Advice Wanted...16 or 20 ga break action?

R

Rutger

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I'm looking to get a light gauge shotgun to add to my collection.

I have an 870 marine magnum with interchangable barrels, chokes, the works. so with the right shells, it will do everything I NEED it to.

However I WANT to get a cool little light gauge, either 16 or 20, maybe a one or two shot break action, something that looks good, wood furniture, not plastic like the Remmy. I would use it for looks and for Grouse hunting perhaps. Moreso just to say I have it.

any suggestions and comments are welcomed please and thanks.
 
Although 16 has a cool factor, IMO the 20 is better just for availability of shells and cheap cost of 20 gauge.
In a really well stocked shop, one may find 16 gauge #7.5 shot & perhaps slugs.
Try finding any other shot size in between, in 16.
 
I would recommend the 16 ga. I have an old LC Smith sxs that sees much more use than my 20 ga Red Label. The only drawback of the 16 ga is that it is not always easy to find ammunition. The 16 is way classier in my opinion, cheers Jed
 
No budget yet. Thought I would do research first, then purchase. Definitely under $500. I would be happy to find something in the $350 range if it was decent.
 
20 gauge frightens me. It fits nicely into a 12 gauge shotgun in the magazine, and will cycle, and fits right up to the end of the chamber, and allows you to chamber and shoot a 12 gauge right on top of it.

Horrendous accidents result, and all the talk about being careful doesn't change the fact that accidents do happen, and that particular accident has happened alot. When you've got a number of guns, and a couple shelves of ammo and a range bag, things can get mixed up, we're only human, it happens. How many times have you changed the colour and brand of shotshells you've shot over the years?
 
16 guages are kind of like our metally handicapped European cousins...they've really never caught on in North America. Buy a 20 gauge. There is a far better selection of shells available and shells are easy to find and in a grouse gun, the 16 isn't going to offer you anything extra. Pattern/range will be indentical with typical upland loads and you'll find a far greater number of 20s to choose from. There is some nostalgia and quaint quality to a 16......but it's kind of like that cousin!:D
 
Horrendous accidents result, and all the talk about being careful doesn't change the fact that accidents do happen, and that particular accident has happened alot. When you've got a number of guns, and a couple shelves of ammo and a range bag, things can get mixed up, we're only human, it happens. How many times have you changed the colour and brand of shotshells you've shot over the years?
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Crap you're right, I'm going to sell my RBL 20ga a.s.a.p.! :D
 
sheephunter said:
16 guages are kind of like our metally handicapped European cousins...they've really never caught on in North America. Buy a 20 gauge. There is a far better selection of shells available and shells are easy to find and in a grouse gun, the 16 isn't going to offer you anything extra. Pattern/range will be indentical with typical upland loads and you'll find a far greater number of 20s to choose from. There is some nostalgia and quaint quality to a 16......but it's kind of like that cousin!:D
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It's to bad you are "ignoring" me otherwise I would really let you have it. :)Another uninformed post. :onCrack:
 
Bore size of the 16ga handles the 7/8 oz 1oz 1oz/8 and 1oz/4 better than the 20ga seeing as they all share the same charges also most are built on the same frame so weight is not a factor as far as ammo I'm not sure were some of you buy your ammo but any quality sporting goods has a good selection of both gauges .
 
Well I have a 16 gauge spanish single shot. I don't see the " it's better than 20 gauge stuff" you folks are talking about. In standard loads there is basically 1/8 of an ounce difference between the three gauges. 20 = 7/8, 16= 1 ounce, 12= 1 1/8 ounce.

I'd prefer the 20 if I were going to start fresh. Cheap ammo availability for practice is the determining factor for me.

If you are looking for something few others have and like that uniqueness and rarity of certain shotguns, then go for 16. Any magical attributes of the 16 for hunting is letting your imagination take the best of you.
 
Woodsman said:
Well I have a 16 gauge spanish single shot. I don't see the " it's better than 20 gauge stuff" you folks are talking about. In standard loads there is basically 1/8 of an ounce difference between the three gauges. 20 = 7/8, 16= 1 ounce, 12= 1 1/8 ounce.

I'd prefer the 20 if I were going to start fresh. Cheap ammo availability for practice is the determining factor for me.

If you are looking for something few others have and like that uniqueness and rarity of certain shotguns, then go for 16. Any magical attributes of the 16 for hunting is letting your imagination take the best of you.
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16ga=1oz or 1 1/8oz in a 2 3/4 in. shell. A 16 ga. sxs in a 20 ga frame "priceless". My last boxes of 1oz field loads were $7.50 a box.
 
get the 16 ga

there are several nice 16 ga shotguns on the EE. I replaced my 12s with 16s over the last couple of years. 20s are nice too, but for panache....boring.
 
Check out the prices of nice 20g vs 16g SxS guns. Myself, I don't think I could afford one unless it was a 16g. A 6 lb (or less) would be a sweet upland gun. Until then I'm young enough to haul around an extra pound and a half 12 ga and shoot light loads for grouse.

Spend $50-100 on a 2nd hand single stage loader and you can load up any 16g load you want.
 
Bobby Ironsights said:
20 gauge frightens me. It fits nicely into a 12 gauge shotgun in the magazine, and will cycle, and fits right up to the end of the chamber, and allows you to chamber and shoot a 12 gauge right on top of it.

Horrendous accidents result, and all the talk about being careful doesn't change the fact that accidents do happen, and that particular accident has happened alot. When you've got a number of guns, and a couple shelves of ammo and a range bag, things can get mixed up, we're only human, it happens. How many times have you changed the colour and brand of shotshells you've shot over the years?
Click to expand...
Skeet shooters have been managing to shoot subgauges for years without that "particular accident happpening a lot."

Not sure what you mean by the comment about shell colour but it has been the North American industry standard that all 20 gauge shells use yellow plastic since the 60's. This makes them stand out and makes a 12/20 burst less likely.

If the 20 gauge "frightens" you then you'd better brace yourself what comes next. The 28 goes on top of the 20 and the 16 goes on top of the 10 gauge just like the 12 and 20.

I posted in another thread about having come close to a 12-20 burst and that didn't cause me to be "frightened" of the 20. The solution is simple. When your gun doesn't fire don't assume anything, find out why it didn't fire, follow the basic safety rules and you'll be fine.
 
x2 Claybuster.

I wonder how many people worry about stuffing .30-06 into their .270Win rifles? Or any other number of combination of rifle cartridges?
 
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