I love the 16 and use it to the exclusion of most other gauges for both birds and clays. The only birds I took this year with other than 16 was still done using my 16 SxS with .410 inserts (it was to help with the training of a gun shy dog).
Ammo is an issue and as much as I love my 16's, I believe you should go into it with your eyes open that it will not be simple unless you are lucky enough to have a local ammo source that stocks the shells at a fair price. Fair price is still more than 12 and 20 and less options.
You really have to reload 16 to get the quality and variety you will want to go after birds.
PS Non-Toxic with 16 while it can be done is prohibative; the good news is it is only about two boxes a year.
