16 gauge or 12 gauge

nc.hunter · 03-29-2008, 07:11 PM

sorry wonted to post a poll.

jerry · 03-29-2008, 09:03 PM

16 ga.

blaster · 03-29-2008, 09:12 PM

ArkansasHunter · 03-29-2008, 09:17 PM

There was a poll earlier today with the same question. I voted 20ga, but i would love to have a 16ga. Model 1100 though...A.H

samuel · 03-30-2008, 08:41 AM

The 16ga is a dead horse because the mfg,s wanted it that way.I agree due to the fact that you are lucky to find ammo for it,they dont make 3",and it isnt big enough to do .12ga work,or small enough to do .20ga work.On the other hand,I always loved the Sweet Sixteen. sam.

ArkansasHunter · 03-30-2008, 09:17 AM

A few years ago Remington reintroduced the 16ga. in there Model 1100 and 870 shotguns.
They dropped them after 1 year.
I think I saw some at Bud's Gun Shop web site 2 weeks ago or The Gun Source web site.
So if anyone is interested in a 16ga. Check these sites...A.H

Righteous · 03-30-2008, 09:23 AM

12 just because of the ammo choices and prices

Sooner Shooter · 03-31-2008, 12:41 AM

I bought my 16 guage in 68 and have had it ever since. I keep it not because it's a sixteen guage but because I have confidence with it. I reload my own shells so it shoots pretty much like any 2 and 3/4 12.

nick112207 · 03-31-2008, 12:48 AM

Wait doesnt H&R make new production 16 guage single shot shotguns?

alfred · 04-02-2008, 11:11 PM

I love my 16 and 410s but it is a rip off when it comes to buying shells.

I AIN'T DEAD AND I AIN'T QUITTING.ALFRED

meatloaf · 04-12-2008, 12:26 AM

16 is fine for wing shooting but forget about water foul since lead shot is illeagle. Just not enough gun to pull down big birds. Go with a 20 the ammo is cheap and you can load magnums so steel shot will take something bigger than a grouse.

Oxford · 04-12-2008, 05:44 PM

I found plenty of 16 ga shells at the Dick's Sporting Goods store. Best of all it was priced at $5/box. Naturally, I'm taking my Sweet Sixteen turkey hunting April 26-27 using 4-0 shells.

Southpaw03 · 04-23-2008, 08:24 PM

I prefer the 16. Besides, its kind of funny when somebody asks to borrow some shells then finds out you are shooting a 16 and they are shooting a 12.

I also like the old adage " carries like a 20 and hits like a 12"

Capt'n Mil Coll · 04-23-2008, 09:24 PM

I like em all.

ArkansasHunter · 04-23-2008, 09:28 PM

I noticed that Wal Mart Doe's carry 16 ga. shells the other day and like the 410 and 20 ga. it was $10 some thing a box.
12 ga, was $7 plus a box.

Asphalt Cowboy · 04-23-2008, 10:31 PM

The main, and I think only reason the 16 has nearly died in the U.S. is because American hunters started demanding more from one gun. They wanted a gun that could use a load light enough so as not to shred bird such as quail and grouse yet capable of using a load heavy enough to down the largest of waterfowl. IMHO it all hinged on economics. In an era when most folks could easily afford only one gun the 3 inch 12 gauge fell quite readily into that niche.
As for the 20, 16, 12 can/can't do debate, my 16 will handily down anything I might wish to hunt with it. Granted, I don't hunt geese but I wouldn't think twice if they were called in to decoys and the range were within reasonable limits. Pheasant and teal fall to it as readily as quail and feral pigeons, and all this with the limitations of a two and a half inch cartridge. It's called being proficient with your shotgun.

.22hustler · 04-24-2008, 07:08 AM

My first shotgun was a 16 bolt action from Western Auto bought in 1966. Adjustable choke. Nice gun but sold it to buy my 1200 Winchester in 1967.

andrew cochran · 04-24-2008, 11:49 AM

12 because of ammo choices.

Lng Rng · 04-24-2008, 12:40 PM

I would go for a 12 gauge. Nothing wrong with a 16, but the ammo choices and guns offered in them are so limited.

Big Tool · 04-24-2008, 12:53 PM

My dad has a remington 1100 in 16ga. I don't think he has ever used the gun for anything.

The ammo is rather scarce around here.

Quick story.

Me and my buddy were shooting skeet one day and somehow I grabbed a box of the 16ga ammo instead of 12ga. It was actually a big box with assorted cheap shells.

We were shooting and my wouldn't eject and load properly. I probably shot 3-4 times before I found the culprit. I was shooting the 16ga out of a 12. Didn't hurt a thing, but i did scare me a bit. Luckily nothing went wrong.

03-29-2008, 07:11 PM	#1
nc.hunter Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Forsyth county of north carolina Posts: 211 Trader Rating: (0)	16 gauge or 12 gauge sorry wonted to post a poll. __________________ I'M A SOUTHERNER THROUGH AND THROUGH!

03-29-2008, 09:03 PM	#2
jerry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 10,760 Trader Rating: (0)	16 ga. __________________

03-29-2008, 09:12 PM	#3
blaster Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: big pine key, florida Posts: 400 Trader Rating: (0)	both __________________ peace through superior firepower

03-31-2008, 12:41 AM	#8
Sooner Shooter Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 593 Trader Rating: (0)	I bought my 16 guage in 68 and have had it ever since. I keep it not because it's a sixteen guage but because I have confidence with it. I reload my own shells so it shoots pretty much like any 2 and 3/4 12. __________________ Save the drama for your mama!

