Who Still Uses The 16 Gauge For Hunting

3macs1 said:
I will have to look but seem to recall the 16ga made 24% of all shotgun sales in North america at one time

Cheers

here it is

Remington, Winchester, Browning, Savage and others around 1953, about 52 percent of the shotguns sold in the United States during that year were in 12 gauge, while 16 gauge guns accounted for 24 percent of sales. In other words, 24 out of every 100 guns sold were sixteens.

Due to the popularity of 16 gauge guns, every hardware store and farm supply store in rural America stocked a plentiful supply of 16 gauge shells. In case you are wondering, the remaining 24 percent of guns sold consisted of 20s, 10s, 28s and .410s. Back then, the .410 was more popular than the 28 and 10 and almost as popular as the 20 gauge.
Click to expand...

I guess I was responding to the part of your post that I highlighted. Where you described what was going on during "The early years of the 20th Century" where "gentlemen" used the "romantic ideal" of the 16 gauge, embodied by the sleek designs from Parker and Fox. I mean I could quote you verbatim but you probably get the idea. Your response to a careful correction is to talk about mid century guns sales when doubles were effectively dead and gone.

Patrician image of the 16? You can hardly find a English made 16, with England being probably the home of "Patrician images of hunting" shooting driven game in vast amounts on giant estates with hundreds of beaters. All 12 gauge. All of them. But, if you want to go to Europe, in France, in Germany rough shooting, as the English would call it, 16's were everywhere, in the hands of the peasantry. 16 was usually the most common gauge used in a drilling.

The point that I am making is that 16's are fine, in fact can be great, without resorting to flowery bull#### made up by gun writers 70 years ago to fill column inches. Just as 12's and 20's and 28's can be great when used with appropriate loads for appropriate game. But, if there is a winner for versatility, there can be no question about it.....it's the 12 gauge.
 
The last 3 years I have carried a 16 gauge sxs several times when upland hunting. Nothing to do with the shot column ,or anything like that ,because I can miss equally as well with any gauge. I carry it because the balance, weight and fit suits me well and it is only a low end AYA. But I have a number of other guns in other gauges that suit me as well so it's just whatever I decide on at the time.
 
I picked up an old Mossberg Bolt Action 16 gauge earlier this year. The opening of small game season is just around the corner and I am looking forward to carry it for some grouse hunting this fall.
 
I recently got rid of all my 16's except one- my Grandfather's Lefaucheux SxS underlever, which I use occasional for ruffies and pheasants with black powder and brass cases .
Cat
 
gnmontey said:
Why?

M
Click to expand...



The 16 gauge is considered great by many and redundant by many more, certainly it's slow demise is testament to what shotgunners truly think of it. The cartridge itself is really good but unfortunately it doesn't do anything better than the 12 gauge and so languishes in it's shadow. I think most shooters who have one these days do so because it's a bit different and if the truth were to be told than that's probably why I have one.
The 16 gauge has a reputation for giving good patterns when loaded with 13/16 oz loads which was considered to be an optimum load for the 16 and I think this is where the term "square load" was first used. Square load is where the bore equals the length of the shot column and at least theoretically will give the best patterns for a given gauge. The square load weight can vary depending on the thickness of the wad petals and 3/4 oz loads in the 16 are popular.
You can have square loads in other gauges too such 5/8 oz for 20 gauge but most 20's are loaded with heavier loads such as 3/4 or even 1 oz and the gauge has been criticized for having long shot strings. The 28 and .410 also suffer from the same problem of long shot columns. 1 1/16 oz is considered square for the 12 gauge which is why 1 oz and 1 1/8 oz loads are so popular with target shooters as they are very close to square which is also another nail in the 16 gauge coffin.
 
I’ll be using Grand Dad’s 16 gauge Lefeachaux underlever the first week of October for pheasants !:dancingbanana:
It is a 2 1/2” black powder gun but loaded with 65-70 grains of black and 7:8 oz of copper plated 6’s gets the job done no sweat when Louie the GSP locks up on the roosters :cool:
Cat
 
I guess that I like to be different which is why I like both the Browning Auto 5 and the 16 ga. I have a 28” Mod barrel with which I have used often with great effect on pheasant, and a 26” invector barrel with an extended Briley full choke which I’ve used my 1 1/4 oz hand loads to take turkey. My 1962 Sweet 16 with the VR Mod barrel weighs exactly the same as my Jap Mag 20 with a 26” invector barrel at 7 1/4# on the dot. I prefer the fit and balance of the Sweet 16 over both the Light and Mag20 since it was built on a 16 ga frame while the 20’s were made to fit the same 16 ga frame. I wish that I could find a buck barrel for mine, regrettably they are more expensive than the complete firearm if you can even find one. Until then, deer will continue to be taken with my Mag20 and 12. I’ve read all 14 pages of posts and the Auto 5 doesn’t garner much interest which is a shame because it was built To gauge and balances well. It’s intangible, but there is a difference over a 20 of similar weight and pay load. I will be taking my fall bird with it next month��
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom