For me, a Stevens SxS 16ga was the shotgun I killed my first bird as a youngster. It belonged to my grandfather, although he did not hunt much by then. That gauge and barrel arrangement has held a very soft spot in my heart. My safe has a number of 12s and a couple 20s, but I find myself keep looking for that next magical 16ga. As a matter of fact, both of the 20ga shotguns I have, I got them through auctions in which they were advertised as 16ga shotguns. Imagine my surprise when I found the bores had shrunk form to 16 to 20 when I got them... confused