Here in the states, the sweet 16 is still a popular gauge upland hunting gun. I use my Browning Auto 5 16 gauge made in 1957 for sage grouse and pheasants. My Turkish made Stevens 555 in 16 gauge is my grouse, dove and quail gun. I've even used it for jump shooting teal and mallards a few times. We have bismuth and steel cartridges available from Kent, Heavy Shot, Winchester, Federal and Remington. These guns are a joy to carry in the field.
I am 16ga devotee! My "go to" gun for walk up pheasant hunting is a 16ga Specialty grade LC Smith from the early 1930s. For decoying ducks, I love my 16ga Browning A5. I've even got a 16ga FAIR Prestige that's lots of fun. Overall, I think the 16ga is underrated and certainly under appreciated. Seeing it make a bit of a comeback makes me smile.
Here in Wyoming, I prefer the Sixteen to the Twelve. Going up and down the hills in the Big Horns after Blue Grouse makes the lighter Sixteen worth its weight in gold. Yes, they carry like a Twenty and hit like a Twelve. Today's loads by Fiocchi and Federal have brought the Sixteen into the modern day. Great videos as always, Johnny!
YES! Best Gauge Ever. Love my 16s. Nice to see so many new 16 gauge shotguns and new 16 gauge loads coming onto the U.S. market at least. Plenty of vintage 16 options out there as well.
I have a browning 525 shadow 16 bore. Its a great gun for hunting with gamebore and mary arms 26 grams steel load cartridge's for pigeon, crow, duck,... and eley bismuth for the bigger game geese, foxes, hare,.. i love it.
Funny thing is here in the States during our recent "supply chain" ammo shortage I have seen more 16 (and 28) gauge shells than I have seen in my entire life.
The 16 is the wingshooters gun for wingshooting. Because so many shooters do the vast, vast majority of their shooting at clays these days, the modern tendency has become to judge every shotgun by how it would shoot clays. The 16 isn't that gun and never has been. The 16 gauge is from a bygone era when the point of having a shotgun was to shoot birds. Just as in a fine sports car, the 16 is a carefully crafted balance of power to weight and handling. A clay shooting man will never truly understand the 16 gauge while standing with one on a clay shooting ground. Put one in his hands and walk 10 miles in pursuit of 1 or 2 flushes of sage grouse or wild pheasant and he may begin to understand.
16 bore being smaller and lighter than a 12 bore, and patterning better with less weight and recoil. I have a 16 bore and i believe it is the absolute middle of the road perfection. It caters to smaller shooters as well. So nearly anyone can handle it. It’s powerful enough to get any job done, but with less wear and tear on the shooter in every way. I think the 16 should make a comeback. It’s too perfect to be forgotten in time.
I have 2 side by side 16 bore shotguns, one of them i have had 49 years its the only gun i use, I have used 12 bore but always go back to the 16, its a well under estimated cartridge.
I picked up a very nice 1920's EM Reilly 16 bore sxs hammer gun, has a Prince of Wales stock, weighs about 5lbs so can carry it about all day. Is my favorite gun and prefer it to my AYA No2. Shoot sporting clays with it and on a good day can give my friends a hard time with their over and unders. Had some new firing pins made for it and can usually get 7 or 7.5 shot cartridges, love it to bits, best £200 I have spent.
I my 16 bore is a Leech SxS Boxlock Ejector. I have a 12 and a 20 bore as well. The 16 bore is the go to gun for a days shooting. It is light about 5lb 10oz, kills as well as the 12 does and is not much heavier than my 20 bore. It kicks quite vigorously but must be well balanced and shaped because I don't notice it as too different to my 12, I only know it from when other people have tried it.
The 16 gauge was "king" in the 1930's and 1940's here in the U.S. Witness the beloved "Sweet 16" Browning humpback. Over time it fell out of grace. Because of our "American Way" of more and bigger is better, all I can say is that if you have/use a 16 gauge, it gives you no excuse for owning both a 12 and a 20! Seriously, if reloading components (especially good hulls) were available, I'd probably shoot the 16 almost exclusively! However, the expense and unavailability of 16 gauge shells over here preclude that from happening.
I've never owned a shotgun having borrowed one of the many owned by relatives when I needed to shoot until last year when I was gifted my grandfather's 1942 Winchester Model 12 in 16 gauge. Having shot it and researched 16 gauge I am now a fan and am strongly considering buying a 16 gauge semi-auto.
16 is probably the best all around upland gauge there is. If it’s a proper frame that is. 90% of American guns were built on 12 gauge frames. The old Parker and Fox guns built on 20 gauge frames are super sweet.
For some reason, I've got The Eagles "New Kid in Town" playing in my head. ;-) Kinda surprised an O/U would be the thing to turn you on to the 16. For me, the SxS is where the 16 shines. In my hand, 12 ga SxS's feel slightly porky, while 20 (and under) feel too whispy. The 16 is perfect. When my Dad was growing up (before WWII), 16 was fairly popular here in the US, and was his favorite. It's my belief the 3" 20 is what squeezed the 16 out of the market.
Agreed, my father had a 16-bore SxS Parker with a Birdseye Maple stock. Beautiful to look at but would kick like you owed it money. My brothers Winchester model-12 in 16-bore on the other hand is a treat to carry and shoot, light as a feather, quick in the hands and deadly on game. So yes, it all comes down to how the gun is made and fits one.
I have a Browning BPS in 16 gauge. I use it for doves, crows, and even ducks. I always break better than 20 birds with it at the trap range. I use Boss Ammo copper plated bismuth for ducks. I load my own shells for trap. Love the gun.
I picked up a French 16 bore in 2017 for £195. It’s made by Brun Latridge in St.Etienne. 28” barrels fixed chokes, Prince of wales stock. It is dated 1921, with 2.5” chambers. Great for walked up and rough shooting. I have also shot ducks over flight pond too. I use 28g 5 cartridges and they are amazing. 16 bore is very much over looked. Greetings from Northern Ireland
@@wealthytate7908 hi last time I got some months ago it was £12 a box. This was for Gamebore Regal 28g 5. I love the 16 but don’t use it very often the gun is a bit of a safe queen. So I don’t mind the cost of cartridges. It gives me great joy when I do shoot with it.
@@wealthytate7908I would love to be in a position where I could shoot game enough to really make the extra cost of 16 bore cartridges an issue. And even then, if you've got the cash to be going after game to the tune of shooting even 10 boxes of cartridges a season, the extra $80 or $100 that those would cost you in 16 bore is a grain of salt in the ocean of other expenses in doing that shooting.
Ich besitze Flinten in 12, 16 und 20. Alle erfüllen ihren Zweck. Am liebsten ist mir die 20er. Mit ihr kann man am weitesten hinhalten, und man kriegt die meisten Patronen in die Tasche. Im Kaliber 20/70 kriegt man alles bis hin zu 35 Gramm. Wehr mehr braucht, nimmt halt die 20/76 Magnum. Von Baschieri & Pellagri zum Beispiel gibt es exzellente Jagdmunition für jeden Bedarf in dieesm Kaliber. Man sollte sehr auf das Zwischenmittel achten, da dieses die wirksame Schußdistanz (Deckung) sehr maßgeblich bestimmt. EIne 16er oder 12er Flinte wirken natürlich genauso, jedoch sind SIe entsprechend schwerer und voluminöser. Alles Geschmacksache.
