Author Topic: Question about 16 Ga. (Read 963 times)

NYH1 · « **on:** October 15, 2004, 09:02:10 AM »

I have a Remington 870 Express 12 ga. now I have it set up for deer hunting. It has a 23 inch rifled barrel with a cantilever scope mount on it. I do have a 28 inch field barrel for it but to use it I have to change the stock to because it has the rased cheek piece on it. I just bought a Remington 870 Express JR. in 20 ga. for my wife and kids. It has a 12 inch length of pull stock (youth gun LOP is 13 inches) and a 18.5 inch vent rib barrel with Rem choke system. They will only be shooting clay pigeons for the most part, so thats what I'll be doing mostly. I also will be hunting quail, pheasant, grouse, rabbit, squirrel and that kind of stuff. I'am thinking about getting Remington 870 Express 16 ga. for this.
I know the 16 ga. faded away for a while, my question is do you think its back to stay? I think the ammo thats available is just right for what I'll be doing. The 16 ga. really does seem to split the difference between the 12 ga. and the 20 ga. What do you guys and gals think about this? Thank.

aimless · « **Reply #1 on:** October 15, 2004, 10:24:32 AM »

I think 16 is back, but my beef is that many 16 gauges are made on 12 gauge receivers-basically they are the same weight/size as a 12 gauge, but with a smaller hole, kinda a defeats the purpose. :evil:

Anyway, yes personally I think 16 gauge is back, good compromise btw 20 and 12

SBF · « **Reply #2 on:** October 15, 2004, 10:43:33 AM »

Quote from: aimless

I think 16 is back, but my beef is that many 16 gauges are made on 12 gauge receivers-basically they are the same weight/size as a 12 gauge, but with a smaller hole, kinda a defeats the purpose. :evil:

Anyway, yes personally I think 16 gauge is back, good compromise btw 20 and 12

I agree with the above statements. I would love a 16 gauge 870 bit really don't see the point seeing as how I have several 12 and 20 gauges already. Now if I was offered a 28 gauge at a decent price :grin:

Ramrod · « **Reply #3 on:** October 15, 2004, 12:45:38 PM »

The 3" 20 gauge killed the 16 before and it is still better. Like aimless says, 16s are built on 12 gauge frames, while most 20s are lighter and slimmer. The 16 is only making a re-apperance thanks to nostolgic baby-boomers like me. It is a fad that will not last, so don't buy one if you ever plan on selling it. Go to Wallmart and look at the variety of shells, that should tell you something about it.
P.S. I like your avatar, New York Hunter!

dukkillr · « **Reply #4 on:** October 15, 2004, 01:38:45 PM »

ive said much the same thing before... unfortunately there are people who defend the 16ga as a practical gun because they like it... there is a difference between a gun that's fun and a gun that's practical... see the 9410... there is nothing a 16ga can do that isn't done better by a 12ga 2 3/4" or a 20ga 3"... and both alternatives are much more versatile

NYH1 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 15, 2004, 01:40:57 PM »

Quote from: Ramrod

P.S. I like your avatar, New York Hunter!

Likewise Ramrod!!! :-D

Will_C · « **Reply #6 on:** October 28, 2004, 03:05:26 PM »

I won't claim any ballistic advantages, but I love my Ithaca 37 16 gauge. I don't think the 16 will ever be extremely popular, but I would not worry about buying one. I have used 16's since the late 1970's, and although it is not as easy to find ammo, I have always been able to find some.
Will

fffffg · « **Reply #7 on:** October 29, 2004, 04:16:20 PM »

