doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com "The Queen of Guns"

ROMAC, what's the 3rd bird from the right in your tailgate picture?...Geo

king et al: it has been my experience, as a reformed and retired bird hunter, that a 16 gauge gun is a better killer than a 20...12 ga always seemed like it was over kill for grouse and pen raised pheasants...most of my favorite hunting guns were of the light field grade variety, either by ithaca or fox...to sum it up, there used to be some thng sweet about a 16 gauge gun afield in the northern uplands in the fall...combined with good dogs and good company, the experience is one of life's joys...

I've been a 12ga guy since my teens. Never been recoil sensitive until lately. My annual trip to Saskatchewan this Fall shooting high speed steel 3" shells changed that and hurt my shoulder. Yes I can reduce loads, wear my P.A.S.T. recoil brazier etc but why carry the weight of the 12s when I have 16ga guns available?

I won't post pictures of my guns because all my 16s are pretty plain and common. A Parker Trojan, an Elsie pre-'13 gr. 2, an NID, a Fox sterly, a fluesie, and a couple of Britguns, a Greener and a W&S 700 come to mind. Oh, and an M/F Ideal and a Darne. I've been using them this Fall for upland and dove and notice no loss of effectiveness. Ducks still and always require a 12ga, IMHO...Geo

I think that is was a (melanistic) dark phase hen pheasant.

Thanks, you had me mystified on that one...Geo

I am a 16 ga zealot, in that I use the gauge for everything from targets, to preserve birds, through to wild birds

That said, I do not find 16 gauge to possess any unique efficiency over other gauges. I find because I use it most often that picking up a 12 sxs with 30 in barrels feels enormous, but that is more perception than reality. I also find 1 oz works well, but again that is not because 1 oz is somehow magically best, but it is by habit what I use and shoot well.

My most often used guns are both well balanced 6lb 3oz guns with 26in & 27in barrels so my 30 in 7lb gun feels huge, but that does not mean light short barreled guns are best, but simply what I am used to using. (I have to admit better skeet scores come from my heavy long barrel gun than the light short guns)

What I like best is what I like. What I believe is all gauges can do the job and different people and situations simply will like and use different stuff

To be a 16 ga guy is to live with limited ammo availability and reloading. The only thing worse than 16 is 24 gauge which is complete affectaion.

There will always be a limited crew of 16 ga guys who use and like it, but given the challenges of feeding compared to 12 & 20 and even 28, it will always be an odd one out

Great guns, but I especially like Jim's (wyobirds) #2 AYA. His gun is especially striking.

I was bit by the 16 ga bug before I was 50- was handed a 16 ga Grulla at the memorable Flatwater and it was all over. Never looked back, and the reloading is merely a fact of life- no big deal. Haven't bought 16 ga shells in years, and make sure I never have to buy any on the road.

I think may have more 16's than 12s at the moment, they run the gamut from a minty Nitro Special through my late model, cut barrel NID, past several German guns and a LeFahceaux Hammergun to end up with 2 drillings.

Not sure why but I think it's because I never fell in love with the 20's. That may change when my Francotte 20 gets back from restoration..

I hunt upland birds almost exclusively with 16GA guns.Pick up a 16 sterlingworth and then a 12.16 is much better carry gun.Have more 16s than 12s. Ammo is available. Rio's, Herters from Cabelas, Remington,etc. Or hand load.