The Death Of The 16 Bore? 

16 bore shotguns have gracious lines, are symmetrical and beautiful, well balanced , easy handling and never caught the "magnum" disease . They shoot beautifully and comfortably the ounce (28 gr) "square load". Tip: Many professional photographers use 16 bore shotguns for photos and illustrations because their lines and shape are slimmer and more pleasant to the eye

I always liked the 16 gauge. I have a sweet 16 ga double SXS. It is a very good cartridge and needs to be respected.

16s maybe rare in the UK but really gaining popularity in the states. Browning has several models in O/U and the A-5 is new in 16.

Really glad you did a video with a 16 gauge. It’s extremely common where I live here in Kentucky and even our Walmarts sell ammo for them. You left out 24 and 32 gauge, although those are the true definition of rare. I have both.

Nothing better, I used it on everything including whitetail deer. It works great with buckshot on running deer out to 50 yds. and slugs to 100yds. It's nice to have two barrels. I also have used a model 12 pump in 16 gauge I just alternate slug and 00 buck. When it comes to birds it is truly great. I find my 20 a little under powered at times for late season pheasants, my 12 a bit too much gun for close cover shooting. The 16 is the goldy locks of shotguns, just right for just about anything.

The 16 gauge is known to be the perfect bore. It is known to throw the most balanced pattern with the least amount of flyers. I own 7 of them. And Looking to add another to my collection. Thanks for the video.

I have three 16s. An early Browning A-5, an Ithaca 37 pump gun, and a beautiful Pre-war Czech double gun. (Opava Ferdinand) The Browning and the Czech gun are chambered for 2-9/16" (65mm) shells. The 16 was always my preferred gun for pheasant and grouse and decoyed ducks (when we could use lead shot) 1-1/8 or 1-1/4oz of #6 shot being my favorite loads. IMO the 16 suffered from a couple changes in the USA 1. It was not included in NSSA gauge classes, so you have to shoot it in the 12 ga class if you use a 16 bore for skeet, and are limited to 1 oz. (28g) of shot, even though the 12 ga guns you are shooting with can use 1-1/8oz (32g). 2. Manufacturers stopped making guns sized to the 16 ga. and just put 16 ga. barrels on 12 ga. receivers. My older Browning and Ithaca guns have smaller, lighter receivers than 12 gauge gun of the time. 3. The 20 ga. 3" magnum took over the spot of the 16 ga. field load...with smaller and lighter guns to boot. 4. Reduced demand for 16 ga. shells increased prices of the shells in the stores, and decreased options for loadings. The 16 bore didn't "die", it was systematically killed. I still love mine. I handload the shells, so the 2-9/16" shells are not problem, I just slide 2-3/4" shells into a piece of 3/4" copper tubing cut to 2-9/16" and trim them to length. I adjust the dies on my press and VOILA! I use the shorter shells in the Ithaca also. Reloading them makes the cost similar to 12 and 20 bore.

Several years ago by chance I came across a Winchester model 12 in 16ga at my local pawn & I scooped it up & used it for white wing dove and I was impressed with its performance over my 20ga. Since then I picked up a Tristar viper G2 in 16ga and now I use 16 exclusively on rabbits, chachalaca, quail & dove in south Texas.

Have several 16 gauges ( Browning Auto-5's; Standard & Sweet Sixteen, Belgium & Japan, new A-5, Remington Mod.11 Sportsman, Savage 720. Also Sterlingworth and L.C.Smith SxS's, and a Win. mod.12. They will take whatever you're after if you have the right ammunition and can shoot! Typically not as heavy as a 12 and won't ''beat you to death'' like a 3'' 20 ga. Grew up around them in the '60's and have loved them ever since! Btw, a lovely example there that you're shooting!

Canada here. I have my Dads 1957ish Ithaca 37R Deluxe Feather light 16g and it is in pristine condition. It is a clay killer, hard on the pocket as far as shells are concerned but works smooth as butter and is really fun to shoot.

