The 16ga is and has been one of the finest performing guns ever. Personally I blame its demise om Wal-mart. Wally world saw that there were slightly more 12 & 20 ga guns in use and they decided to make mass buys of those 2 gauges. When the general public found the shells cheaper (or the guns) that is what they bought. It soon became a self-feeding cycle, people who were looking to buy a gun- cheap shells- get a 20 or 12. Just like light bulbs or clothes sizes. Other big box stores are the same .Had nothing to do with performance.
