Quote:
Originally Posted by pj67coll
Nice collection. I'm mostly ignorant of shotguns. How easu is it to get shells for the 16 gauge?
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5 to 10 years ago, you would have sworn the 16 gauge was a dying breed in this country - very few places carried shells for them, and a very limited selection at those that did. And very few manufacturers still carried any new guns in 16 gauge.
Reasons for this were many and varied, and would be a lengthy discussion just by itself.
But thankfully, for those of us that still have a fondness for the 16, in the past few years it looks to be making a comeback of sorts - more and more places carrying 16 gauge shells, and something resembling a decent selection at that. And more gun manufacturers seem to be bringing out 16 gauge versions of their guns these days - there's a 16 gauge version of the CZ Bobwhite - albeit with old-fashioned fixed chokes and only 2 3/4" shells. Seems when it came to changeable choke tubes and 3" magnum shells, the gun manufacturers for varying reasons decided to concentrate on the 12 and 20, and left the 16 as the "odd man out".
If nothing else, you can go online to places like Brownell's and Cheaper Than Dirt, and see what's available in 16 gauge ammo.
Downside is, because it's one of the less-common gauges now, the price for a box of shells is going to be noticeably higher than for a 12 or 20. 410, 28, and to a lesser extent 16 gauge shells cost a premium these days. A friend in San Antonio sold off his son's 410 and bought him a new 20 gauge pump - the price of 410 shells had become so ridiculous he figured he'd have the gun paid for in a couple years just on the difference in cost between 410 and 20 gauge ammo.
Going on a shotgun forum and starting a thread dissing anyone still clinging to their "oddball" 16 gauges, is even worse than starting a "which oil is best" thread on an MB forum!!
From what I read years ago, over in Europe the 16 gauge was (may still be) what the 12 gauge is in the U.S., and considered to be the "proper" gauge for a gentleman's fowling piece, the 12 gauge being looked down upon as typical American overkill - a handcannon market hunter's gun.