I have and will forever have an affinity for the 16 gauge in my world... it was the first shotgun I ever harvested a squirrel with using a single shot and then when my grandfather passed I ended up with his Ithaca 16 gauge pump... to me the have the best of both the 12 and 20 ... and it was the go to gauge for just about anyone in my family

I never went for 16ga because it's not a big enough of a difference to make a noticeable difference. But if I ever do, I'll be hand loading my own shells like I do for my beloved 28ga.

I still have my grandfather’s Fox model B in 16ga. It is an extremely sweet, shooting side-by-side. Ammo in the United States, is not only hard to find but very expensive. Keep up the good work, Dave.

Just picked up a Savage Arms "Model Fox B" which was manufactured in the 1940's. Beautiful firearm and for being around 80 years old felt great to shoot!

I started in shotguns in my teens with a .410, then a 12. I always heard the reverence when the sweet sixteen was spoken of. Most stores in my youth only carried common guages and the sixteen wasn’t offered. Many years shooting skeet, a 12 was in my hand. Now in my later years I have an affinity for the twenty bore and do most everything with it that others do with larger bores with less punishment. Availability and cost of shells in my area keeps me in the common 20 that I use and I always check prices of the others on the shelf. There are no affordable sixteens on my local shelves, and I seldom see a gun in any shop in that guage. This must be a southern thing because those folks I speak with from the north and midwestern states all have experience with them. It seems I’ve been regionally deprived. I’ve handled a few super side by side sixteens in major shops up north, one in particular in Findlay, Ohio, that were works of art and still very tight in the action and usable. I could appreciate some time spent with one to expand on my experience. Thanks for the video, I learned something today.

I have my Aya Hunters Gun in caliber 16, love it! The crows and pigeons.. not so much 😉

Glad you have addressed this subject.

I have a W&S model 700 in 16 gauge s x s with 28l barrels choked M/F. Built in Birmingham for an elderly gentleman. Sadly he passed away and it was passed down to his son who owned a matched pair of his father’s Boss shotguns and a number of other very nice shotguns. He had no need for the little 16 and so he sold it to me along with a very nice 12 ga. Greener. Took all the coin I had, but was very happy to own both.👍🇨🇦👨‍🦳

My grandfather had a lovely English 16 bore just for partridge he told my nan . Between that and his pape cant choose i am truly blessed to now have them both with me

Try buying ammo for anything but 12bore. Even 20 & .410 has to be ordered now

I was bought up useing the 16, I love them, I am in the uk, I have two 16 Bore side by sides one is a hammer gun I bought new 48 years ago and still use it a lot when rough shooting the other one i have was my dads its a belgium made gun very much like your 28 bore it has two woodcock engraved on each barrel at the breech, both mine have swivels for a sling, I see that a lot of 16 bore guns have sling swivels on them.

I have a 16g SxS Bayard, made early 70s. Bought 3 months ago, English stock, chromed barrels, double trigger, cocking indicators, hand engraved. Presently refinishing the stock as it was horrible...40 coats of hand rubbed oil applied. Cartridges readily available . Next weeks acquisition will be a 20g SxS 😊

16 gauge is my favorite and has been my whole life. I am 33 now a 16 gauge was the first gun I ever fired back when I was only 10 years old. Sweet shooting is exactly what it is. An oldie but a goldy. Also 16 is coming back and you can still get all sorts of new production guns in 16 gauge.

I've got a Mossberg 190 bolt-action in 16 gauge. I love that old gal. I typically buy rifled slugs to keep short term usage costs down. Less than $10 where I live for a box of 2 3/4 inch 16 ga. shells. The Gun itself I can't find anything to complain about, considering what it is, and the time it was made. Also, bolt-action shotguns are really cheap o buy if you are looking for a home defense gun on a budget. I got mine for $150. It does what it is supposed to do very well, which is shoot at what you aim at. And I agree that adding a 16ga. to your collection does tend to draw a small crowd to your table every time you go shoot at the range. And that's because you don't see many people bring them. Most people bring in AR-15s, pump shotguns or handguns to shoot.

