doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com What is the status of the 16 Gauge Society?

Great article. Thanks for sharing the link,

Doug was a real gentleman and insisted on gentlemanly conduct on the site. It works out really well.

As to retailers overcharging for 16 ga shells, I guess they think that because we're gentlemen we must be rich or something. That misconception, combined with the ammo companies' insistence on loading only a few combinations and the predilection among the gentlemen and gentlewomen who use 16ga for using older, classic guns has had some really beneficial side effects. First, we share our recipes for handloaded shells that meet, or exceed, factory specs and performance in the 16ga, across the whole range of uses. Second, we've managed to create the single most comprehensive database of low-pressure loads for any of the gauges, which allows us to use our older guns to their utmost.

Anyone can go down to the store and buy a box of promo 12 or 20 ga shells. Only serious gentlemen shooters are willing to go to the lengths we do for our 16gas.

Thanks Drew, the article on the 16 ga society is great.
I agree with Dave in that reloading is the way to achieve 16 ga perfection.
I have been a bird hunter for over 60 years and until ten years I had no desire or interest in the 16 ga.
My conversion came accidentally when I picked up a 16 ga SxS and after mounting and swinging the gun, I knew it was the gun for me. I tried the same gun in a 20 ga only to be disappointed and have happily been reloading and bird hunting with the 16 to the exclusion of all others.

I don't know this "Doug-dude" from Adam's off ox- so you are waaay out of line in your untoward remarks about whom is the ass here. My comments were only directed at the bastard gauge, as Paul Curtis once called in, in a private conversation back around 1939-if memory serves. He was more genteel in his 1934 book- Guns and Gunning- where he referred to it as being "neither fish nor fowl" Get a life!

Personally, I shoot 12, 16, 20 and 28 gauges as the mood strikes me or the situation demands. However, in most upland hunting such as grouse, woodcock, or quail I prefer 16 gauge because I find it easier to maneuver through thick cover and it has a deadly pattern. Not only is a 16 generally lighter than a 12 but its wrist is smaller making it easier to hold securely in one hand while pushing brush out of the way with the other.

I shoot a lot of different doubles and find many of the light 20�s and 28�s to be so light that I do not shoot them well. Great gauges in more skilled hands than mine but 16 just seems to be the optimum choice for me for upland gunning.

Not to derail this thread, but what is the popular choke configuration for a 16ga to be used for upland hunting? IC & MOD?

Depends on the gun and the game.
If you go for grouse and woodcock, IC/Mod is good and you can open it further with spreader loads (which get some discussion and attention on 16ga.com).

For ruffed grouse and woodcock I prefer Cylinder and IC. Works great for quail as well.

$54.99 a flat 16 gauge ammo #6 shot
1 ounce, 1165 FPS
Free shipping to your door

http://www.cabelas.com/product/herter-s-reg-select-field-dove-and-quail-shotshells/1601971.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dherters%252Bshotshells%26x%3D10%26y%3D6%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%252BProducts&Ntt=herters+shotshells

Well. I put an laughing icon at the end of my statement but shouldn't have. This ammo problem for 16 gauge shells is verging on the ridiculous. Special internet order only even for some run-of-the-mill deer slugs.

What happens if you live in New York? Isn't there a ban on all internet ammo sells?

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2014...der-ammo-sales/

I bought two sets of 20 gauge GaugeMates for my 16 gauge and to hell with it.