16ga.com ~ View topic

What is the difference? I don't mean emotionally. But, isn't the 2 1/2" 12 ga. just a "fat" 16 ga.?

Both require advance ammo considerations, so there is minimal difference in that arena.

Maybe I should have posted this on another board.

Probably not much. maybe better shot string length with the 12.
Gun weights should be similar, payloads similar. But the stigma of shoting a 12, even if you tell them it's a 2 1/2, don't know if its worth it. Wink

Member Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Posts: 989 Location: Las Vegas

I think they're pretty comparable in weight. I was close to buying an English 12ga. 2 1/2" but it didn't work out and I ended up with a 2 1/2" 16ga. The 12 was 6 1/2lb and the 16 is right about 6 1/4. I think the 12ga. will handle a little heavier shot load.

I believe Larry Brown has been hunting with a 12ga. 2 1/2" gun for the past year or 2 and maybe he will chime in here.

Matt

Joined: 25 Jun 2006 Posts: 79 Location: SE Pa

The 2.5" light 12 is a much more versatile gun. I have had a few English with my favorite being a WC Scott, before regrettably I sold it to finance my Fox 16. You can load it up to 1 1/4 if you had too, but not recommended and load it down to 7/8 oz which I used for clays and woodcock. Some of the light English 12's almost have the profile of an American 16. I had one English 16, but they are too light for me, with many weighing under 6 lbs. I like a 6.5-6.75 lb game gun, so I had my Fox 16/20 combo built at that weight.

Member Joined: 01 Dec 2006 Posts: 524

When you ssay "better shotstring length" what do you mean by that?
I've never heard of shotstring length being something that would be construed as better. Unless of course, you mean no shotstring at all.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but according to Bob Brister, I thought the goal in shotgunning is to create loads with no shotstring, thereby rendering a more lethal pattern by haaving the shot all arrive together, in as much as that can be achieved. Obviously, if a given load all arrives at once, it will be more lethal than a long string, some of which won't even hit the game. The only advantage to a long shotstring is if you err in lead provision on game and need the trailing pellets to be your killers becasue the first pellets have already gone past the target.

just what I meant, maybe didn't convey it . Better= shorter. squarer load.

Member Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 1522 Location: NH

huns,go back to the hottub with your beer. Razz

single malt, my good man, but it's to f***ing hot or that. Central air is working ovetime. hit a 100 on the porch. shooting with sprocket in the am, you up for a road trip?? Wink

I have an English-made 2 1/2" chambered 12 gauge, and like it a lot. It weighs about 6 1/2 lbs. and is proofed for 1 1/8 oz. loads. It is very much like a 16 gauge 2 3/4' chambered gun in the loads it takes, although a strong 16 might also use 1 1/4 oz. loads. In actual use I find it is a delightful shotgun in feel and in its effectiveness on pheasants. I can't tell much difference at all between how it and my 16 gauge Model 12 hit when they are used with the same shot charge. Incidentally, the only inscription on the gun is "Harrod's" on the rib- if anybody knows who made the doubleguns for Harrod's Department Store I would be interested in finding this out.

Member Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 1522 Location: NH

Member Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Posts: 989 Location: Las Vegas

Personally, I think the "square load" thing is a misconception. Shouldn't the bigger bore shoot a shorter shot string given the same shot weight?

Matt

Guest

Wouldn't the shot string depend on the way the gun is choked? A full choke has a longer shot string then an I/C choke. Therefor with comparable loads, a 12 gauge choked full would have shorter shot string then a 16 choked full. Which actually means nothing as you'd probably pattern your gun anyway and use the choke and shells that pattern best for you. As I see it that's the advantage of having a gun with screw in chokes. Just my thoughts on the subject. I like using the 16 as everybody asks " why shoot a sixteen?"

Guest

This thread needs to be moved over to the "12 Gauge Society" site.....whoops, there isn't one! Scandalous!

Joined: 23 Jul 2007 Posts: 59 Location: ILLINOIS

Steve Smith from the Pointing Dog journal/Shooting Sportsman/Wingshooters Journal on VS shoots a Webley & Scott 2 1/2" 12 at 6.5 lbs. Choked IC & Full.

He says he likes it because the pattern is "more like a globe and less like a sausage"
I do agree with him.

But he goes on to say he has many more 16ga guns.
He loves 16ga.