David, I have a 1957 Ithaca 37 pump in 16 gauge. Great gun and I once heard that the 16 gauge was the "gentleman's gauge" ! Also and I do not know if true but that way back some ammo companies lobbied against the 16 gauge in some competitions in favor of the 12 and 20. Regards from Montana USA, JZ

I use 3 cal 16 bore. Browning A5, Merkel superpose and a side by side . Great guns! I use 26 grams steelshot, 4 and 5.

Looking around and researching the 16. Never seen a 16 firearm or ammo in this area. No list of anything available in 16 at local gun store. Nobody talks about a 16. Very rare. Ammo almost twice the price of 12. All I have are 12's. And adapters for 20, 28, 410. I'd get a 16 adapter if it was possible. Don't see enough advantages for a 16. Can probably load a 12 to same 16 specs of load and charge. Those shotguns do look very nice.

I hunt with my Dad's old 16 ga Stevens 77 pump with the Savage Super Choke, I prefer it to a 12 or 20 for most walked up hunting. Better pattern than a 20, easier to carry than most of my 12s & easier on the shoulder. Nice to be able to quickly adjust the choke. Would love to find a lightweight nice double though. Here in the US 16 ga ammo is hard to find at times. RIO loads some lighter ammo that would be suitable for new shooters. Back in the 1970s the 16 was the thing to have. My Uncle has a Ithaca 37 lightweight with a polychoke, that is a sweet gun.

I have had my EM Reilly 16 bore hammer gun for some time and is my favourite, can lug it about all day as is lighter than my AYA No2. Feed it on Hull Pro 16-24-7.5 . Or Eley VIP Game 28-7. If all else fails have some brass cartridges and home fill. I have a slip on recoil pad as it does increase the pull length and gives ones shoulder a bit of relief as it does kick like a horse on 28's. Always raises a smile from fellow shooters who see it.

Ballistically there meant to be perfect as the 16 bore cartridges are a square load the are having a bit of a come back for game shooting on some shoots a perfectly scaled 16 bore would be a nice thing to sit in the middle of the two bore sizes

I think a better description could have perhaps been given? When I was a boy in the mid-1960s the 16 bore was known as the "old man's gun" and the 20 bore as the "ladies' gun". That is the 16 bore was just that half a pound lighter to carry (and to lift into the shoulder to take the shot) than a 12 bore of equal barrel length yet with a better shot load in it's cartridges (usually 1 ounce) than the 20 bore with its then "normal" 13/16 ounce load. On the continent it's always been a popular calibre with all ages. For clays? The explanation I heard was that as US Skeet was classified as 12, 20, 28 and .410" that the 16 bore was not permitted in 20 bore "class" but only in 12 bore "class" where it was at a disadvantage to the 12 bore user and his or her 1 1/8 ounce or 1 1/4 ounce loaded cartridges in competition.

American bobwhite quail hunting kept the 16 alive and fairly well in the southeast US and Midwest until the big decline of that bird hunting sport through agricultural changes. The 1970s saw a rapid gravitation to 12 ga or 20 ga and away from 16. The 16s also suffered badly because of not getting properly included in the trap and skeet game. The reality is that 16 ga is an extremely capable bore size and can be loaded to much higher payloads than what is generally seen in factory loads. In fact one of the former high performance loads consisting of 1 1/4 ounce of buffered copper plated shot was only just discontinued about 2015 or so. It actually should be made available as a turkey load or pheasant load again.

Remington Wingmaster 870 in 16 ga. made around 1970-75 . Nice and lightweight for hunting. Points nicely.

I have been hunting with 16 gauge for 17 years, there is no better caliber, I am in love with it!! I own 12 and 20 gauge, but 16 is something special...

a good English 16bore with an ounce load is dream to shoot lighter and faster than 12 bore the ultimate partridge caliber

Yea you forgot to mention the 10 gauge, I grew up with a 16 here in the colonies from geese, duck, snipe, and dove it does it all dont know why the ammo is so expensive .

Here in the states that my gauge that I shoot regularly. I shoot sporting clays, trap and 5 stand. I mainly shoot a fausti Caledon. 30”.

In the USA they are becoming more popular in the hunting area.

