16ga.com ~ View topic

Joined: 12 Feb 2014 Posts: 38 Location: Chesterfield VA

I saw a 16 ga Turkish double that was marked as 3”. Does such a round exist in the US? Maybe my search was faulty but nothing came up.

I think it would defeat the purpose of an already wonderfully balanced combination of gun weight versus payload. Another solution for which there is no problem……

No 3” loads that I am aware of. Maybe since 28 ga now comes in 3” manufacturers figure it’s inevitable for the 16. I tend to agree, no problems with 2.75 that 3 is needed. Though a higher proof pressure might be useful.

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1979 Location: Central ND

kjack, I completely agree. I see no use for 3" shells for the 16 gauge.

Joined: 13 Apr 2017 Posts: 180

I believe in the old days(20’s or30’s) there was briefly a 3 inch 16 ga. shell to allow for more fiber wadding. The extra wadding was supposed to seal better.

Joined: 09 Feb 2015 Posts: 858

Yes there was 3 in. 16 gauge shells and a model 12 3 in 16 gauge. Winchester experienced with a few ans was going to put them in.production when the 20 ga started clambering for 3 in
That's is what put the clinches to the 16ga. However the 20 gage is highly operated.
I have a friend that has 3 boxes of 3 in 16 gauge factory still in the boxes. Just found that out this sumer.
I have a full box of Remington factory loads of # 4s 1-3/8's. Yes 1-3/8's. Look to be in the late 50's. Now I have to go on a hunt again to find them. But yes their were 3" shells.

Clarifying my earlier post…there are no current 3” 16 ga loads for these modern guns that have 3” chambers.

Joined: 12 Feb 2014 Posts: 38 Location: Chesterfield VA

A little off topic: Just saw my first box of 28ga 3” at Roger’s in Liberty MO. It was stuffed with 1 1/8 #6s at 1200 fps (as I recall). Seems a bit superfluous to me (my new favorite word).

shoot my 13/8 super mag in a hard butt pump gun .... the answer will literally slap you in the face whether 3'' is a good idea or not !

Joined: 09 Dec 2022 Posts: 35 Location: Washington

Years ago hunting rabbits I used some 30 year old paper 3" mag (12 gauge) my father had and thought, "These are not so bad".
I picked up a new box of 3" (plastic hull) for the next days hunt and got a pretty rude awakening on the first one I pulled the trigger on. Not to mention it obliterated the rabbit.
Combo of ancient powder and paper hull made for a pretty weak 3" shell.

Joined: 21 Jul 2008 Posts: 28