I have 1 16 ga , it was a browning auto loader, was a old browning and when i gave it , its first cleaning it shot good mechanically, but the gun never fit me. I could hardly ever hit anything. My dad was the believer in 16 ga and was the only gauge he owned and it was a savage/Stevens SXS with fixed chokes and it was very accurate. You have a great channel, keep up the good work.
That’s a lovely gun - it has a classic look, even though it’s new. Regarding the “square load” theory, surely it will only be square for a specific shot charge? To clarify, say the load is “square” with 28 grams of number 6, then it would become elongated if loaded beyond that, since the internal diameter of the hull remains the same. Really enjoying this channel- a mine of good info! Thanks!
I’ve always loved my 16s since I bought my first one (of many I own now). Im not the biggest guy and have found that a sized 16 action fits me better than a 12. I also load 1 1/8oz shells for pheasant. But I am a diehard 16bore fan. Even load 7/8oz 2 5/8” shells for a vintage Remington double.
Always enjoy your video's. I am getting a bit older and carrying the average 12Ga all afternoon in a pheasant field it gets heavy. A lighter 16ga makes a big difference in an afternoon.
Dad always shot a 16 ga Ithaca 37(pre-war)... Still handles like a dream... Back in the day it was the way to go for heavy field use. In the days of lead shot it was difficult to see a difference between standard 12 & 16...The next time you're in the States it might be video worthy to experience a pre-war model 37 ithaca or a nickel steel model 12...they really do handle much better than the newer repeaters....??? In sporting clays does the 16 qualify as sub-gauge??? Great video
Your reply pretty much mirrors what I was going to say. I would probably extend the model 37 timeline up to the mid 50s though. I have both pre and post war 16 gauge 37s and the handling is so close it's a wash. The Nickle steel 16 model 12 IS special.
Dad shot his 16 on the company trap league... Lots of 24's &25's... It is in no way a trap gun, but you couldn't tell by his scores... I don't mean to compare either of them to a best quality double, they were built so a guy could raise his family, pay the bills, on a middle class pay check, and still have a sweet handling gun. If you find a good specimen of either, chances are that they'll be among the smoothest pumps you'll ever handle.
16 is America’s sweetheart. You can find her is all kinda shapes. Double, semi-auto, single barrel. If you are rough and rowdy you can even find a pump action. The Belgium A5 makes us Americans loose our mind mostly. You should try on Johnny.
That is a gorgeous piece , sounds beautiful , you're moving it around like you were born with it . Nice little kick by the look , bit of spice . I expect there'll be something tasty being made to feel better in the oven given half a chance 😋
For me the answer to 16 bore is why wouldn’t you have one if shooting clays and big cartridges isn’t your thing you could spec a great gun in either side by side or O/U format that is easy to shoot and fast handling for any form of game shooting and maybe even do double duty on a sim day !
Cheers from the USA! A majority of my shotguns are chambered in 12 guage! However after years of wanting a Winchester 1897, I finally came to own one last year! And I bought it cheap...because it is a 16 guage and since it was made in 1907, still sports the 2 9/16" chamber. I shoot trap with it often and it works well! Here soon I will be buying reloading equipment to load my own shells for it! My take on it, sure 12 and 20 guage are both more convenient and practical options for most, but I quite enjoy my 16 guage and will continue to use it!
All I shoot is 16 bores and I wouldn’t shoot anything else. I have a 12 bore, 20 bore and the .410 but I very rarely shoot them. I’ve re-regulated the tubes in my AYA Matador, I have a collection of Dreillings, all in 16 bore, I have a very light and fast French SxS and a Winchester model 12 16 bore of 1930’s vintage in excellent condition. You don’t know what you’re missing out on @Johnny
I have my grandfathers 1932 Belgian Browning in 16 and ive been shooting that gun for 35 years It's my quail and dove gun. I have 28 gauges and 410s I have always loved every shotgun that isn't a 12 or 20
On a range, the 12ga is superior. The 16ga was made for the uplands, and it's just plain better. It patterns better than a 20 and no matter how light a 12ga is, it's 16ga counterpart would be better
I love 16 ga , there are 2 main problems , ammo availability and cost and unless it is a Browning Sweet 16 they are very hard to sell or resell. If you forget your ammo it is most unlikely you will find some at a shoot
With the overlap possible between the 20 & 12 gauge, I thought the 16ga was unnecessary. Recently though, someone introduced me to the concept of "Ideal Numbers". That was how he argued for the inherent advantage of the 16ga
Thanks Jonny, having bought a brand new Rizzini 16 bore Round Body about a year ago, I cannot extol the virtues of this gauge enough. The more slender shape makes them easier to swing to targets, there is little or no pattern disadvantage to the 12 (I shoot imp. cylinder and quarter), and because most of these guns are high-end do not give the recoil you would normally expect. I really wonder why we gravitate towards 20 bores for a lighter gun and overlook these. Although the range of ammo is quite limited, Hull do an excellent quality Pro-Sixteen 7.5 24g for around £389 for 1000. Please ignore the name above, it's a pseudonym on my Google account that I can't seem to delete. - Martin Peter Iles
I wonder if not having a 3" chamber available causes a lot of people to shy away from 16? Personally, I don't really shoot high brass, much less not shooting 3" in years.
Seems like everybody's Grandpa had no trouble getting a limit of ducks back in the day with 2 3/4" loads. Of course that was in the days before steel shot mandates or bag limits. My grandpa only had two shotguns and hunted every weekend and holiday. Browning Auto 5 16 and a Winchester Model 12 16 gauge. The 16 gauge and a pair of English Cockers brought home the meat during the depression. @@donavonrobbins1908
I have a Stevens model 235 sxs hammer gun in 16 ga, my overall favorite. I also have a Stevens "double hump" model 520 pump in 16 ga, a JC Higgins bolt (16 ga), an Iver Johnson solid rib Champion with Schnavel forearm single shot ...in, of course, 16 ga! Oh, and then my 1940 production Winchester model 12, also 16 gauge. I sorta like 16 gauge shotguns...
While my father mostly used an old Belgian 12 gauge side-by-side hammer gun he said he especially liked the 16 gauge but that they quit making them as well as ammo for them and he didn't know why, nor why they fell out of favour.
I love my old Box Lock Western Arms 16 side by side! It’s got beautiful engravings of a bird dog on either side of the action and the barrels are choked in modified and full. It looks beautiful, shoulders like dream, flat out breaks clays and kills everything I squeeze at. I LOVE IT! I hate paying through the nose for ammunition and chasing in-stock cartridges, but I lovingly place purple spent hulls on the sporting clays stations as I move on. 16s are the sweet spot. I killed my first deer with it at 14 years old, and my first banded Canada Goose with it at 18. My favorite firearm is my 16; no offense to my Stoeger 3500 or my Italian SBE2, or my Knight DISC .50 black powder deer slaying machine. If I could afford it financially, I’d shoulder my 16 every sporting clay round, deer drive, waterfowl hunt, and upland endeavor. Thanks for letting me share, -CY Castor
Amazing story! There should not have ever be a question why 16! I grew up in central Serbia.. born 1983.. my father bought a 16 ga over under the same year.. he was always telling me.. that it was a shame.. to carry 12 gauge!😂! It was considered too big ... too unethical.. point!
Those were the times! Now every stupid kid is carrying a 12 gauge Turkish semiauto.. which jams every now and than.. and they think they will kill more game with it😂😂😂😂
My 28, 20 and 12 bores are Berettas. Last year I picked up the new Browning Sweet 16 Lightening. If I can ever find a box of target shells for $15, I may shoot it. 🤪
By chance you in Michigan? I was looking at a White Lightening 16 on the shelf last year, but it disappeared on me before I could squeeze the doh. Maybe you got it, lol. Just found a new old stock Gran Lightening 16 this year on clearance and snatched it up.
