doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 16 bore shotguns

L. Brown, Loading 16 gauge hulls with 7/8s of an ounce of shot is no longer a problem. You can load 7/8 ounce or even 3/4 of an ounce of shot with the DR 16 wad very easily, with no fillers.
Pete

Most are hard pressed to find more than a basic factory load at more than one local retailer and a constant supply of them is not likely. You can find them just before hunting season opens or if the retailer will special stock them. The shot size selection is very poor in most areas. If you had to just shoot what is on the shelf the 16 would die again to all but the most die hard shooters. Too easy to find 12 or 20 shells to do the same job.

The internet has saved the 16 in many ways. Now if you are on the internet the 16 ga. world is another matter. You can find wads to load everything from 3/4 - 1 1/8 ounces. Hulls to reload can be found. If you go to the 16Ga. web site they can share information that is literally a lifetime of learning. Loads, advice, you name and they will share it. One person even designed and created his own wad to make a light load easier. Many are shot at clay targets and it makes a very pleasant light load. A Mec 600 Jr. and you are in business. Just like being 16 years old again except you have to pay the bill now. Almost like the good old days.

I love the 16 and use it to the exclusion of most other gauges for both birds and clays. The only birds I took this year with other than 16 was still done using my 16 SxS with .410 inserts (it was to help with the training of a gun shy dog).

Ammo is an issue and as much as I love my 16's, I believe you should go into it with your eyes open that it will not be simple unless you are lucky enough to have a local ammo source that stocks the shells at a fair price. Fair price is still more than 12 and 20 and less options.

You really have to reload 16 to get the quality and variety you will want to go after birds.

PS Non-Toxic with 16 while it can be done is prohibative; the good news is it is only about two boxes a year.

Selection of Ammo can be spotty for the 16. I keep my eyes open for vintage ammo and buy any I can find as long as the seller does not want to take me to the cleaners.

I especially liked the Mark V Super X 5's I got last weekend.

A six pound sixteen gauge is the very definition of a Bobwhite gun. Just fact.

Best,

Mike

Double post, deleted.

I have to check my 12s and 20s once in a while for cobwebs in the bores

I really enjoy the old 16 gauge stuff

I don't think shells will be a big problem. I shoot low pressure loads in my vintage 12's. RST and B and P. I wish RST made a 2 3/4 or 70mm 16b shell, but they don't....only 2 1/2 inch. I bought a flat of their 7/8 oz 16b and they are nice but expensive. I'm guessing 1 oz loads will pattern better in a 16 than they do in a 20 bore.

I'm a BIG 16 fan...I buy a couple of flats of RSTs for game birds, and mooch shells off of Amarillo Mike for Clays...That works for me...