doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Has the 16 ga become obsolete?

I just love the feel of the guns, the oddity and availability of older ones on the market. Honestly if I'm watching a dog work I really don't notice the gun no matter what size it is. Honestly don't care if I shoot as long as someone else does

I have one 16 sxs and about 15 12ga sxs's. Over at the club yesterday a friend had the new Browning A-5 in 16ga. Oh man did that thing come up nice. It felt light and swung nice. If ever I have the urge to buy a auto that would be the one.

As someone said earlier, this is always a fun topic. I have always been the odd duck in the flock, I guess, but gauge has never been a driver for me.

I have looked for and bought and use guns that first catch my eye and then just feel right. If both aren't there, I look to the next one. The last question just before "how much" is what's the gauge?

That's why there are guns of four different gauges among my safe queens.

I don't think the 16 will ever be really dead for bird hunters, ever.

What do you mean?
It already is, everyone knows that...

Data from LODGH (Loyal Order of Dedicated Grouse Hunters) shows that the 16ga is more popular with that group than it was 30 years ago. Still a long ways from 20ga popularity, but chosen by something like 15% of those who responded. Over that time period, the 16 and the 28 were the big winners in terms of increase in popularity; the 12 was the big loser.

When upland bird hunting I shoot my 16 Ga. #2 AyA loaded with RMC all brass shells to the exclusion of any other shotgun or gauge.

One thing that is saving the 16 is the internet. Unlike 20 years ago you can find ammo to suit your needs. As long as ammo is readily available there will be shooters to enjoy them. Also the 16 is often a nice weight double with enough shot for 90% of the average persons hunting needs. Not a gun I'd pick first for ducks or geese but for rough upland hunting it still hits a sweet spot. Plus you get to buy them at a discount compared to the same gun in 12 or 20 gauge. Kind of ironic. Wish people would declare Winchester Model 42 as dead as the 16.

Given the choice, I will not hunt with anything except 16 ga.
Mike

I shot 20s mostly and a 28 gauge Parker skeet gun for a couple of years back when Ga. had plenty of wild birds.I bought a 16 Fox 15 years ago and now if I had to do it over I would have shot 16s a lot. Bobby

Yes, an amusing topic that comes up not quite as often as "what choke, load, mayo or mustard for late season pheasants?"

A light twelve is still .729: it can never be .662. For me, weight is a minor consideration with a 16. A scaled frame round action 16 in my large hands is a delight to carry, and if your boots are not in a blind or standing on concrete calling for a "bird," but putting in the miles over the hills and plains and in the woods, the 16 is neither obsolete nor rare.

It is, as stated previously, my Goldilocks gauge.

Mike