16 or 20 ?

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linderhof

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I think I deserve a new shotgun this year. I already own a couple Citoris ( 12, 20) but I have a lust for a SxS. Really in my budget the CZ Bobwhite is what I'm thinking of. Can't decide on going with a 20 or 16. Never owned a 16 kind of curious about them. Don't want to get a 12 guage sized frame with a 16 though. I hunt grouse and woodcock in Eastern Timbered cover and also like to train my pointing dog on preserve pheasants about once a month. Is the 16 something I am missing out on?
 
I have a CZ Bobwhite in 16 bore. I have used it for one season on Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock. The 26" barrels make the gun handle like a dream. (the straight grip stock is nice also) quality far exceeds the asking price. I would not even consider a 20.(that's why I own several 16's and NO 20's.

Darryl
 
Don't know much about either but if it were me i'd buy the 20. No real reason to give you why but thats the trail i'd pick. YMMV
 
I've never owned a 16, but my grandfather did. I think he fired maybe a box fo shells in 30 years out of it. When he passed away, my brother inherited it, and from then until now, i'm not sure he's fired it in 6 years or so. Something to think about is, when was the last time you saw 16g ammo for sale? I find it hard enough to find 20g around here. Plus, there's not much you can do with a 16 that you can't do with a 20.
 
16 gauge ammo availability is sporadic and difficult to come by in some locations. When available it is much more expensive than 12 gauge ammo of similar performance. This is one of the gauges where reloading pays off but no decent reloadable hulls are made anymore as the WW compression formed hull was discontinued decades ago. With this said I must admit that the 16 gauge is my favorite gauge for light upland and crow shooting.
 
16ga owners and 28ga owners. They are a breed all their own and have discovered what the best gauges for upland hunting really are.
A 16ga with some old paper imperials on a fall morning with a Britt at your size doesn't get any better.
I have a few 16ga and lover them all but I also reload which is nice since down east ammo is harder to find. If ammo is no issue buy the 16ga
 
Science and ballistics have proven that we 16 bore lovers have nothing to stand on when defending or comparing the 16 to the 20. BUT note I said lovers and that is what the 16 and all of it's attributes develop in certain people including me. I have often heard other hunters say to me, "what are you shooting?... oh cool a 16 ga" That suggests to me that there are alot of other 16 bore lovers out there that just don't know it yet.

Darryl
 
3macs1 said:
16ga owners and 28ga owners. They are a breed all their own and have discovered what the best gauges for upland hunting really are.
A 16ga with some old paper imperials on a fall morning with a Britt at your size doesn't get any better.
I have a few 16ga and lover them all but I also reload which is nice since down east ammo is harder to find. If ammo is no issue buy the 16ga
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Well I do have a Brittany so the SxS 16 needs to follow!
 
linderhof said:
I think I deserve a new shotgun this year. I already own a couple Citoris ( 12, 20) but I have a lust for a SxS. Really in my budget the CZ Bobwhite is what I'm thinking of. Can't decide on going with a 20 or 16. Never owned a 16 kind of curious about them. Don't want to get a 12 guage sized frame with a 16 though. I hunt grouse and woodcock in Eastern Timbered cover and also like to train my pointing dog on preserve pheasants about once a month. Is the 16 something I am missing out on?
Click to expand...


16ga is something different to experience, but I found it to be close enough to a 20ga, so that's what I stick with. 16ga ammo is not as commonly available as the 20ga and not as many choices in shot size kept in stock on the shelves of smaller gun shops (if any at all). But let this be your deciding factor..if the receiver is the same size as a 12ga, then forget it, because it takes away the grace of owning and handling a smaller gauge shotgun if the gun is a 12ga receiver. So if the 20ga is smaller, go with the 20ga and you'll enjoy it better every time you look at it and handle it.
 
A person has 10 months to prepare for two months of hunting if a person can not have there act together to have ammo in hand ,maybe they should take up golf. I hear this comment all the time about ammo rifle and shotgun it is ridiculous reasoning. Just my rant don't mean to offend anyone. I allmost forgot i have many 16ga guns .
 
There is nothing like a 16 built on the proper frame for upland hunting. The CZ Bobwhite is a great gun for the money. I have never held a 16 gauge Bobwhite to know what it's like for handling/carrying in the field. I do however have a CZ Ringneck in 12 gauge and I think it is heavy for a field gun and doesn't handle near as nice as some of my older doubles. Unless you do a ton of shooting, the extra price for 16 gauge shells does not influence me. I have doubles in all gauges and I would opt for the 16.
 
To the OP:

As much as I like the Bobwhite shotgun.....if you are able to, I suggest that you first handle both the 20 and 16 versions.

Something to note, you will find the 16ga Bobwhite aprox 7lbs+ (the Ringneck model a little more in the same gauge). Personally speaking, the balance (more influenced by the receiver weight) did not appeal to me and I had owned/tried two 16ga Bobwhites and eventually let those go, albeit reluctantly. Nevertheless, the Bobwhites in any gauge are good field models and certainly a great bargain in a traditional SxS shotgun inside that price range.

The 20ga Bobwhite (average 6.9lbs) is well balanced overall despite being somewhat barrel heavy (read 3in chambers).
 
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