doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Why does my 16 gauge have a subdued muzzle report?

My go-to field gun for the last 10 years has been an extremely light weight 16 gauge French SXS with barrels that are just under 27� in length (the barrel lengths are metric). I shoot 1 ounce Federals through the gun almost exclusively. I�ve noticed that when fired the gun has a very subdued muzzle report. Not only have I noticed it hunting companions, with no prompting from me, have remarked on how quiet the gun is. Does anyone have any idea why this is?

I'm thinking barrel length and acoustics, but I don't have the in-depth knowledge.

Steve

I get more of a "Poof" than a report when I use my Darne 12 with Federal Featherlites, the low noise, low recoil loads. That gun was treated to a massive backbore at some point in it's life, however. It patterns better with hotter hunting loads.
I've also noticed that shooting in sub zero temps changes the sound of the report.
Don't have any idea about why on your gun, but, if it were mine, I'd keep it.

Best,
Ted

WHAT? Can't you talk a little louder?

Good question Rockdoc and I hope someone can offer a scientific explanation. It brings to mind a 12 ga. Boito (ugh) SxS with 30" bbls that would occasionally show up at our recreational trap club. The owner and most other shooters used the Federal target loads that were sold on-site, but that Brazilian always stood out as being noticeably loader than the rest of the guns in the squad.

Have measured wall thickness? I ask as you described "massive back bore," For safety sake you should verify if you have not already.

Now to your original question, low noise level. Sound, like recoil is both measureable and relative. Most of us perceive both recoil and sound from a gun differently when hunting a live bird, than shooting at a fixed target. Perception may be part of the reduced sound or different sound signature.

Further I have never fired federal featherlights and cannot comment on them specifically; I have fired gamebore shells and they definitely produce a totally different sound that anything else I have used, especially the 20 gauge cartridges.

Ultimately it may fall into simply the cartridges you are shooting are quiet.

I find that if something is working for me, I try not to overthink it too much about it.

I once discovered after patterning a gun I had always shot very well running an average of less than two shells per bird, my shooting dropped off the cliff. I had patterned it and discovered it was very tightly choked compared to what I thought was wrong. Somethings are mental and I outsmarted myself.

old colonel, I'm afraid you're getting my original question confused with what Ted Schefelbein and ninepointer have posted here. My gun has not been back bored nor am I shooting featherlight shells. What I'm shooting is the standard Federal 1 ounce 16 gauge shells. I shoot them almost exclusively because research told me that they are a fairly low pressure shell. Because of the guns extreme light weight I don't use it much for clays when I have people have commented about how quiet the gun is. I'm not complaining, I'm simply curious. I guess I have a stealth upland gun, very mysterious!

Steve

The Federals have a paper base wad.
Try another brand with a plastic base wad and see what happens

My apologies for not paying better attention, i need to read more closely

old colonel, no apologies needed! The only reason I commented was I didn't want to have the issue confused. I guess what I'm looking for is a scientific explanation for the phenomena (I am a geologist after all and therefore a "scientist" more or less LOL!).

Steve

Steve: How low pressure are the Federal 1 oz 16 b loads in terms of PSI? I'd be interested to know. Do they kick hard? Rem 16b game loads are pretty brutal in terms of recoil IMO. As to your question why you gun is so quiet, you got me. Odd.