I bought a Remington model 11( same as a Browning auto 5 google model 11 for history, very interesting) last year in 16 ga on a whim. Great caliber, no issues with ammo. You may not find it at Canadian Tire or Wal Mart, but any good sporting shop should have some. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another 16. As already stated, carries like a 20 hits like a 12.
16 or 20 ?
- Thread starter linderhof
- Start date
On the ammo it really depends where you live in this dam country. I have to drive 9 hours one way to hit a decent gun shop and yes when I am there at least once a year I stock up. I hunted a few times out your way and I can assure you it would be quite a shock for you to see what we have to draw from down here. I had to order rifle ammo this year from Alberta and pay unreal courier charges for some 280 and 7mm08 ammo which you have on the shelf. Take care
The website lists the 12g Bobwhite at 7lbs, the 16 at 6.6lbs and the 20 at 6.0lbs. I will be getting it with 26" barrels so that may change the balance a bit compared to a 28" version. Unfortunately i can't handle a CZ because nobody stocks them here and I will have to order through Prophet River guns.
+1
Although I own shotguns (sxs's exclusively) in all the common gauges, most of my shooting is done with a 16.
gunsaholic
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Winnipeg, Manitoba
That depends on the make of gun. I have an English 12 gauge and a German 16 and 12 gauge that handle better and are as light as a nice little Spanish 20 I have. One would really have to handle the gun to see if it fits the shooter.
16ga vs 20 ga SxS. First, I am a 16ga lover and am for several reasons. I have owned and hunted with many 20ga SxS's for around 45 years with most averaging 6.5 lbs. My 16's average the same with a bit larger payload. A 1oz load in a 20 in 2 3/4 or 3 inch simply does not pattern well. I now own 8 sixteen gauge guns and only one twenty gauge. why? Simply put and ignoring the hype of 20ga shells being cheaper and more available -- I just find that in the field I have less cripples with a 16ga than a twenty. For what it's worth just a casual observation from 45 years of hunting. Besides a 16 is super cool!
Cheers
Cheers
Sounds like your 20ga had a bad combination of shot size/ounce and choke size, but to say 20 gauges do not pattern well is just simply wrong. All shotguns, no matter what gauge, should be patterned on paper until the proper shot size/ounce works with the choke of the gun for the average distance you will be shooting.
Also, to let everyone know, the problem with locating 16ga ammo is because small stores can not afford to keep ammo in inventory that is not common to most hunters and target shooters. Small stores may try to keep some amounts on hand, but what happens is when a 16ga shooter arrives at the store he will buy it all for himself, leaving other 16ga shooters dry and empty. Sorry, but that's a fact.
So if you are shooting 16ga, the best thing to do is order enough cases of it to last you all the hunting seasons of your life. Or take up reloading.
If your just hunting with it,the 16ga would be fine. If your a clay target shooter,get the 20. Ive never seen cheap target shells in 16ga,nor have I seen anyone use a 16 in skeet or sporting clays. I used to shoot a 16,but now I just keep 12's and a 20,and one lonely old 410.
I agree. They even had 16 gauge slugs.
I shoot 16 at Skeet, Trap a SC'S -- Like a lot of 12 and 20ga shooters, I reload.
All I said is that Ihave never found a 20ga load in any shot size that would pattern as good as a 16.
I successfully shoot all the clays games & hunt with my 16s
Maybe you don't get out enough
Ahsan Ahmed
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
The 16ga Bobwhite is available with 26in bbls only and if the advertised weight was true then I'd still have one at least. The 20ga doesn't weigh 6lbs either.
James--what would you know about a 16 gauge SxS?
Brian, I didn't know you had any of them newfangled hammer less guns! When yer shooting' them new things, tell me, doesn't your thumb feel a bit useless?
Completely agree. I shoot 16's and I hunt waterfowl and won't use steel. I am always on the lookout for the right shells and I always have plenty even at the end of the season.
UPDATE:
A member here ( thanks Ahsan ) just pointed out that the bobwhite does not have multichokes in 16 gauge, why I don't know. That is a deal breaker for me. looks like I will go for a 20 gauge instead, I just don't want to give up having the flexibility of multichokes.
A member here ( thanks Ahsan ) just pointed out that the bobwhite does not have multichokes in 16 gauge, why I don't know. That is a deal breaker for me. looks like I will go for a 20 gauge instead, I just don't want to give up having the flexibility of multichokes.
LuckyStrike
CGN Regular
- Location
- Vancouver Island
16gauge LC Smith
A number of years ago,a dear pal of mine was selling his friend's sxs LC Smith in 16 bore.
He had it at a number of gun shows and slowly I was being convinced that I should buy it. It had been the pet shotgun for years of his good friend , now passed on.
Around the 4th time he had it at a show and after much fondling and appraisal by guys who appreciate such fine things, I was given the option of buying the gun over time. I'd heard all kinds of stories about 16's having ideal patterns, and being the perfect bore. It also came with a pile of ammo, which made the deal even sweeter, but I did need to be convinced.
The last year that lead shot could be used on waterfowl , my friend and I made a bird hunting trip to Saskatchewan. That little LC became quite a star, I'll never forget that trip. On both upland and ducks ... I have never shot more consistantly. My fav. shotgun ever.
I'm on the hunt now for some bismuth in 5's or 6's to use next year. If I can't locate some factory ammo, I may have to delve into reloading.....
btw... she is choked IC and Mod.
Lucky
A number of years ago,a dear pal of mine was selling his friend's sxs LC Smith in 16 bore.
He had it at a number of gun shows and slowly I was being convinced that I should buy it. It had been the pet shotgun for years of his good friend , now passed on.
Around the 4th time he had it at a show and after much fondling and appraisal by guys who appreciate such fine things, I was given the option of buying the gun over time. I'd heard all kinds of stories about 16's having ideal patterns, and being the perfect bore. It also came with a pile of ammo, which made the deal even sweeter, but I did need to be convinced.
The last year that lead shot could be used on waterfowl , my friend and I made a bird hunting trip to Saskatchewan. That little LC became quite a star, I'll never forget that trip. On both upland and ducks ... I have never shot more consistantly. My fav. shotgun ever.
I'm on the hunt now for some bismuth in 5's or 6's to use next year. If I can't locate some factory ammo, I may have to delve into reloading.....
btw... she is choked IC and Mod.
Lucky