I have a old Savage S×S 16 guage that I use bismuth in and it feels like I can't miss with it, I've shot everything from quail to ducks with it and I want to get a modern gun to shoot it more with steel
I have a Stevens SxS 311A in 16 bore. Killed many waterfowl, pre steel shot days and many grouse and pheasant to this day. 1 ounce of #5 or 6 shot in lead or bismuth kills birds very dead.
DO NOT go down the rabbit hole of the 16 bore! They will just become a money pit. If you do purchase one, be sure to keep it alone in a well-lit space. If stored in a dark gun cabinet, they seem to multiply without you knowing it. Since I am of THAT age and girth,.....I have trimmed back on the weight of my weapons. The 16 is now my longer range go-to gun for the field. A 1924 Winchester Model 12 nickel steel, 1935 Fox Sterlingworth SxS, and a 1938 Ithaga NID SxS. For short range and smaller birds I now shoot a 28 bore SxS. Screw-in chokes and 26 inch barrels with a weight of only 5 pounds! And I hit most of what I shoot at under 40 yards. My Brittany 'Gunner' loves the combination of 28 and Quail! 😃😁👍
Word. Hard to own just one 16 gauge. I have one for going out in rainy-crappy days, one for bushwacking in the dense grouse woods, one for dove hunting or sitting in a duck blind. One for days that end in "Y". Can never have to many.
A fan of small bores 28/20, I know 16 is the perfect hunting gauge. All you need done with 1oz of load those square specs will never be beaten in actuality. It’s such a shame what happened to it.
@@Patrick_B687-3 I’m sorry to say I do not reload for it. If you are interested in reloading there are lots of books on that subject. I did reload 12 gauge years ago for my young son when he started to hunt. They were very light 1 oz. loads it #6 shot. Reloading is not hard just pay attention to the charts from the powder manufactures. Good luck ,be safe, have fun.
@@christinamoneyhan5688 Thank you Christina, but I was curious since I do. I’ve been loading my own 28 and 20 gauge for a long time now. I wondered because 16 isn’t usually easy to find. Not with much selection for sure. And I’ma Huge fan of light loads.
@@Patrick_B687-3 you are right. It is hard to find in the US A. but still in good standing in European countries from what I understand. If you can find hulls you can make shot and powder cards and load your own using proper load data. I have found that 16 gauge hulls might be found on sporting clay grounds in their shooting stand cans where shooters discard them. Hope this information is helpful.
I love the 16 gauge. If it's built right, on a small frame, it carries and swings like a 20 gauge and can hit like a 12 gauge. I think the 28 gauge is way less useful. And now the 3" mag 28 gauge? Just new marketing hype the manufactures are throwing out there.
Great video. Always been tempted by a 16 bore, but something I don’t understand is why this modern 16 bores are HP steel proofed - are there even any 16 bore steel cartridges? Will anyone even bother manufacturing them given the small percentage of shooters that shoot with a 16?
Hi Chris, thanks for your kind words about the video, very excitingly there are a few companies who are developing 16 bore steel loads which should be on the market in the UK for the start of this season, which is really good news! If you have any more questions do please let me know. Best wishes Archie from Sportarm
@@archietrowerArchie Hi, I heard in the video that Hull were releasing a steel load for 16 Bore very soon: who are the others developing steel and do you know what loads and wads they will use?
@@welshbass7 Hull will be the first to release their 16 bore steel load with a non toxic wad, beyond that I am not sure what the lead time on other manufacturers is I am afraid. I know that Lyalvale have a 16 bore steel load out already but it uses plastic wads. Hull are generally at the forefront of the 16 bore cartridge development
I'm jealous!! I'm in the US and I have a Stevens 16ga pump from the 1930s and I love it, I've killed a lot of birds with it. I wish I could get a quality 16 O/U. I love the 16.
Browning, for one, makes a number of 16 gauge O/U Citori models for the U.S., including the White Lightning that is very, very nice. Franchi, Upland Gun Company (R.F.M.), B. Rizzini, Fausti also make nice O/U 16s.. Those Perazzi 16s are something special for sure!
Too bad that in the US 16 gauge shells are hard to find, stores never have much of a selection, and reloading components are slim to none. The only thing harder to find are 2 1/2 inch shells of any gauge. The market here is in 12 and 20.
Great video Johnny, are you a convert to a Perazzi 16 gauge shotgun? I think that is a beautiful gun, and would shoot very well, like you demonstrated Johnny very skillfully.
@@tgsoutdoors Very true Johnny. I don’t think either of us are grown up enough to be able to answer that question. Love my 12 gauge guns a lot, therfore I will not give any of them up, for a 16 gauge. I don’t have many shotguns, but at least I have a few, and the ones I have, I shoot all the time, everyone that I have, has a purpose, Hunting, Trap, Skeet, and Sporting Clays. Love them all. At least 2 guns per discipline, some 3. 😉
Yeah I understand the "just get a 12" instinct, especially in the UK. 16 does all the things 12 does, just with mildly less recoil, but is more expensive. What's the point right? I get that. But here in Canada 12 gauge and greater may become prohibited (that is illegal) soon (next 5-10 years), or at the very least will be thrown in to a legal grey zone. At least that is the direction things seem to be going. So yeah, unless it's a cheap 12 I don't mind potentially losing, I'll stick with 16 for now.
You can load 16 gauge up to 1.5 ounces with lead shot which is 42.5 grams. With tss you can load up to 2.25 ounces. Factory ammo just isn’t so up to date.
From my perspective, they are great fun to shoot and learn about. Other than that, they have gained a lot of popularity as the ammunition has increased in performance and variety.
I've always thought that the 16, you understand they aren't popular in America and never were, but I always thought that it probably was pretty versatile in terms of hunting. That it really would be a really happy balance between having a 20 and having a 12. Probably know me by now and you probably know that I live in Kentucky. 20 gauge is versatile for quail and rabbits and grouse and woodcock (to a degree)... And yeah I can go shoot duck with it, but sometimes those Canadians are up there. The Canadian geese I mean, and sometimes my 20 gauge... Well, the Canadian geese might as well be in Canada, because they're just as safe from me. I can see a 16 being a better option for a lot of American hunters, I love the 20 gauge. But I have wondered before why it's not 16 and 28, as opposed to 28 gauge and 12 or 20.
As noted by some other posters, 16s were pretty common in the States back in the day. In the ‘60s, when I was first learning to shoot , lots of of my friends were using their fathers’ or grandfathers’ 16s. In fact, one of my cousins still has our grandfather’s old Win Model 12 in 16 gauge (helps to be descended down the male line when it comes to inheriting neat old guns). Their popularity has waned, but there is still a core of people who love them.
@@stog9821 I don't know in Kentucky, I was like 14 before I knew there was anything except for the 20 gauge. My grandfather used the 20 gauge, my father used a 20 gauge, I had a great grandfather who had a 10 gauge. I don't know who has that now. I think my brother might have it. But primarily my great-grandfathers were using 20 gauges, model 12s
If anyone gets a yearning for a sweet pump action, I second the comments recommending the Winchester M12 in 16 gauge. One can be had very reasonably and will last several lifetimes.
16s were popular until 3" mag receivers got popular. Then the manufacturers pretty much tooled up for 20 and 12 in 3" I imagine 16 was left out for cost savings by pushing people above or below to get a 3" chamber.