04-02-2008, 11:11 PM	#10
alfred Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Pembroke,Georgia Posts: 8 Trader Rating: (0)	tTHE PRICE OF THE SHELLS IS AWFUL! I love my 16 and 410s but it is a rip off when it comes to buying shells. I AIN'T DEAD AND I AIN'T QUITTING.ALFRED

03-29-2008, 09:17 PM	#4
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,521 Trader Rating: (0)	There was a poll earlier today with the same question. I voted 20ga, but i would love to have a 16ga. Model 1100 though...A.H

03-30-2008, 08:41 AM	#5
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,051 Trader Rating: (0)	The 16ga is a dead horse because the mfg,s wanted it that way.I agree due to the fact that you are lucky to find ammo for it,they dont make 3",and it isnt big enough to do .12ga work,or small enough to do .20ga work.On the other hand,I always loved the Sweet Sixteen. sam.

03-30-2008, 09:17 AM	#6
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,521 Trader Rating: (0)	A few years ago Remington reintroduced the 16ga. in there Model 1100 and 870 shotguns. They dropped them after 1 year. I think I saw some at Bud's Gun Shop web site 2 weeks ago or The Gun Source web site. So if anyone is interested in a 16ga. Check these sites...A.H

03-30-2008, 09:23 AM	#7
Righteous Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 214 Trader Rating: (0)	12 just because of the ammo choices and prices

03-31-2008, 12:48 AM	#9
nick112207 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 337 Trader Rating: (0)	Wait doesnt H&R make new production 16 guage single shot shotguns?

04-12-2008, 12:26 AM	#11
meatloaf Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: lakewood CO Posts: 863 Trader Rating: (0)	16 is fine for wing shooting but forget about water foul since lead shot is illeagle. Just not enough gun to pull down big birds. Go with a 20 the ammo is cheap and you can load magnums so steel shot will take something bigger than a grouse.

04-12-2008, 05:44 PM	#12
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 12,981 Trader Rating: (0)	I found plenty of 16 ga shells at the Dick's Sporting Goods store. Best of all it was priced at $5/box. Naturally, I'm taking my Sweet Sixteen turkey hunting April 26-27 using 4-0 shells. __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".

04-23-2008, 08:24 PM	#13
Southpaw03 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: S. E Virginia CSA Posts: 5 Trader Rating: (0)	I prefer the 16. Besides, its kind of funny when somebody asks to borrow some shells then finds out you are shooting a 16 and they are shooting a 12. I also like the old adage " carries like a 20 and hits like a 12"

04-23-2008, 09:24 PM	#14
Capt'n Mil Coll Military Rifle Collector Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Right behind you. -NRA Member- Posts: 2,058 Trader Rating: (0)	I like em all. __________________ Let's light this fuse and see what happens!

04-23-2008, 09:28 PM	#15
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,521 Trader Rating: (0)	I noticed that Wal Mart Doe's carry 16 ga. shells the other day and like the 410 and 20 ga. it was $10 some thing a box. 12 ga, was $7 plus a box.

04-23-2008, 10:31 PM	#16
Asphalt Cowboy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: A one horse town in E.Kansas. Posts: 291 Trader Rating: (0)	The main, and I think only reason the 16 has nearly died in the U.S. is because American hunters started demanding more from one gun. They wanted a gun that could use a load light enough so as not to shred bird such as quail and grouse yet capable of using a load heavy enough to down the largest of waterfowl. IMHO it all hinged on economics. In an era when most folks could easily afford only one gun the 3 inch 12 gauge fell quite readily into that niche. As for the 20, 16, 12 can/can't do debate, my 16 will handily down anything I might wish to hunt with it. Granted, I don't hunt geese but I wouldn't think twice if they were called in to decoys and the range were within reasonable limits. Pheasant and teal fall to it as readily as quail and feral pigeons, and all this with the limitations of a two and a half inch cartridge. It's called being proficient with your shotgun.

04-24-2008, 07:08 AM	#17
.22hustler Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New York Posts: 759 Trader Rating: (0)	My first shotgun was a 16 bolt action from Western Auto bought in 1966. Adjustable choke. Nice gun but sold it to buy my 1200 Winchester in 1967.

04-24-2008, 11:49 AM	#18
andrew cochran Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Little town in ARKANSAW! Posts: 1,904 Trader Rating: (1)	12 because of ammo choices. __________________ If you don't have anything good to say... Don't say it!

04-24-2008, 12:40 PM	#19
Lng Rng Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 944 Trader Rating: (0)	I would go for a 12 gauge. Nothing wrong with a 16, but the ammo choices and guns offered in them are so limited.

04-24-2008, 12:53 PM	#20
Big Tool Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: MS Posts: 597 Trader Rating: (0)	My dad has a remington 1100 in 16ga. I don't think he has ever used the gun for anything. The ammo is rather scarce around here. Quick story. Me and my buddy were shooting skeet one day and somehow I grabbed a box of the 16ga ammo instead of 12ga. It was actually a big box with assorted cheap shells. We were shooting and my wouldn't eject and load properly. I probably shot 3-4 times before I found the culprit. I was shooting the 16ga out of a 12. Didn't hurt a thing, but i did scare me a bit. Luckily nothing went wrong.