Brown ING sweet 16 and model 12 Winchester the best hunting game guns in 16ga I know of shells are hard to find but I would buy one in a minute 😊👍

I like your video. I have Stevens model 530A 16 gauge side by side. Love it. Great bird gun

16 bore is still quite common here in Hungary as many hunters still using old Soviet era shotguns (IZH Baikals and Tula TOZ ones). You can still buy brand new Baikals in 16 bore (yet they are not as well and nicely made like the real classic ones back in the 70s, 60s and 50s). I wouldn't say even the old ones were sofisticated shotguns, but they got the job done well. Here also you can buy quite a good selection of ammunition including slugs for 16 bore. Selection of ammunition is narrower and a bit more expensive than for 12 bore but still neither rare nor horroristicly expensive. Please make a video of 24 bore. They were used in Europe in the past and if I'm right they are still very popular in South America (Argentina for example).

Stevens Savage 16 side by side. One of my favs in the cabinet

I have a Remington Model 31 from 1948. It is a sweet shooting gun. Bought it for my son, but I honestly have more fun shooting it. Will be hard to had it over when he comes of age. Love the 16!

Everyone's grandpa seemed to have a break action single shot 16 when I was growing up in Texas in the 90s. Ammo selection was always an issue, but it was many kids first dove hunting gun. I haven't seen ammo on retail shelves in decades.

I have a cased single trigger Webley & Scott Model 701, side by side, 16 bore built in 1972 with 30" barrels. It is in great condition and is a fabulous pigeon gun.

My favourite calibre

Thank you for this video. I bought a brand new Rizzini 16 Round Body last summer, and it is probably one of, if not the best gun I have ever owned. It is light and would make an excellent 'ladies' or beginners gun over a 20 bore, predominantly because you have little or no pattern disadvantage in comparison with a 12. Yes, ammo is more limited and expensive, but it doesn't have to be your main gun. I use Hull 24/7.5 lead for clays, but I live in hope that the cartridge manufacturers will increase their selection in the changes that lie ahead.

I've had 16 bores for years. I bought a Browning Citori lightweight ten years ago, imported from the US. I live in New Zealand. Ammunition is available but harder to find. I can homeload what I need. I prefer sixes for everything. They are smaller to handle than twelves and fill the hands better than twenty bores. They are light and fast, great for rough shooting and there are plenty of bargains to be had. AYA Number No 3s and 4s are excellent, auctions have a few non ejector English guns at great prices. There are many German guns about, not a popular style but well built. Get one, they are great!

I have read in a number of books and shooting magazines that 16 bore produces the best shot pattern as the shot stream is “square”?

Love for the 16! I have 2! A new Tri Star Trinity and an old pump designed by John Browning the Ranger 30!

The 16bore is a lovely gun but it's just too near the 12 and 20 and there's a bigger choice of cartridges for both. It'll not die out but it'll always be niche.

Here in my part of Ohio the 2 shot shells that are hardest to find are 16 gauge and .410. It's been over a year since I last saw .410 on the shelf. Yes, i bought it. Right now, shot shells in general are harder to find. But I can still find various 12 gauge at least. Anytime I see bird/clay shot at WalMart I buy it (as much as I despise that store).

here in the USA it's very hard to find hulls so I had made up all brass hulls. Primers are still hard to come by as well as shot but I have just enough for the season.

I've an old hand made Josef Just 16bore side by side made in Ferlach Austria, it's a wee cracker! I love it for walked up days or even while training my dog will rough shooting. It's light weight, very fast shooting give clean kills with the smaller 28g Gamebore Royals. Fun gun and draws attention from others at the shoot. Thumbs up from me. However the change to steel has me worried for it as it's 3/4 fixed choke on both barrels, I might have to fork out for bismuth as the 16g will likely be the last to be manufactured in alternative materials. Thoughts?

Got an old j.p sauer&sohn 16 bore from my grandfather, they build a bombproof gun at that time! But in my country we can only shoot steel loads so not manny variation and the barrels are realy thight ( got the choke’s drilled at 1/4 -1/2) so the steel comes out like one big lumb its hard to hit someting😂

Why were you loading the shells into the gun for him? We don't do this in the US so just curious.

