Any fans of the 16 gauge here?

[sigp220.45]

I recently passed up a really nice Winchester 97 which was very reasonably priced. The reason? It was a 16 gauge. By the time I did my research and went back for it, it was - of course - long gone.

But now the bug has bitten. The same shop has a range of other 16s - a Savage 311, a like-new 11-48, and an assortment of Remington Model 11s and Browning A5s. All are very reasonably priced compared to the same models in 12 or 20 gauge.

I'll probably be leaving NM for Louisiana within a year. A 16 just seems right for Louisiana upland game.

Any fans here?

 

[Tin]

I'm afraid you snoozed and lost..There weren't that many 16 gauge 97's made, I do believe but I don't have the stats..,16's are a good choice as they are a good upland choice..As a rule, ammo is available if you check around..either high brass or low...and they don't pound you on a days hunt...I've had my 16 gauge ' 97' for years and love it...try it,,yoiu'll like it... TIN...

 

[.455Eley]

I love the 16ga, use it for nearly everything, as I stated in another thread not too long ago. If you go back, look at the Auto 5s. IMHO a 16ga Auto 5 with a fixed mod choke is the finest shotgun to ever be created. Be aware that the ones made before WWII will have 2 9/16" chambers.

 

[P&R Fan]

I'm a big fan of the 16 gauge.
Only have one, a M12 Winchester. Unlike other manufacturers, Winchester gave the 16 a smaller frame size than the 12, but a slightly larger one than the 20. It seems just perfect for me. It has a cylinder bore. I wasn't happy about that at first, but when I finally took it pheasant hunting I was amazed. It shoots like it has at least a modified choke.
I found 1 1/8 ounce of #5 shot patterns perfectly in it.
That thing drops pheasants like laser.
Jim

 

[italiansport]

I'm a double gun fan and a regular on the double gun forum and I can tell you that the 16 ga has made a big comeback in the past few years. My first double was a L C Smithin 16 ga and I wish I still had it. You'll find, at least IMO, that an 11-48 which was the predecessor of the 1100 is a well built gun. If I had a chance to buy a "like new" 11-48 in 16 ga for a reasonable price I'd grab it.
Jim

 

[Rpg]

I like 16 ga guns so much that I've accumulated several by Parker and L C Smith over the years.

I use almost nothing else for upland game - except the occasional British game gun.

All weigh less than 6.5 lbs and are delights to carry and shoot.

I use no more than 1oz loads at around 1150 fps and have never thought more would improve my success.

A M97 in 16 ga would be great.

Sorry you missed it!

 

[mjlabs]

I'm a fan of the 16 gauge....well i'm a fan of all gauges actually. Problem with 16 ga. is finding the ammo.

 

[Waywatcher]

It's funny, all the new and improved light loads for target and game in the 12 gauge are more appropriate loads for a 16 gauge or even a 20.

16 gauge with a 1-1/16oz of shot is a perfect load if ever there was one.

 

[Ben_hutcherson]

I love my 97 in 16 gauge!

(finding 16 gauge hasn't been a huge issue around here, the big problem I see is a lack of choices in shot size vs. what's available for 12 and 20 gauge).

 

[Chukar60]

I had a Browning 16 ga Citori upland special years ago that I surge wished I had back. I could not hit the broadside of a barn with that gun or any other O/U. Years later, I got instruction on proper mounting and shotgun form from a friend who shot competition and I am back in O/U's. I tried a 28 ga and loved it, but could not stomach the cost of quality shells. I am now shooting a 20 ga Beretta, and am looking for a good quality 16. I think the Beretta will get an extended vacation when I locate one.

 

[Salty RI]

I'm a fan of the 16 gauge....well i'm a fan of all gauges actually. Problem with 16 ga. is finding the ammo.

Today at the range we were talking about the 16 ga, one guy said the ammo companies only make one run a year on the 16's, so if you see some buy enough to get you through the season. Back in the early 60's I bought a used Browning sweet 16, I sold it back in the early 90's, I should have never let that one go.

 

[Squarebutt]

My Dad hunted with a 16 gauge A.H.Fox double and his Dad with an L. C. Smith 16 double gun. Sadly, both guns left the family years ago. A few years ago I found a 1913 Ithaca Flues double gun in 16 gauge, so on sunny days I'll be carrying that into the field this year with the short shells my friend gave me.
There's a forum full of 16 gauge folks where you can find lots of good advice, and shop for guns old and new. Most of the highest quality 16s come from Europe these days, and can cost more than a new car.

 

[foxtail]

I have a Ranger 16 ga O/U. Dates to 1929. It still breaks clays with the best of them. Reload my own so no problem with shells.

 

[mmaher94087]

The first reloading I did was 16ga for my grandfather's Winchester 97. I bought a Lee Loader and went to town. I still have them both. I haven't seen 16ga ammo for sale in a long time.

 

[Mule Packer]

Had a 16 gauge Fox B that had the barrels cut down to 19 inches. Used it for Single Action Shooting for quite awhile and also kept it handy for home defense.

I bought and stocked up on all the 16 gauge single-0 buck I could find, as well as some bird shot. Then, one summer, our son who lives in Tucson, came out for a visit with his family. We went to the range and he tried it. That's all there was to it. It went home with him to Tucson the following week.

While I was a little sorry to see it go, I was happy that my son now has a heckuva great home defense gun.

 

[Cooter Brown]

I love the 16 ga. I have two--an AyA 4/53 SxS, and a Model 1912, made in 1915. There were only two frame sizes for Model 12s, 12 ga. and everything else. So the 16 is on the same frame as the 20. Not sure about the 97 but as mentioned earlier in the thread there was another thread about that gun not long ago. A Model 12 16 ga. hits the sweet spot.

The AyA is my go to gun but the old pump gets out a couple of times a year.

Local shell availability can be an issue. You won't find them in every store, but high quality shells are available on line. RST, B&P, Kent all make 16 ga. loadings. Federal, Remington and Winchester do too. The Winchester 1 oz. load (made in Australia) is a good upland load. Those are the shells I reload. I used to find the Winchesters in the local Walmart, but all I've been able to find there lately is the 1 1/8 oz. load, which is a hotter as well as a heavier load.

When I travel out of state to hunt I take enough shells.

Lots of options if you reload and components are easy to find.

Truth to tell, a 20 can do most anything you need in the uplands, but there is something special about some 16 ga. guns.

 

[LT4]

I have a Mossberg bolt action,Remington semi auto, and an old Spanish SxS in 16 ga.Finding ammo is tough but I have stockpiled a bit over the years.

 

[Richard Simmons]

First shotgun was a Monkey Wards double barrel with double triggers and Tenite stock and forearm in 16ga. After a few years I upgraded to a Fox B in 16ga. with single trigger and a wide, beavertail forearm. Which I still had both.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

My first 16 Ga. was a Stevens Mod 94 single barrel my parents bought for my 14th B.D. in 1945. Shells were still in short supply because of WW2. But the local feed store had a case of Peters Victor. 16's #9 shot for $1.25 a box. I shot everything with #9's as it was all we had. Ducks, Quail, Doves , rabbits & squirrels all went into the pot.. Wish I still had the old Stevens. I've had many 16's since then & still have my Win. Model 24 that I've put 100's of shells thru in the last 60 some years.

 

[Bill Bates]

Add me to the list of 16 gauge fans. I have two and I'm keeping my eye out for a third. I have a an Italian made hammer side by side manufactured my SIACE. My other 16 is a birth year Winchester Model 12. The double is my go to grouse gun and I agree with others, the 16 gauge Model 12 is pick of the litter of the model 12s.