70 did for rifles.
Anyone have a recommendation on a source for 16 ga components? I’m guessing wads are the least common thing to find?
Actually any tips on re loading for 16ga would be helpful.
 
sspike said:
I just bought one off of the ee. Still enroute, not held it or shot it yet. It’s just been something that’s been on my want list for a long time. I didn’t have a 16ga or a sxs. Figured I’d check both boxes the same time. I’m probably not going to shoot it a lot but it will most likely push me in the direction of starting to re loading for shotguns. Much like 45-70 did for rifles.
Anyone have a recommendation on a source for 16 ga components? I’m guessing wads are the least common thing to find?
Actually any tips on re loading for 16ga would be helpful.
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I don’t reload myself but for reloading information my understanding is it’s hard to beat the 16 Gauge Society forum. It’s almost the whole point of the place.
 
16ga.com is one of two good sources of loading information. The other source is the consolidated spreadsheet of data that comes from the 16 gauge users group that used to be on Yahoo. This spreadsheet is now located on 24-hour Campfire forum.
The most commonly available 16 gauge hulls are Federal, Fiocchi and Cheddite, which need wads for straight walled hulls. There are two good ones commonly available - Ballistics Products calls them SG-16 and Z-16. SG- 16 is a Guilandi wad, and the Z-16 is a Bashieri & Pellagri wad. Precision Reloading has different designations for the same wads. Canadian sources for these wads are Sporteque or Bilozir.
Newer production Winchester 16 gauge are loaded in Cheddite hulls.

There is a Claybuster clone of the old Winchester AA-16 wad, but the only commonly available tapered hull is the Remington Game load hull. The AA-16 clone is not a good fit in straight wad hulls, leading to powder migration and bloopers. The Remington Game load hulls that I have are short, closer to 2 1/2 inch hulls. You need to use a very dense powder to make nice reloads in these short hulls with the AA-16 clone wad.
Remington 16 gauge has been out of production for a while now, with the bankruptcy of Remington.
 
sspike said:
I just bought one off of the ee. Still enroute, not held it or shot it yet. It’s just been something that’s been on my want list for a long time. I didn’t have a 16ga or a sxs. Figured I’d check both boxes the same time. I’m probably not going to shoot it a lot but it will most likely push me in the direction of starting to re loading for shotguns. Much like 45-70 did for rifles.
Anyone have a recommendation on a source for 16 ga components? I’m guessing wads are the least common thing to find?
Actually any tips on re loading for 16ga would be helpful.
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I highly recommend reloading for the 16 guage. The only factory 16 guage ammo I regularily see on store shelves is 1 oz at 1275 fps from Federal and I can tell you from experience they are not pleasant to shoot from a light weight sxs! I load 1 oz at 1150 fps using Universal powder and an AA wad, the difference in recoil and muzzle blast is incredible!
I haven't purchased wads for a few years so I have no tips to give you there.
 
Federal has a 1 ounce Game Load at about 1165 fps.
This load is commonly available in #6 shot at Cabela's and Can Tire.
 
First shotgun I fired was a 16ga Winchester Model 12.
Only 16 I own is a Remington 11-48 skeet gun made in the '50s.
 
Some manufacturers such as Franchi are now manufacturing 16g doubles. No surprise to me that Franchi is offering 16g firearms given that they target the upland game bird market and the popularity of 16g still has within the upland community.

Its crazy to me to think that manufacturers are producing 410 doubles on a more frequent basis than 16g. I cant image that 410 doubles would outsell a 16g
 
1963beretta said:
Some manufacturers such as Franchi are now manufacturing 16g doubles. No surprise to me that Franchi is offering 16g firearms given that they target the upland game bird market and the popularity of 16g still has within the upland community.

Its crazy to me to think that manufacturers are producing 410 doubles on a more frequent basis than 16g. I cant image that 410 doubles would outsell a 16g
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I agree... but then when I look closer I see that my 16 doubles outnumber my 410 doubles 2 to 1! :)
 
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