I wish that all manufacturers would go back to the purple case.

Really enjoy the 16 gauge shotguns. Have many O/U s and pumps.

I actually have 3 16 gauge shotguns and i love them I love them just as much as the 12 gauge shotguns

Got two laurona sxs and a Browing 525 lovely to shoot

I Just bought a older liege 16 bore and a new browning b525 16 bore. I'm from belgium and we can't shoot lead annymore but the price of 16 bore and 20 bore cartridge's are the same. 10/12 euro for 25 steel cartridge.

I don’t no why I like them better than a 12 or even a 20 but they are brilliant guns I used to shoot 2 side by sides one box lock one side lock I started to do a lot of pigeon shooting they did not 6k-7k of cartridges a year as you pointed out Browning make 16 bore under and over a friend of mine Gun shop owner said I have something you might like grade 6 so I purchased it about 12-14 years ago funny story attached to this I was shooting Pentillie castle with my gun shop friend which Tony Kennedy ran he said like your gun I said thank you he said I imported those for Grouse shooting I now have one more not quite as nice but I can use them as a pair would not use anything else.

Ideal gauge for upland game

David, I have two 16ga SxS and I love them. However, the ammo is very hard to find and expensive. Skeet killed the 16ga in America because it was not used in the sub-gauge. I think they are better than a 20ga and not as heavy as a 12ga. Great for small game.

Perazzi and longthorn make scale down genuine 16 g frames new shotguns. I have used the perazzi absolutely wonderful ,great handling.most ammo companies make 16 g ammo , eley ,gamebore, hull ,rc, fiocchi .

I have never owned a 16 bore couple of my friends have, I will stick to 12 bore ... not saying I would own one, my dad always used to say never have a cat amongst the pigeons! Thank you

16’s always been my fav! I’m very tempted to add a Browning A5 to the cabinet tho! Were they called the Sweet 16 model? And how rare are they in the UK?

Support for steel?

The 16 to me is the hunters gun carries like twenty shoots like a 12 love my 16 teens

16 best all around. Shot one all my life. 12 has more variety. 16 over 20 even 3 inch loads

I just bought a ithaca 37 in 16g. I suspect reloading will have to be done to have ammo.

The 16 gadget seems to be more prevelant in the states. It's lost popularity because of the prevelance of cheap 12 and 20 ga. I can still order new and relatively affordable 16 Gauge or bore guns

Don't get the impression that 16 ga is completely on it's death bed. Just much reduced in common usage. There are a lot of them in America that get at least limited use. Currently there is small game and bird hunting appropriate ammo at my local Walmart. Ammo variety and availability on retailers shelves would very likely stimulate more use of old classic guns that spend a lot of time sitting idle. I think it's kind of a loop causing the 16s biggest headache. Reduced use caused reduced ammo demand, reduced ammo demand caused less inventory by retailers, less demand by sellers caused ammo makers to cut production and eliminate variety. Literally a self fulfilling crisis for 16 ga users.

Hardly surprising the cost of 16 bore cartridges.

All I have are 16 gauge shotgun, it’s all I hunt with and shoot clays and trap.

I have a 16 that comes out for some quail once a year

I do have a unnamed 16bore in a single barrel.

The real problem is cartridges. Limited selection of load and shot size and particularly very few fibre wads which are important considering that the main use wjill be for game. Those that are available are expensive even compared to 20 bore. If you shoot a lot of clays they are just too expensive. I shoot a lot of .410 and some 28 bore with cartidges for these now in excess of £400 per K and becoming very difficult to find available. I cannot envisage getting a 16 which will be even more difficult and expensive.

Several gun manufacturers here in the US are making 16ga guns. Browning in particular, still making the White Lighting Citori and 2 or three different Citori models in 16ga. I have a 16ga. Winchester model 24 SxS in 16ga. Not one of my favorite guns to shoot. Has a frame same size as the 20ga. and I think recoils more than a 12ga. I also have a 12ga. Model 24 Winchester. 16ga.has more recoil than the 12ga. Ammunition is almost impossible to find for the 16ga. now, and is very expensive. I would rather just shoot a 20ga. or 12ga.

