Could 16GA ever make a come back?

[NapalmCheese]

I am going to run with this statement from now on and feel as though it rings true on many levels. In fact I am now looking for a suede shooting vest with a matching cap. Whos holding in the market place PM me.

While I prefer a nice heather tweed in my plus 4s to go with my wellies, I can't can't fault you!

[bigbossman]

True of some guns, but not true of all.

I believe Browning Citoris........

I was speed reading this reply, and my brain inserted an "l" automatically into that last word.

[Vigilante]

I was speed reading this reply, and my brain inserted an "l" automatically into that last word.

I about did the same thing when I typed it. Perhaps I should have said "Citori models," just to be safe.

[NorCalBusa]

Thing is, 20 ga has enough oomph with a bit less recoil, and there's (normally) plenty of ammo. So, nah, I'm not seeing a 16 ga comeback.

^ this. Have to show some compelling advantage, and there days some sexy bling folks can bolt, glue, or tape on.

[sweetfoal]

Oh what do you know? Are you a doctor?

Haha.

If you have one shotgun, make it a 12g.

As my collection grew I was shooting (targets and upland) mostly 20g. But with non-tox the 20g's have seen less use. I still need to complete my 3" 20g ITX experiments. Until then it's mostly 12g bismuth for chickens and 20g steel (36) for quail.

damn, just bought my first 20ga. Is steel impractical in 20ga or unlikely to be found? Haven't really paid attention to that.

[JagerDog]

damn, just bought my first 20ga. Is steel impractical in 20ga or unlikely to be found? Haven't really paid attention to that.

Steel will never be as good as lead (or the expensive "replacements"). But it has come a long ways from it's origins. 3" 20g steel is suitable for waterfowl if you keep within it's effective range.

[mausercat]

I have a 16 gauge Citori that I bought about 20 years ago. It is a great gun and I have used it in the past for dove. This year however since I had to use steel I switched to a 12 gauge because there was no way I was going to be able to find 16 gauge steel shot. Like others said shooting the 16 gauge is fun. It is great to stand out from all of the 12 and 20 gaugers.

I do think that steel will be mandated in even for clays in California in about 5 years and this will probably be the death nell for anything other than 12 gauge.

[Slow]

The best way for the 16 gauge to return to gun shelves nationwide is for the shooting orgs (NSCA, NSSA, et al.) to create a subguage class for them.

Also, ammo companies should be pushing that gauge because with the inevitable move to non-tox there won't be a bird in the sky that won't be able to be brought down in an ethical manner using a 16.

My only worry is that they push that gauge sooner than later, and I have to compete to find ammo for mine.

[JagerDog]

The best way for the 16 gauge to return to gun shelves nationwide is for the shooting orgs (NSCA, NSSA, et al.) to create a subguage class for them.

Also, ammo companies should be pushing that gauge because with the inevitable move to non-tox there won't be a bird in the sky that won't be able to be brought down in an ethical manner using a 16.

My only worry is that they push that gauge sooner than later, and I have to compete to find ammo for mine.

I have a different perspective on official competition "gauges". IMHO it should just be strict payload and velocity and your choice of launch mechanism should be largely unregulated. EX: Why does 3/4oz out of a 20g not qualify for 28g event? Or 7/8 in 12g for 20g event?

To me, if there's a place for 16g it's in the field with a true 16g frame. You're carrying it 99% of the time. Target guns tend toward the heavy'ish, so there's no advantage to be had.

[Slow]

That's entirely practical, but it won't help sell more guns.

If payload was the only differentiator between skeet classes then there's little point in having 12, 28, or .410. A 20ga would be the only gauge needed since we can reload 1 oz load all the way down to a 11/16th. The gun companies would flip their lids, and depending on how flexible their manufacturing, ammo companies might as well.

There's an apocryphal story that the reason that 16ga fell out of favor was that those in charge of designating classes for skeet decided that 16 wasn't differentiated enough. Once that happened, manufacturers pulled back from that gauge because the shooting community's interest in the venerable 16 waned, and sales plummeted. If that story has more than a single grain of truth, I'd like to see 16ga added back into competition, just to give the public another reason (beyond being fun to shoot) to buy them.

For hunting? With non tox shot being available, and reloading making those types of loads relatively affordable, even vintage 16s could, and should, be dusted off, then returned to active duty in the field.

[JagerDog]

That's entirely practical, but it won't help sell more guns.

If payload was the only differentiator between skeet classes then there's little point in having 12, 28, or .410. A 20ga would be the only gauge needed since we can reload 1 oz load all the way down to a 11/16th. The gun companies would flip their lids, and depending on how flexible their manufacturing, ammo companies might as well.

There's an apocryphal story that the reason that 16ga fell out of favor was that those in charge of designating classes for skeet decided that 16 wasn't differentiated enough. Once that happened, manufacturers pulled back from that gauge because the shooting community's interest in the venerable 16 waned, and sales plummeted. If that story has more than a single grain of truth, I'd like to see 16ga added back into competition, just to give the public another reason (beyond being fun to shoot) to buy them.

For hunting? With non tox shot being available, and reloading making those types of loads relatively affordable, even vintage 16s could, and should, be dusted off, then returned to active duty in the field.

For sure make your existing 16g effective. An old gun in the field is a joy and connection to our roots.

But comparatively few shoot targets competitively or reload to drive any mass market forces.