The Sweet Sixteen

[HagueBrook]

No, not your daughter's NE deb party. The shotgun gauge.

Why isn't this more popular? A good article from a pretty cool magazine. They always have good sporting pieces, plus Southern food.

http://gardenandgun.com/solr-search/Sweet Sixteen?search=Sweet Sixteen

 

[slap shot]

didn't read the article but isn't it really expensive to shoot?

also, 12 is MORE!

 

[HagueBrook]

Yes, hard to find ammo so it would be more pricy to shoot.

I have never shot one, but it seems like it's a good compromise between a 12 and the 20, chosen by some who want a lighter gun but find more recoil (see young trapshooter threads).

 

[Woodstock]

The 3-inch 20 gauge kicked the 16 to the curb, as it will fire 1-ounce loads from a lighter gun. The 16 generally throws a better pattern, though, as it is wider at the muzzle. Plenty of guys, myself included, still own and hunt with the 16, and it's very popular in Europe. There's a site for everything 16 gauge: http://www.16ga.com

 

[Sprocket]

"Carries like a 20, hits like a 12."
"Your Grandfather's gauge."

It's the epitome of "reloading for availability & economics".

You may also like 16GA.com

 

[tk421991]

There's a lot of reasons why 16 gauge isn't popular, but one of the main ones is that it isn't used in the shotgun sports very much. While you can use 16 gauge in trap and skeet, it isn't common and a 12 is easier to use. The reason why 12 gauge birdshot loads are so cheap is because people can easily go through four to eight boxes of factory ammo in one day of skeet and 12 gauge can be cheaper to buy than to reload. Demand and supply is high for 12 gauge.

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=208&t=240800

Outside of the shotgun sports, how many people shoot shotguns often enough to warrant bringing back 16 gauge into regular production?

 

[rocket500]

Price of ammo, limited availability of guns?

 

[tuna]

Ammo isn't too bad, I can usually find it without trouble. It throws a longer shot string than the 12, a wider one than the 20, when built on the right frame it is nice and light while still being controllable.
Downside is you're pretty much forced into used guns, but that's not really a bad thing.
Only thing is that the gauge is perfection in walnut when using lead. When going non toxic, you're equations change, but I'm not sure how much.
I usually carry either an A5 or a single shot.