16ga.com ~ View topic

Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 8

ok i am new here and need some help on two accounts.
1. am looking for a gun to hunt ducks, grouse, and pheasants in that order. i am relatively new to shotgun hunting and am looking for a gun to fit my bill. an o/s or sxs would be nice, but with duck hunting i am unsure if that is the right choice. looking to spend in the 500-750 range. i saw a wingmaster(which i shoot real well in that range). i know it is isn't a true 16 gauge, but it may be an alternative. your thoughts.....?

2. i need some real reasons to justify a 16 ga to my fiance's dad who is a gun freak. he is a true meat gun guy and does not really understand why i want this gauge. any help would be appreciated.

thanks and looking forward to meeting you all. especially those around madison, wi
-paul

Guest

There maybe a few (or many) posters that might disagree with me but if you're a starting shotgun shooter, a sixteen guage would not be my first choice. If you can afford a really nice shotgun, I would recommend that you pick up a Beretta 391 gas auto. There alot of reasons that I would base this decision upon:

1. If you're a new shooter, you need to shoot alot with proper instruction.
Twelve gauge ammo is cheaper and easier to get than 16 gauge
ammo. You can take up 16 gauge reloading later on.

2. After you get good with your Beretta, you can always sell it and get
close to what you pay for it. Many other guns don't hold their value.

3. Gas autos don't kick as much as O/U or SxS and when you're a new
shooter, you don't need recoil.

4. A 12 gauge payload is more efficient than a 16 gauge especially when
you're hunting for waterfowl (steel shot) or pheasant loads. The non-
toxic options for 16 are very limitied unless you handload (see #1).

I've seen people with reasonable eye and hand coordination become decent shots within a year or two with proper instructions. If you become a decent shot, you'll be partway there due to becoming a true hunter can take a lifetime of learning....

Good luck

Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 8

i am not that newof a shotgunner, just not as experienced as those around here. i also have little problem with recoil. i hunt deer and have shot many 10 and 12's. how much for target loads out of curiosity. any other help would be helpful.

Guest

You can buy good 12 gauge ammo from Walmart (either Winchester, Remington or Federal) for less than $4.00 a box for the promotional loads. The top end trap/skeet loads will cost a dollar more a box. IMO, I consider a decent shotgun shot who can shoot at least 17-20/25 with trap or skeet with a low gun mount. With as few as birds available, every responsible hunter should take as much time practicing with their shotgun shooting clays during the off season. Alot of people say recoil doesn't bother them but if you shoot over 100+ rounds in an afternoon, the results of that recoil will affect most shooters. It's the price you have to pay to get good with a shotgun. I have never seen a good shot who didn't burn alot of ammo.

16 ga stuff(promo) can be found for 5ish to 7ish, but expect to pay 8-10 for hunting stuff

If you have a Dick's near Madison they have 16ga Remington Game Loads in #6 & 7.5's for a little over $4.00 a box.

Ducks, grouse, pheasants: Go for a Browning A-5 in 16 guage - get one from the 50's - it will be 2 3/4" chambers so you don't have to mess with it - you'll have to shoot bismuth or the other softer non-steel shot but you'll do fine.

Reasons: It's a classic design in a vintage year - reliable, simple, rugged, beautiful workmanship, nicely engraved - a workhorse of gun that looks great too.

Winchester 12's, Ithica 37 and the like for pumps - and the brand new Browning BPS will take those steel loads Wink

remember: carries like a 20, hits like a 12.

tell your finace's Dad where to put it - You'll never convince a meat guy that a 16 is better than a 12 - especially when he plays the goose card 3" mags and all that. Inside of 40 yards, the 16 is on the same level as the 12.

I'm sure that if you came back with a handful of birds and a dirty barrel, he just may see that a key piece to hunting is the hunter himself.

The 16 is all about "How" not "How many".

Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 8

can anyone compare the 870 with the browning bps?

16ga specific 870 frame? My 2 cents. If you plan on , er, (at the risk of offending some, which I don't want to do, please insert the adjetive that doesnt aggrivate you) upgrading to a double, I'd buy the least espensive of the 2 that had the "feel" your looking for. If your good with a clackety clack(as in enjoy), ask someone(other than 16 gauge guy) about the 12 and the 37

Member Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 258 Location: Nordern MN

How many BPS 16s have you seen lately? I know they are "coming" but I don't think they are "here".

You said you like the 870 16 and shoot it well, so go for it. I have newer one and love it. It's not exactly what I call a ruffed grouse gun, but I have shot ducks and a lot of pheasants with it!

NR

I would not be afraid to use a 16 gauge O/U on ducks, pheasant or grouse. I have a Remington SPR 16 gauge that I use pheasant hunting and I will be using it for waterfowl this year. It has choke tubes, lists for under $600.00. There's still a few available. Not listed in the new Remington catalog. The gun handles well and it also looks nice.

Here's a link to one for sale

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=76057594.

If duck hunting over decoys and picking your shots at reasonable ranges, a 16 would be fine. I would go with the 870 over a SxS or O/U. The reason being that a third is nice for a crippled bird. Even with three shots I sometimes find myself reaching for more shells to shoot on a cripple, especially late in the season. Steel shot just does not always penetrate too well. Sad

If ducks are your main quarry, like me Cool

, and occasionally hunt grouse/pheasants I would go with a 12 gauge auto. Or better yet, on your budget, get a used Remington 1100 in twelve for ducks/pheasants and a used 870 or 37 in 16 for grouse/pheasants. Then you could have the best of both worlds until you can buy a nice SxS or O/U. Very Happy

Brian

P.S. If you are around the Madison area make sure to check out the Horicon Marsh for ducks and geese. Wink