What I would order (if I even considered the gun) is more attention to wood-to-metal fit. I want the wood to flow into the metal and not step down to it.
I think the 16 gauge really highlights the difference between British of American schools of thought, the Brits like to change their cartridge length, whereas Americans change their cartridge width. If a Brit wants a little ~6-1/4 pound gun to shoot ~7/8 ounces of shot, the Brit uses a dainty little 12-bore with 2" chambers, whereas the American goes to a 20-bore. If the Brit wants a ~7 pound gun for shooting ~1 ounce of shot, they go for a standard 7 pound 12-bore with a standard 2-3/4" chamber, whereas the American goes to a (properly scaled) 16-bore. If the Brit wants to shoot ~1-1/8 ounces of shot out of a ~8 pound gun, the Brit goes to a heavyweight 12-bore with 3" chambers, which is exactly what the American reaches for as well. Given the British tendency to use lighter charges in their 12-bore guns, I can see why there's less of a case for the 16-bore in the UK, but here in North America where 1-1/8 ounce/32 gram charges are the standard, even for high volume clay shooting, and a typical 12-bore here is about a pound or more heavier than they are in the UK, a properly scaled 16-bore action really shines in the North American market.
There aren’t many guys shooting guns with 2” chambers in the UK mate. Those types of guns are rare and most people wants to shoot with the highest pellet count possible. If someone here wants a lightweight gun, they don’t go for an old shotgun with 2” chambers. Almost everyone will buy a 20 bore to fulfil this need. In general, most game shooting in the UK is done here with 30,32, or even 36 gram cartridges. Most people shoot a 12 bore or 20 bore with 3” chambers nowadays. I’ve never heard of someone changing their cartridge length choice here unless you are going up from 2 and 3/4” to 3” if you are going wildfowling
In the US, during the 1950-1960’s, 16 gauge was very popular for upland bird hunting. My father used a Winchester Model 12 in 16 gauge for hunting Chukars. With a 28” full choke barrel and hand loads of 1 1/8 Oz of shot, He regularly hit birds out to 80 yards. The model 12 holds 7 rounds and is very ergonomic. Today, if you want to shoot a 16, you had better buy a shot shell reloader.
Jonny, Please..... where you and your friend will find a 16 is going to be a Winchester pump carries by a 70 something grey-haired gentleman in bib overalls with a pair of old pointers some where in Mississippi
Great video as always! Most 16 gauges are not true 16 gauge frames which is why the gauge is not commercially successful. I like the idea, however when I feel like spending silly money it will be on 28 gauge lol.
my first gun was a hand-me-down Winchester model 37 16 ga. I got it when I was 4 yo. It kicked like a mule withn a hard buttplate that bruised my arm and gave me something to brag about to the other kids when I showed them the mirror imaged Winchester bruise on my shoulder. Shells were hard to find back then in the 1970s and are hard and expensive to find today. all in all, that was the shotgun that made me fall in love with game shooting and clay shooting sports and guns in general. and no, it ain't no Perazzi !
OK. Let's see if I got this right? My English cousin is asking why he should own a 16 gauge when he can buy a 12 or 20 gauge that will accomplish the same thing? I'm guessing he sees this as a question of redundancy? This shows the difference in the mind set between the American & English shooter. An American would say...."Buy a 12, 16 and 20 gauge shotgun. Why limit yourself to one firearm?" In all honesty the 16 gauge is the step child of shotguns in the USA too. And I don't care what anyone says, the shells are harder to come by than 12 & 20 gauge. If you reload your own shells, you're ahead of the game. I own two 16 gauges and my three 10 gauges see more action than the 16. Still, I love the 16 and won't be giving either of them up.
16 bore or gauge has been one of the classic middle cartridge's. The other being 14 bore or gauge. 12, 16, and 20 bore or gauge are classic over under gun's. Heard 10, 14, and 18 bore or gauge are classic upper crusty side by side gun's.
Why does everyone say that 16 guage shells are impossible and expensive to get? I can go to scheels and pick up a box for the same price as 12 or 20 guage and they're in stock.
I shot my first pheasant when I was 12 years old with my uncle's old Winchester 16 ga. model 12 with poly choke. That year I asked Santa Clause for a real gun a 12 ga. so he gave me a Browning Auto 5 (hey I was a big kid) It is still the gun I use for 90% of my small game and deer hunting. Recently, I just happened to be in my local hunting store and guess what, hanging over the counter was a brand spanking new Browning Sweet 16. All I had to do was shoulder it once and it sent back 50 something years nothing ever fit my hand and shouldered so perfectly, I still love my now old browning auto 12 but I am going to ask Santa for a brand spanking new Browning Sweet 16.
I had almost the exact same experience. I went to my local shop to pick up a hunting licence last Sept. and guess what was hanging right behind the center of the counter a brand new shiny Browning 16. The second I shouldered that gun I knew I was going to ask Santa for one and guess what; Santa knew I was a good boy this year. Now I really can't wait for pheasant season to open. By the way I shot my first pheasant with a Model 12 16 gauge which also had a poly choke, that I borrowed from my uncle when he and my dad took me out the first time in 1971!!!
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Here in the states, the sweet 16 is still a popular gauge upland hunting gun. I use my Browning Auto 5 16 gauge made in 1957 for sage grouse and pheasants. My Turkish made Stevens 555 in 16 gauge is my grouse, dove and quail gun. I've even used it for jump shooting teal and mallards a few times. We have bismuth and steel cartridges available from Kent, Heavy Shot, Winchester, Federal and Remington. These guns are a joy to carry in the field.
I am 16ga devotee! My "go to" gun for walk up pheasant hunting is a 16ga Specialty grade LC Smith from the early 1930s. For decoying ducks, I love my 16ga Browning A5. I've even got a 16ga FAIR Prestige that's lots of fun. Overall, I think the 16ga is underrated and certainly under appreciated. Seeing it make a bit of a comeback makes me smile.
Here in Wyoming, I prefer the Sixteen to the Twelve. Going up and down the hills in the Big Horns after Blue Grouse makes the lighter Sixteen worth its weight in gold. Yes, they carry like a Twenty and hit like a Twelve. Today's loads by Fiocchi and Federal have brought the Sixteen into the modern day. Great videos as always, Johnny!
YES! Best Gauge Ever. Love my 16s. Nice to see so many new 16 gauge shotguns and new 16 gauge loads coming onto the U.S. market at least. Plenty of vintage 16 options out there as well.
I have a browning 525 shadow 16 bore. Its a great gun for hunting with gamebore and mary arms 26 grams steel load cartridge's for pigeon, crow, duck,... and eley bismuth for the bigger game geese, foxes, hare,.. i love it.
Funny thing is here in the States during our recent "supply chain" ammo shortage I have seen more 16 (and 28) gauge shells than I have seen in my entire life.
Right? I can get 6 different loads of 28, but not a single load of 12.
@@D_Boone same here, but was 20ga.
And 20ga. Lead Turkey loads were very hard to find this spring.
Nhi hai kya @@teamflanneloutdoors5631
Still true. Here in Alabama, you can find 16 and 28 when you can’t find a single box of 20 gauge shotshells.
Same.
The 16 is the wingshooters gun for wingshooting. Because so many shooters do the vast, vast majority of their shooting at clays these days, the modern tendency has become to judge every shotgun by how it would shoot clays.
The 16 isn't that gun and never has been. The 16 gauge is from a bygone era when the point of having a shotgun was to shoot birds. Just as in a fine sports car, the 16 is a carefully crafted balance of power to weight and handling.
