I was bit by the 16 ga bug before I was 50- was handed a 16 ga Grulla at the memorable Flatwater and it was all over. Never looked back, and the reloading is merely a fact of life- no big deal. Haven't bought 16 ga shells in years, and make sure I never have to buy any on the road.
Wingshooter, 16ga lovers are now far better off as far as ammo goes, both in terms of availability and expense, than used to be the case. I just had 3 flats of the Herters 1 oz loads delivered to my house. $6 a box, $5 shipping. For those that don't need low pressure and/or short shells, that's a real plus. And I'm anticipating that the hulls, while not as good as top quality target hulls for 12-20-28, will work OK for reloading.
I got started in the 16ga game in 1974. Had purchased my first sxs (Ithaca SKB 12ga) a couple years earlier. Finished grad school in 74; bought myself 2 graduation presents: 1964 Ford Fairlane stationwagon to haul me, hunting partners, and Brittany bird dog; and a pretty high condition but plain Jane pre-war Sauer 16 I found in a local gun shop. Like just about everyone else back in those days, I had short chambers lengthened to 2 3/4" (and chokes opened), and I was off to the races. I'd have to do a count to determine how many 16's I've owned since. Vic Venters did an article on the 16ga in Shooting Sportsman, and he'd asked previously--I think on the SSM BB--for 16ga owners to report on guns they've owned. Pretty sure I was over 100 at that time (never more than half a dozen or so at a time). In the article, Vic said he wouldn't include my total because it would skew the numbers.
Several years back, I switched to light 12's (reloading issues simplified) and vowed I wouldn't play the reloading game again. I've owned 16's since but haven't shot them as much. Now heading back in that direction, and am looking for simpler reloading solutions with the Herters now readily available along with wads for light (less than 1 oz) reloads not requiring filler etc.
There's nothing like a tidal wave of interest in the 16, but a definite ripple in the water. Grouse hunters belonging to LODGH (the Loyal Order of Dedicated Grouse Hunters) submit an annual survey, and that shows more of them shooting 16's than was the case 30 years ago. Although the Spanish share of the sxs market is declining, you'll see a much higher % of 16's from Spain that was the case 30 years ago. The Turks are following suit. Another special run of Citori 16's. FAIR (I. Rizzini), which imported quite a few 16ga OU's for New England Arms, is now offering sxs as well. Merkel also has both sxs and OU 16ga models available. And then, of course, there's the new Browning Sweet 16.
All in all, I'd say that the "Queen of the Uplands" is in better shape than she has been in quite some time.
Last edited by L. Brown; 01/09/17 10:12 AM.