doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com popularity of 16 guage shotguns

Stand corrected. I thought several (probably more then that) that the 16 gauge Browning O/U's were on their own sized frame and not on a 20 gauge frame.

I have two of them. An H and R Topper and a Model 37 Ithaca. I never shoot the Topper but I traditionally shoot one pheasant per year with the Ithaca.

The 16 Ga "syndrome" seems to have gone almost everywhere, squized between the 12 and 20 Ga, it fell victim of the industrial gun makers that wanted fewer frames and models to produce. On top, the O/U came in droves in the 70's and 80's, glutting every market. Here the second hand market has been constantly offering a good supply of 16 Ga sidebysides, some of them, taking refugee in my stable (Darne, Win21, Ideal, J. Winkler) and going periodically for doves, pigeons, quail and perdiz. Still it is here the preferred calibre of the small farmer/peasant. Thanks to the writtings of Gene Hill, Richard Grozik and Michael MacIntosh, the 16 Ga sxs virtues have been reconsidered by the North American upland shooter.

Enough already!

My predictions are that the 16, much as I like it for some upland shooting, will never be completely resurrected until the NSSA and NSCA recognize it and it has it's own sub-guage events. Can't see that happening anytime soon.

I love this 32" Elsie 16 ga. for late season doves, with 1 oz. shot,



but can find no earthly reason to want to use it on ducks. Waterfowling for me is strictly a 12 ga. event.

SRH

I had to think about it for a second, but I believe I have six 16 gauge guns at this time. Two Ithaca model 37's, a Winchester model 12 skeet grade, two Fox Sterlingworth's and a damascus barrelled SXS labeled Samuel Buckley but it is definately made by Westley Richards. It is a magic wand that I handload Alcan all brass shells for. I also used to have a Baker Batavia Leader in 16 gauge back in the day but I foolishly sold it. Last year I declared it a 16 gauge season for upland game, and that was all I used along with vintage paper Super X shells in my Sterlingworths. The aroma alone of those hulls made it worth it.

Makes a nice rabbit gauge lite too.

At the Washington State Sporting Clays Championships this coming weekend at Sumner Gun Club, they are having a 16 ga event. We asked for it and they listened. Gonna be fun. JW

Who the heck wants rabbits full of shot? Use a proper rabbit gun for rabbits. Use a .22 LR

1 Sauer, 1 Emil Kerner (5lbs. 8oz.), 1 NID, 1 Nitro Special and 2 drillings. Never had a problem with ammo, plenty of RST 7/8 $1oz loads for the older guns.