A clay shooting man will never truly understand the 16 gauge while standing with one on a clay shooting ground. Put one in his hands and walk 10 miles in pursuit of 1 or 2 flushes of sage grouse or wild pheasant and he may begin to understand.
16 bore being smaller and lighter than a 12 bore, and patterning better with less weight and recoil. I have a 16 bore and i believe it is the absolute middle of the road perfection. It caters to smaller shooters as well. So nearly anyone can handle it. It’s powerful enough to get any job done, but with less wear and tear on the shooter in every way. I think the 16 should make a comeback. It’s too perfect to be forgotten in time.
They truly are lovely to shoot and handle. The joy of differentness can only be felt and is next to impossible to explain. Thanks for posting!
I have 2 side by side 16 bore shotguns, one of them i have had 49 years its the only gun i use, I have used 12 bore but always go back to the 16, its a well under estimated cartridge.
Most underestimated shotgun caliber,anything a 12 does, a 16 bore can, for being lighter, quicker and easy on the shoulder.
I picked up a very nice 1920's EM Reilly 16 bore sxs hammer gun, has a Prince of Wales stock, weighs about 5lbs so can carry it about all day. Is my favorite gun and prefer it to my AYA No2. Shoot sporting clays with it and on a good day can give my friends a hard time with their over and unders. Had some new firing pins made for it and can usually get 7 or 7.5 shot cartridges, love it to bits, best £200 I have spent.
16 gauge has been my favorite now for 25 years . Shooting my 12 gauge guns less ,even shooting my 20 bore guns more.lots of fun.
I my 16 bore is a Leech SxS Boxlock Ejector. I have a 12 and a 20 bore as well. The 16 bore is the go to gun for a days shooting. It is light about 5lb 10oz, kills as well as the 12 does and is not much heavier than my 20 bore. It kicks quite vigorously but must be well balanced and shaped because I don't notice it as too different to my 12, I only know it from when other people have tried it.
The 16 is awesome... to have one in a Perazzi would be exquisite!
The 16 gauge was "king" in the 1930's and 1940's here in the U.S. Witness the beloved "Sweet 16" Browning humpback. Over time it fell out of grace. Because of our "American Way" of more and bigger is better, all I can say is that if you have/use a 16 gauge, it gives you no excuse for owning both a 12 and a 20! Seriously, if reloading components (especially good hulls) were available, I'd probably shoot the 16 almost exclusively! However, the expense and unavailability of 16 gauge shells over here preclude that from happening.
I've never owned a shotgun having borrowed one of the many owned by relatives when I needed to shoot until last year when I was gifted my grandfather's 1942 Winchester Model 12 in 16 gauge. Having shot it and researched 16 gauge I am now a fan and am strongly considering buying a 16 gauge semi-auto.
16 is probably the best all around upland gauge there is. If it’s a proper frame that is. 90% of American guns were built on 12 gauge frames. The old Parker and Fox guns built on 20 gauge frames are super sweet.
16 gauge, true gentleman's calibre. You can carry it all day. Great for those who like to do their own loading. Just a different feel.
For some reason, I've got The Eagles "New Kid in Town" playing in my head. ;-)
Kinda surprised an O/U would be the thing to turn you on to the 16. For me, the SxS is where the 16 shines. In my hand, 12 ga SxS's feel slightly porky, while 20 (and under) feel too whispy. The 16 is perfect.
When my Dad was growing up (before WWII), 16 was fairly popular here in the US, and was his favorite. It's my belief the 3" 20 is what squeezed the 16 out of the market.
I love my 16 gauge perazzi , perfect for game and few clays
16 for upland hunting in the Mid West. Hits like a 12 and carries like a 20
Agreed, my father had a 16-bore SxS Parker with a Birdseye Maple stock. Beautiful to look at but would kick like you owed it money. My brothers Winchester model-12 in 16-bore on the other hand is a treat to carry and shoot, light as a feather, quick in the hands and deadly on game. So yes, it all comes down to how the gun is made and fits one.
I have a Browning BPS in 16 gauge. I use it for doves, crows, and even ducks. I always break better than 20 birds with it at the trap range. I use Boss Ammo copper plated bismuth for ducks. I load my own shells for trap. Love the gun.
I love how the action is nice and clean too. I don't need it to say Hi-Tech in orange or yellow or whatever
I picked up a French 16 bore in 2017 for £195. It’s made by Brun Latridge in St.Etienne. 28” barrels fixed chokes, Prince of wales stock. It is dated 1921, with 2.5” chambers. Great for walked up and rough shooting. I have also shot ducks over flight pond too. I use 28g 5 cartridges and they are amazing. 16 bore is very much over looked. Greetings from Northern Ireland
What’s the price of 16 bore cartridges in Northern Ireland that would be my only reason not to get one
@@wealthytate7908 hi last time I got some months ago it was £12 a box. This was for Gamebore Regal 28g 5. I love the 16 but don’t use it very often the gun is a bit of a safe queen. So I don’t mind the cost of cartridges. It gives me great joy when I do shoot with it.
@@wealthytate7908I would love to be in a position where I could shoot game enough to really make the extra cost of 16 bore cartridges an issue. And even then, if you've got the cash to be going after game to the tune of shooting even 10 boxes of cartridges a season, the extra $80 or $100 that those would cost you in 16 bore is a grain of salt in the ocean of other expenses in doing that shooting.
The 16 is a fantastic gun. I’ve owned one since I was 14 years old and now I’m 57.
Ich besitze Flinten in 12, 16 und 20. Alle erfüllen ihren Zweck. Am liebsten ist mir die 20er. Mit ihr kann man am weitesten hinhalten, und man kriegt die meisten Patronen in die Tasche. Im Kaliber 20/70 kriegt man alles bis hin zu 35 Gramm. Wehr mehr braucht, nimmt halt die 20/76 Magnum. Von Baschieri & Pellagri zum Beispiel gibt es exzellente Jagdmunition für jeden Bedarf in dieesm Kaliber. Man sollte sehr auf das Zwischenmittel achten, da dieses die wirksame Schußdistanz (Deckung) sehr maßgeblich bestimmt. EIne 16er oder 12er Flinte wirken natürlich genauso, jedoch sind SIe entsprechend schwerer und voluminöser. Alles Geschmacksache.
So I do not understand why I have become mesmerized by this channel….beautiful guns, beautifully filmed.
I have 1 16 ga , it was a browning auto loader, was a old browning and when i gave it , its first cleaning it shot good mechanically, but the gun never fit me. I could hardly ever hit anything. My dad was the believer in 16 ga and was the only gauge he owned and it was a savage/Stevens SXS with fixed chokes and it was very accurate. You have a great channel, keep up the good work.
That’s a lovely gun - it has a classic look, even though it’s new. Regarding the “square load” theory, surely it will only be square for a specific shot charge? To clarify, say the load is “square” with 28 grams of number 6, then it would become elongated if loaded beyond that, since the internal diameter of the hull remains the same. Really enjoying this channel- a mine of good info! Thanks!
Johnny, 16 bore is the best cartridge for most game shooting. Send me a mx16 for evaluation and I will do the assessment 🙂
I’ve always loved my 16s since I bought my first one (of many I own now). Im not the biggest guy and have found that a sized 16 action fits me better than a 12. I also load 1 1/8oz shells for pheasant. But I am a diehard 16bore fan. Even load 7/8oz 2 5/8” shells for a vintage Remington double.