I love my 16 gauge and my 28 gauge

I got a f.a.i.r. 16 gauge o/u last year. I dont think they are as uncommon as this bloke says they are. Lots of them here in Ireland 🇮🇪

Well, I would not necessarily call a 16 gauge rare or it's ammo for that matter. They are a little less common then .410s in North America and more popular than 32, 28, 24 and 10 gauge shotguns world wide. An estimated 13-15% of shotgunners prefer the 16 gauge as the best shotgun gauge, and I am one of these people. I use to not really care for shotguns either, until I went bird hunting with a .410, and got really good with it. Then I began experimenting with other gauges, these are my results. .410 is light recoiling, but expensive to shoot, and is the worst of the shotgun calibers. .410 bore is too anemic for practical use at distances beyond 30m, and it's more frustrating than useful for new shooters. It is also known as a bird crippler for a reason, and I will verify, that it kills about 65-75% of the time, the rest of the time it wounds the bird. So it's the gauge you use if you want the ultimate challenge. 28 gauge is more ideal, but less versatile than the rest of the gauges as no defense ammo is offered really. It's also costly, and the rarest gauge of the group, and commands the highest prices generally for guns and ammo. It's a great beginners and professional gauge and works amazing for clay shooting and hunting. 20 gauge is now the most popular, and now 20 gauge guns have skyrocketed through the roof. Winchester Model 12s use to be $400, now around $800 for the 20 gauge field models. 20 gauges has patterning issues, and I have had many troubles hunting with a 20 gauge. I find 7/8oz loads works great, but all my 20 gauges suffer with heavier loads and larger than #5 shot. Shot stringing is also a prevalent issue with 20 gauge, and recoil can be much higher than even 16 gauge Magnum loads, especially with the over stuffed 20 gauge 3" shells. I notice with shotguns, especially 20 gauge and 12 gauge 3 1/2" shells, LESS IS MORE. 16 gauge patterns better than 12 and 20 gauges, and is extremely effective when bird hunting. In my experience, it really does hit like a 12 gauge, but without damaging the meat and less feequent shots on the meat. The recoil is very mild, and about the same as a 20 gauge game load, unless you hand load. 16 gauge is an under appreciated gauge, that shoots 1oz and 1/8oz of shot extremely accurately, consistently and effectively on game and clays. I highly recommend the 16 gauge to anyone who likes shotguns. I don't need to say anything about 12 gauge, except 3 1/2" Magnums only work for 10 gauges and larger, and the more you stuff in a shotshell, the worse the pattern gets. 16 gauge is the perfect compromise. Also, 16 gauges are getting more popular, and a true 16 gauge double is around 6 to 6.5lbs, and they are extremely fun to shoot. Most people I have observed, shoot the 16 gauge equally to the 20 gauge and do better than they do with 12 gauge. Just when it comes to hunting, I recommend a 16 gauge any day of the week, unless you are waterfowl hunting. Not to say you can't, but 10 gauge is the gauge for waterfowling. It will hit to 80m, with authority.

Some of the best ballistics you will ever see from a shotgun come from a 16 bore. Think about it... all the gauges are measured based on 16 gauge. 16 1oz lead balls in one pound... This is all how your loads are developed and measured.

He is just a machine with a double.

I think the demise of lead shot will sound the death knell for the 16. Delightful little guns that punch above their weight. I have a BLE by W.J.Jeffery, a BLNE by Midland Gun Co. and a double hammer gun by J.Fry of Derby. The latter is Black Powder Proof so I home load for that one.

Anything a 12 bore can do a 16 can , and for being lighter in weight and recoil.

20ga 3" is a lighter gun with the same 1.25 shot load and ammo is easier to find. Why bother with a 16ga

Shoots like a 20 gauge And it’s like a 12 gauge that’s why they’re called sweet 16

12 gauge sucks...

16ga is perfect for gameshooting and is a very potent bit mild cartridge to shoot. Its the square shot ideal .

Watch yr past tense in speaking pal.16g.ia in demand .I own a Browning semi auto. In Trinidad. Best gun In d market and worldwide