16ga.com ~ View topic - What are your favorite 16ga. shotguns and most used??

Joined: 14 Nov 2005 Posts: 136 Location: ohio

My first was a Iverjohnson 30" Champion ,then a WW singleshot Model 37 which with the beagle hounds over a few decades racked up hundreds and hundreds of rabbits. Then I moved up to a Ithaca M37 pump and it put grouse,deer,turkey,sq,s on the table. A few others were used a short time like the ,Rem m31,870, Stoeger SxS, Fox mod.B, Stevens 311a which wore out. And just recenty I found a mint J.C. Higgins 311a which stirs my fond thoughts of dad,s old one which wore out. Of all the Ithaca M-37 has to be the most closet to my heart in good old 16a,s. Worn a little from carry around the ejection port and action so slick you can fire it without knowing you pumped it. And the times in the woods and sites and smells stir my heart of those days afield with the greatest hunting shotgun of all. My 3 son,s going afield and my middleboys first 4pt.deer with the Ithaca 16ga. And first rabbits and sq,s. We blink and grow old,but the 16ga grows better with age.

Member Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 376 Location: North ID.

My first 16 ga, which I shared with an older brother was a model 37 Win single shot. I've since acquired a Win model 12, Rem 11-48, Rem 1900 and 4 European doubles, all 16 ga of course! Of which I use them all.

Lately I've been using the 11-48 and Win Model 12 the most on pheasants and a 5 lb 13 oz Guyot double for chukar.

Joined: 09 Jul 2009 Posts: 510 Location: Central CT

Remington 1100 and Citori Lightning, in that order, right now. I have a feeling that by the end of the summer it will be even up.

Member Joined: 31 Jul 2009 Posts: 51

My favorite is my circa 1900 Army & Navy,28 " & 5 lb 12 oz,My most used is my 1987 Citori w/28" barrels, approximately 4500 rounds a year.There is another dozen sxs 's in between along w/2 m-12's & 1 M-97.

Member Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 3438 Location: Illinois

32" 525 Browning Sporting Clays--With the addition of a Gracoil unit this is the ultimate shotgun for the clay targets---I have won several shoots with this gun.Then there's the sxs CZ Ringneck for upland and the----- well you get the picture--never met a 16 I didn't like Wink

Joined: 26 Apr 2010 Posts: 3178 Location: NCWa

It depends-
If its for live fire at a hunter education I use a M37(Win).

If it's for birds and the terrain has good footing then it's a M21 IC/M.

If I'm back in Iowa and hunting deer, then it's a M12 Polychoke loaded with Brennekes.

Which one is my favorite? Which one of my kids is my favorite? Confused

Merkel 1620E is my current favorite. 6 lbs of fun to carry and shoot!

Joined: 13 Feb 2010 Posts: 310

Tough I've carried and shot many, the only one I own is a Merkel 2016: it's my favorite shotgun, period.

Member Joined: 09 Jun 2005 Posts: 885 Location: Wisconsin

All 16 of my 16s are my favorites. Only 16 that I had a problem with was an 870 Express, too darn heavy, gave it to my daughter. I have an 870 !6 Skeet from 1950 that is an absulute joy to hunt with though. Waterfowl, ducks over decoys, my Western Arms Long Range SxS with 30" barrels choked full and full is the cats meow. Can not find any fault with all the others.

Joined: 14 Nov 2005 Posts: 136 Location: ohio

Thats a nice list of 16ga,s being used and thought of. Those Brownings OU,s are work horses on the sporting clays range. I have a older fellow next door who knows I hunt ,shoot come over and show me his 16ga. His eyes lit up with youth as he pulled his 3 barrel set,( imp. cly,mod,full) early 1950,s Browning Auto-5 16ga out of its case. Wow nice and not for sale! Keep all that eye and mind candy comming!!

Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Posts: 5

I have two and use them equally during the season. One is a L.C. Smith Ideal grade with 28 inch barrels choked IC/MOD and the second a Jos. Lang hammer gun with 26 inch barrels choked MOD/MOD.

Started out with Dad's Remington 48 Sportsman in 16GA. Still have it....and take it out once a year for old times sake.

Most of the time I'm carrying a 28GA in the field. But, every now and then I get out my Merkel 1620 or my RBL16. For inclement conditions, especially throughout the Winter, I carry my Browning Citori 16GA (shorter LOP).

the m12 twins and the N,R. Davis single shot double ... the 11-48 is coming on strong once I get used to that blocked front sight !

Joined: 16 Aug 2010 Posts: 34 Location: NW Ohio

My first was a Mossberg 500 at 15 yrs old ... still have it too ... but I'm 62 now. Oddly the 16 ga. isn't even recognized for that one in any Blue Book publications that I can find. But my favorite is a very early, and well used and maintained 30" Fox CE which is the one I still use the most. A few years back I added a Merkel 2016EL (couldn't pass it up once i saw it) but I haven't even fired that one yet. I need to get out!

Joined: 29 Oct 2010 Posts: 115 Location: Vermont

My favorite is my Grandfathers 1966 Remington 870 with a 28 inch Modified barrel. And my other 16 is a Browning BPS 28 inch barrel screw in chokes. But I would rather use my 870 ut I don't want to break it or wear the blueing off so I bought the BPS to shoot sporting clays and I'll use the 870 for hunting since it's lighter.