To that notion, I might buy an 8 bore as it’s more my size. (Although the ammunition is even harder to get than the 16 😂😂)
Always enjoy your video's. I am getting a bit older and carrying the average 12Ga all afternoon in a pheasant field it gets heavy. A lighter 16ga makes a big difference in an afternoon.
Here in Idaho, we like the 16 for chukar and grouse
Dad always shot a 16 ga Ithaca 37(pre-war)... Still handles like a dream... Back in the day it was the way to go for heavy field use. In the days of lead shot it was difficult to see a difference between standard 12 & 16...The next time you're in the States it might be video worthy to experience a pre-war model 37 ithaca or a nickel steel model 12...they really do handle much better than the newer repeaters....??? In sporting clays does the 16 qualify as sub-gauge??? Great video
Your reply pretty much mirrors what I was going to say. I would probably extend the model 37 timeline up to the mid 50s though. I have both pre and post war 16 gauge 37s and the handling is so close it's a wash. The Nickle steel 16 model 12 IS special.
Dad shot his 16 on the company trap league... Lots of 24's &25's... It is in no way a trap gun, but you couldn't tell by his scores... I don't mean to compare either of them to a best quality double, they were built so a guy could raise his family, pay the bills, on a middle class pay check, and still have a sweet handling gun. If you find a good specimen of either, chances are that they'll be among the smoothest pumps you'll ever handle.
16 is America’s sweetheart. You can find her is all kinda shapes. Double, semi-auto, single barrel. If you are rough and rowdy you can even find a pump action. The Belgium A5 makes us Americans loose our mind mostly. You should try on Johnny.
That is a gorgeous piece , sounds beautiful , you're moving it around like you were born with it . Nice little kick by the look , bit of spice . I expect there'll be something tasty being made to feel better in the oven given half a chance 😋
For me the answer to 16 bore is why wouldn’t you have one if shooting clays and big cartridges isn’t your thing you could spec a great gun in either side by side or O/U format that is easy to shoot and fast handling for any form of game shooting and maybe even do double duty on a sim day !
Cheers from the USA! A majority of my shotguns are chambered in 12 guage! However after years of wanting a Winchester 1897, I finally came to own one last year! And I bought it cheap...because it is a 16 guage and since it was made in 1907, still sports the 2 9/16" chamber. I shoot trap with it often and it works well! Here soon I will be buying reloading equipment to load my own shells for it! My take on it, sure 12 and 20 guage are both more convenient and practical options for most, but I quite enjoy my 16 guage and will continue to use it!
What ammo do you use for the 2 9/16 chamber?
@@Flyfishtherockies 2 1/2" shells seem to do nicely! RST shotshell makes a good one!
All I shoot is 16 bores and I wouldn’t shoot anything else. I have a 12 bore, 20 bore and the .410 but I very rarely shoot them. I’ve re-regulated the tubes in my AYA Matador, I have a collection of Dreillings, all in 16 bore, I have a very light and fast French SxS and a Winchester model 12 16 bore of 1930’s vintage in excellent condition. You don’t know what you’re missing out on @Johnny
I have my grandfathers 1932 Belgian Browning in 16 and ive been shooting that gun for 35 years It's my quail and dove gun. I have 28 gauges and 410s I have always loved every shotgun that isn't a 12 or 20
On a range, the 12ga is superior.
The 16ga was made for the uplands, and it's just plain better. It patterns better than a 20 and no matter how light a 12ga is, it's 16ga counterpart would be better
I love 16 ga , there are 2 main problems , ammo availability and cost and unless it is a Browning Sweet 16 they are very hard to sell or resell. If you forget your ammo it is most unlikely you will find some at a shoot
In the US there are plenty of online sellers with 16 gauge ammo.
My father shot a 16 bore side by side drilling hammer gun for years, didn't miss much either & even a left a right brace of Woodcock!
"Carries like 20, hits like 12" Square pattern 2:00 may be weird terminology, but the shot string is shorter in 16 compared to 20.
With the overlap possible between the 20 & 12 gauge, I thought the 16ga was unnecessary. Recently though, someone introduced me to the concept of "Ideal Numbers". That was how he argued for the inherent advantage of the 16ga
I agree!!! 16 gauge is awesome!!! I shoot a few every week.
I love my old 16 pump. I wish i had more options for shells tho
Thanks Jonny, having bought a brand new Rizzini 16 bore Round Body about a year ago, I cannot extol the virtues of this gauge enough. The more slender shape makes them easier to swing to targets, there is little or no pattern disadvantage to the 12 (I shoot imp. cylinder and quarter), and because most of these guns are high-end do not give the recoil you would normally expect. I really wonder why we gravitate towards 20 bores for a lighter gun and overlook these. Although the range of ammo is quite limited, Hull do an excellent quality Pro-Sixteen 7.5 24g for around £389 for 1000.
Please ignore the name above, it's a pseudonym on my Google account that I can't seem to delete.
- Martin Peter Iles
I wonder if not having a 3" chamber available causes a lot of people to shy away from 16? Personally, I don't really shoot high brass, much less not shooting 3" in years.
Seems like everybody's
Grandpa had no trouble getting a limit of ducks back in the day with 2 3/4" loads. Of course that was in the days before steel shot mandates or bag limits. My grandpa only had two shotguns and hunted every weekend and holiday. Browning Auto 5 16 and a Winchester Model 12 16 gauge. The 16 gauge and a pair of English Cockers brought home the meat during the depression. @@donavonrobbins1908
In America… 16 is UNQUESTIONABLY the best OVERALL game gun…
When done right they are fast light and hit HARD
I have a Stevens model 235 sxs hammer gun in 16 ga, my overall favorite. I also have a Stevens "double hump" model 520 pump in 16 ga, a JC Higgins bolt (16 ga), an Iver Johnson solid rib Champion with Schnavel forearm single shot ...in, of course, 16 ga! Oh, and then my 1940 production Winchester model 12, also 16 gauge. I sorta like 16 gauge shotguns...
IMO: Folks who don't care for a 16 probably haven't tried one. They're amazing.
While my father mostly used an old Belgian 12 gauge side-by-side hammer gun he said he especially liked the 16 gauge but that they quit making them as well as ammo for them and he didn't know why, nor why they fell out of favour.
Unfortunately, the 3 RFDs nearest me stock only 12 bore, 20 bore, and only one size of .410 (11gram). I'd love to try one.
Love the video!!! However, you have to pick up a 16 for your collection at Holts or somewhere!!!!!!
I love my old Box Lock Western Arms 16 side by side! It’s got beautiful engravings of a bird dog on either side of the action and the barrels are choked in modified and full. It looks beautiful, shoulders like dream, flat out breaks clays and kills everything I squeeze at. I LOVE IT!
I hate paying through the nose for ammunition and chasing in-stock cartridges, but I lovingly place purple spent hulls on the sporting clays stations as I move on.
16s are the sweet spot.
I killed my first deer with it at 14 years old, and my first banded Canada Goose with it at 18.
My favorite firearm is my 16; no offense to my Stoeger 3500 or my Italian SBE2, or my Knight DISC .50 black powder deer slaying machine. If I could afford it financially, I’d shoulder my 16 every sporting clay round, deer drive, waterfowl hunt, and upland endeavor.
Thanks for letting me share,
-CY Castor
Amazing story! There should not have ever be a question why 16! I grew up in central Serbia.. born 1983.. my father bought a 16 ga over under the same year.. he was always telling me.. that it was a shame.. to carry 12 gauge!😂! It was considered too big ... too unethical.. point!
