16 ga ammunition and component availability is no longer much of a problem. Ammo and component prices are a bit higher vs the 12, certainly. Shot, primers, and powder are more significant cost drivers than are gauge-specific wads and once-fired hulls.

We all wish someone would make a CF 16 ga hull. Truth is, ammo makers are slowly moving away from CF hulls in all gauges. 16 ga hulls are not as pricey as .410s, so there's no need to try for 15 loadings per hull.

There are many reasons to fall for the 16. Mine is the 16 ga M-12. 12 ga versions are not walk-up guns in my hands. I've never developed a "scaled frame" obsession. But the 20 ga M-12 suffers from that argument.....in theory. I take long birds with my .021 prewar 16 alot better than I can with any 20 ga M-12 or auto - and every bit as well as with any 12 ga gun I've used.

Maybe the 16 best matches my level of incompetence. Reason enough.

Sam