the 16 came about many wars ago when the 20 gauge ball was not big enough, and the 12 and bess (.750 )was huge.. the french used the 16 flint for many years with success.. the 16 carried its popularity in europe when the shotguns were cylinder bore side by sides. greener had pattern contests listed in his book that were the big thing of shotgunners of the day.. i cant remember but i think alot used 12 gauge. it may be interesting to note that the best african llion stoppong gun at the time was a sxs with 12 guage ball.. the quality 16s were always very light, my drilling is the same weight of a lot of modern 16s and it has an extra barrel, about 7- 7 1/2 pounds.. as the shot column gets smaller more shot is on the edge of the barrel and it suffers for it.. now with shot cups that is minimized and could be improved as the plastic may actually be better for shot than the lead next to it.. my hodgdons shotgun manual shows the velocity and 1 1/8 ounce max loads in 16 and 20 mag at the same velocity.. so the 20 and the 16 is in a dead heat for power,..the best part about the 16 is for about `1500 dollars and a whole lot of luck you can get a shotgun that puts modern sxs in the stone age.. im not talking about ejectors, im talking about balance, fit ,beauty, and barrels that shoot very close to right on without appliances added to the stock or top of the barrel such as an elevated rib.. .. its very hard to explain how a 7 pound gun shooting 1 1/8 ounce loads will kick less than a 8 1/2 pound gun with the same shot amount and velocity.. the kick is not less the precived recoil is less becouse of fit, pitch, castoff, etc.. my lefever 12 gets higher scores but it kicks more and slaps my face for some reason.. the 20 mag is a very fine gun tho... oh heck i love them all.. dave..

unspellable · « **Reply #8 on:** November 18, 2004, 07:49:48 AM »

For some reason there has been a tendency in the US to overload shotguns. The 3 inch 20 gauge is overloaded. It will not pattern as well as a good 16 gauge but it must be built to the weight of a 16 to take the overload. Why do we always try to overload a gun and try to make it do the job God intended to be done by the next bigger gauge? The Brits load 7/8 of an once in the 12 gauge. I say if you want to throw a 10 gauge load get a 10 gauge to do it. Another roaring example is expecting a 410 to do a 28 gauge's job.

The practice of building 16 gauge guns on 12 gauge frames and overloading the 20 gauge is what shoved the 16 gauge to the back burner. But I think it will be around for a while yet. The recent resurgance of interest will give it a new lease on life even if it doesn't threaten the 12 or 20.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #9 on:** November 19, 2004, 02:17:43 AM »

I think you should go price 16 gauge shells versus 20 guage shells. If most of your shooting is going to be clay's, unless you reload, you can shoot a lot more clays with a 20 for the money.

I like a 20 because the power is good, the weight of both gun and shells is light, recoil is light, and the cost of shells is low.

NYH1 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 19, 2004, 06:12:02 AM »

Thank's for the reply's. The warden (wife :-D ) put a Remington 11-87 Premier 20 gauge (26" barrel) on layaway for me for christmas and my birthday! :-D :grin:

:-) :wink:

Aardvark · « **Reply #11 on:** December 08, 2004, 03:47:29 PM »

If you like something because you like it then enjoy it. There will always be better guns, more practical guns, more popular guns, whatever.
I had a Remington Model 58 16ga that I truly regret selling. It wa a sweet shooter and I miss it a lot.

dawei · « **Reply #12 on:** December 09, 2004, 06:54:38 AM »

http://www.16ga.com/forum/

Mattkc · « **Reply #13 on:** December 25, 2004, 12:18:00 PM »

I couldn't count all the game I've killed with the 20ga. But if I need more power I'm going with my 37 Featherweight in 16. When I was young and I felt every man needed a heavy shoulder pounding 12ga. Then I found a little Spanish 20ga double and never looked back. Tried 3" shells when I needed more power but they sucked. If you need more power you need more gun. My feather weight 16 is a pleasure to carry in the field and will kill anything I hunt with easy and it doesn't pound me. I get my 16ga shells at Dick's for the same price as 12ga. If I hunted turkey or geese I'd get a 12ga but I don't so I'll stick with my 20 and 16. Guys love the 16 because it's a great hunting gun may not impress you on paper but it will in the field.