Those were the times! Now every stupid kid is carrying a 12 gauge Turkish semiauto.. which jams every now and than.. and they think they will kill more game with it😂😂😂😂
Used to be popular in the states until the 3 in 20 ga was introduced in the past few years the 16 ga is making a comeback
if more people bought them , things would be better, a good one patterns better then a 20 , and is lighter then a 12
16 was the most popular gauge in the US until the ATA standardized on 12 and 20. Killed it.
I imagine it waned off when it was left out of the movement for a 3" chamber.
My 28, 20 and 12 bores are Berettas. Last year I picked up the new Browning Sweet 16 Lightening. If I can ever find a box of target shells for $15, I may shoot it. 🤪
By chance you in Michigan? I was looking at a White Lightening 16 on the shelf last year, but it disappeared on me before I could squeeze the doh. Maybe you got it, lol. Just found a new old stock Gran Lightening 16 this year on clearance and snatched it up.
I have a old Savage S×S 16 guage that I use bismuth in and it feels like I can't miss with it, I've shot everything from quail to ducks with it and I want to get a modern gun to shoot it more with steel
They are beautiful, I wish I hadn’t sold my AYA 16b, great video
I have a Stevens SxS 311A in 16 bore. Killed many waterfowl, pre steel shot days and many grouse and pheasant to this day. 1 ounce of #5 or 6 shot in lead or bismuth kills birds very dead.
I need to try one myself Johnny. Have a safe weekend stay out of the smoke and heat
john mt, you are so wrong about a 16 boar, they are so underrated.
Start stocking these rounds in the US because I have a bunch of 16 bore guns.
DO NOT go down the rabbit hole of the 16 bore! They will just become a money pit. If you do purchase one, be sure to keep it alone in a well-lit space. If stored in a dark gun cabinet, they seem to multiply without you knowing it.
Since I am of THAT age and girth,.....I have trimmed back on the weight of my weapons. The 16 is now my longer range go-to gun for the field. A 1924 Winchester Model 12 nickel steel, 1935 Fox Sterlingworth SxS, and a 1938 Ithaga NID SxS.
For short range and smaller birds I now shoot a 28 bore SxS. Screw-in chokes and 26 inch barrels with a weight of only 5 pounds!
And I hit most of what I shoot at under 40 yards.
My Brittany 'Gunner' loves the combination of 28 and Quail! 😃😁👍
Word. Hard to own just one 16 gauge. I have one for going out in rainy-crappy days, one for bushwacking in the dense grouse woods, one for dove hunting or sitting in a duck blind. One for days that end in "Y". Can never have to many.
16 bores are really nice and cheap to get. Sadly it just became very unpopular and therefore ammunition is expensive and rare.
Humble pie is always good for you!!
A fan of small bores 28/20, I know 16 is the perfect hunting gauge. All you need done with 1oz of load those square specs will never be beaten in actuality. It’s such a shame what happened to it.
I still have my 16 gauge SxS 👍🙏🏽🇺🇸✌🏻😎
@@christinamoneyhan5688 That’s very cool Christina! Do you reload your ammo for it?
@@Patrick_B687-3 I’m sorry to say I do not reload for it. If you are interested in reloading there are lots of books on that subject. I did reload 12 gauge years ago for my young son when he started to hunt. They were very light 1 oz. loads it #6 shot. Reloading is not hard just pay attention to the charts from the powder manufactures. Good luck ,be safe, have fun.
@@christinamoneyhan5688 Thank you Christina, but I was curious since I do. I’ve been loading my own 28 and 20 gauge for a long time now. I wondered because 16 isn’t usually easy to find. Not with much selection for sure. And I’ma Huge fan of light loads.
@@Patrick_B687-3 you are right. It is hard to find in the US A. but still in good standing in European countries from what I understand. If you can find hulls you can make shot and powder cards and load your own using proper load data. I have found that 16 gauge hulls might be found on sporting clay grounds in their shooting stand cans where shooters discard them. Hope this information is helpful.
I love the 16 gauge. If it's built right, on a small frame, it carries and swings like a 20 gauge and can hit like a 12 gauge. I think the 28 gauge is way less useful. And now the 3" mag 28 gauge? Just new marketing hype the manufactures are throwing out there.
For a smaler framed guy 170cm i love my grandads 16 handles like a 20 and hits like 12
Great video. Always been tempted by a 16 bore, but something I don’t understand is why this modern 16 bores are HP steel proofed - are there even any 16 bore steel cartridges? Will anyone even bother manufacturing them given the small percentage of shooters that shoot with a 16?
Hi Chris, thanks for your kind words about the video, very excitingly there are a few companies who are developing 16 bore steel loads which should be on the market in the UK for the start of this season, which is really good news! If you have any more questions do please let me know. Best wishes Archie from Sportarm
@@archietrowerArchie Hi, I heard in the video that Hull were releasing a steel load for 16 Bore very soon: who are the others developing steel and do you know what loads and wads they will use?
@@welshbass7 Hull will be the first to release their 16 bore steel load with a non toxic wad, beyond that I am not sure what the lead time on other manufacturers is I am afraid. I know that Lyalvale have a 16 bore steel load out already but it uses plastic wads. Hull are generally at the forefront of the 16 bore cartridge development
@@archietrowerthanks for the information. Good to hear
Be interested to hear what Simon Reinhold thinks about the 16G! 👍
he is a big fan one would guess, having previously won a few competitions wielding one!
Oh ok cool. Thanks
I'm jealous!! I'm in the US and I have a Stevens 16ga pump from the 1930s and I love it, I've killed a lot of birds with it. I wish I could get a quality 16 O/U. I love the 16.
Browning, for one, makes a number of 16 gauge O/U Citori models for the U.S., including the White Lightning that is very, very nice. Franchi, Upland Gun Company (R.F.M.), B. Rizzini, Fausti also make nice O/U 16s.. Those Perazzi 16s are something special for sure!
@@petertira8518
And FAIR jubilee prestige
Too bad that in the US 16 gauge shells are hard to find, stores never have much of a selection, and reloading components are slim to none. The only thing harder to find are 2 1/2 inch shells of any gauge. The market here is in 12 and 20.
Great video Johnny, are you a convert to a Perazzi 16 gauge shotgun? I think that is a beautiful gun, and would shoot very well, like you demonstrated Johnny very skillfully.
Its definitely up there as one of the slickest guns i have shot! would i trade from my 12.... im not grown up enough for that yet!
@@tgsoutdoors Very true Johnny. I don’t think either of us are grown up enough to be able to answer that question. Love my 12 gauge guns a lot, therfore I will not give any of them up, for a 16 gauge. I don’t have many shotguns, but at least I have a few, and the ones I have, I shoot all the time, everyone that I have, has a purpose, Hunting, Trap, Skeet, and Sporting Clays. Love them all. At least 2 guns per discipline, some 3. 😉
my first shotgun was a 16 ga, and I love it
Yeah I understand the "just get a 12" instinct, especially in the UK.
16 does all the things 12 does, just with mildly less recoil, but is more expensive. What's the point right? I get that.
But here in Canada 12 gauge and greater may become prohibited (that is illegal) soon (next 5-10 years), or at the very least will be thrown in to a legal grey zone. At least that is the direction things seem to be going.
So yeah, unless it's a cheap 12 I don't mind potentially losing, I'll stick with 16 for now.
Didn’t know Wout Weghorst was into guns. Pretty cool.
Aya no4 16 bore lovely gun
In Germany, we are only allowed to shoot 12-gauge on the ranges.
I am going to get one maybe not a perizza but a browning hunter grade 1 would do
Beautiful gun Johnny, better start saving.
You can load 16 gauge up to 1.5 ounces with lead shot which is 42.5 grams. With tss you can load up to 2.25 ounces. Factory ammo just isn’t so up to date.
I've only seen data for 1 1/4 oz
Please ignore my ignorance, but can you explain the recent push for smaller bore guns.
From my perspective, they are great fun to shoot and learn about.
Other than that, they have gained a lot of popularity as the ammunition has increased in performance and variety.
I've always thought that the 16, you understand they aren't popular in America and never were, but I always thought that it probably was pretty versatile in terms of hunting. That it really would be a really happy balance between having a 20 and having a 12. Probably know me by now and you probably know that I live in Kentucky. 20 gauge is versatile for quail and rabbits and grouse and woodcock (to a degree)... And yeah I can go shoot duck with it, but sometimes those Canadians are up there. The Canadian geese I mean, and sometimes my 20 gauge... Well, the Canadian geese might as well be in Canada, because they're just as safe from me. I can see a 16 being a better option for a lot of American hunters, I love the 20 gauge. But I have wondered before why it's not 16 and 28, as opposed to 28 gauge and 12 or 20.
As noted by some other posters, 16s were pretty common in the States back in the day. In the ‘60s, when I was first learning to shoot , lots of of my friends were using their fathers’ or grandfathers’ 16s. In fact, one of my cousins still has our grandfather’s old Win Model 12 in 16 gauge (helps to be descended down the male line when it comes to inheriting neat old guns). Their popularity has waned, but there is still a core of people who love them.
@@stog9821 I don't know in Kentucky, I was like 14 before I knew there was anything except for the 20 gauge. My grandfather used the 20 gauge, my father used a 20 gauge, I had a great grandfather who had a 10 gauge. I don't know who has that now. I think my brother might have it. But primarily my great-grandfathers were using 20 gauges, model 12s
If anyone gets a yearning for a sweet pump action, I second the comments recommending the Winchester M12 in 16 gauge. One can be had very reasonably and will last several lifetimes.
16s were popular until 3" mag receivers got popular. Then the manufacturers pretty much tooled up for 20 and 12 in 3" I imagine 16 was left out for cost savings by pushing people above or below to get a 3" chamber.
What I would order (if I even considered the gun) is more attention to wood-to-metal fit. I want the wood to flow into the metal and not step down to it.
I think the 16 gauge really highlights the difference between British of American schools of thought, the Brits like to change their cartridge length, whereas Americans change their cartridge width. If a Brit wants a little ~6-1/4 pound gun to shoot ~7/8 ounces of shot, the Brit uses a dainty little 12-bore with 2" chambers, whereas the American goes to a 20-bore. If the Brit wants a ~7 pound gun for shooting ~1 ounce of shot, they go for a standard 7 pound 12-bore with a standard 2-3/4" chamber, whereas the American goes to a (properly scaled) 16-bore. If the Brit wants to shoot ~1-1/8 ounces of shot out of a ~8 pound gun, the Brit goes to a heavyweight 12-bore with 3" chambers, which is exactly what the American reaches for as well.
Given the British tendency to use lighter charges in their 12-bore guns, I can see why there's less of a case for the 16-bore in the UK, but here in North America where 1-1/8 ounce/32 gram charges are the standard, even for high volume clay shooting, and a typical 12-bore here is about a pound or more heavier than they are in the UK, a properly scaled 16-bore action really shines in the North American market.
There aren’t many guys shooting guns with 2” chambers in the UK mate. Those types of guns are rare and most people wants to shoot with the highest pellet count possible. If someone here wants a lightweight gun, they don’t go for an old shotgun with 2” chambers. Almost everyone will buy a 20 bore to fulfil this need. In general, most game shooting in the UK is done here with 30,32, or even 36 gram cartridges. Most people shoot a 12 bore or 20 bore with 3” chambers nowadays. I’ve never heard of someone changing their cartridge length choice here unless you are going up from 2 and 3/4” to 3” if you are going wildfowling
In the US, during the 1950-1960’s, 16 gauge was very popular for upland bird hunting. My father used a Winchester Model 12 in 16 gauge for hunting Chukars. With a 28” full choke barrel and hand loads of 1 1/8 Oz of shot, He regularly hit birds out to 80 yards. The model 12 holds 7 rounds and is very ergonomic. Today, if you want to shoot a 16, you had better buy a shot shell reloader.
Jonny, Please..... where you and your friend will find a 16 is going to be a Winchester pump carries by a 70 something grey-haired gentleman in bib overalls with a pair of old pointers some where in Mississippi
Great video as always! Most 16 gauges are not true 16 gauge frames which is why the gauge is not commercially successful. I like the idea, however when I feel like spending silly money it will be on 28 gauge lol.
my first gun was a hand-me-down Winchester model 37 16 ga. I got it when I was 4 yo. It kicked like a mule withn a hard buttplate that bruised my arm and gave me something to brag about to the other kids when I showed them the mirror imaged Winchester bruise on my shoulder. Shells were hard to find back then in the 1970s and are hard and expensive to find today. all in all, that was the shotgun that made me fall in love with game shooting and clay shooting sports and guns in general. and no, it ain't no Perazzi !
OK. Let's see if I got this right? My English cousin is asking why he should own a 16 gauge when he can buy a 12 or 20 gauge that will accomplish the same thing? I'm guessing he sees this as a question of redundancy? This shows the difference in the mind set between the American & English shooter. An American would say...."Buy a 12, 16 and 20 gauge shotgun. Why limit yourself to one firearm?" In all honesty the 16 gauge is the step child of shotguns in the USA too. And I don't care what anyone says, the shells are harder to come by than 12 & 20 gauge. If you reload your own shells, you're ahead of the game. I own two 16 gauges and my three 10 gauges see more action than the 16. Still, I love the 16 and won't be giving either of them up.
16 bore or gauge has been one of the classic middle cartridge's. The other being 14 bore or gauge. 12, 16, and 20 bore or gauge are classic over under gun's. Heard 10, 14, and 18 bore or gauge are classic upper crusty side by side gun's.
I think I would be happy with anything Perrazi.
Like Goldilocks and the three bears… the Browning 16 bore clams pheasants left and right.😮
Why does everyone say that 16 guage shells are impossible and expensive to get? I can go to scheels and pick up a box for the same price as 12 or 20 guage and they're in stock.
Almost impossible to get 16g ammo in Canada. Even worse for target loads.
I shot my first pheasant when I was 12 years old with my uncle's old Winchester 16 ga. model 12 with poly choke. That year I asked Santa Clause for a real gun a 12 ga. so he gave me a Browning Auto 5 (hey I was a big kid) It is still the gun I use for 90% of my small game and deer hunting. Recently, I just happened to be in my local hunting store and guess what, hanging over the counter was a brand spanking new Browning Sweet 16. All I had to do was shoulder it once and it sent back 50 something years nothing ever fit my hand and shouldered so perfectly, I still love my now old browning auto 12 but I am going to ask Santa for a brand spanking new Browning Sweet 16.
I had almost the exact same experience. I went to my local shop to pick up a hunting licence last Sept. and guess what was hanging right behind the center of the counter a brand new shiny Browning 16. The second I shouldered that gun I knew I was going to ask Santa for one and guess what; Santa knew I was a good boy this year. Now I really can't wait for pheasant season to open. By the way I shot my first pheasant with a Model 12 16 gauge which also had a poly choke, that I borrowed from my uncle when he and my dad took me out the first time in 1971!!!