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16 Gauge: Big Bore or Small Bore?
Big Bore
21%
 21%  [ 13 ]
Small Bore
41%
 41%  [ 25 ]
Both/It Depends
36%
 36%  [ 22 ]
Total Votes : 60

Mills
PostPosted: Sun May 18, 2014 6:48 am  Reply with quote
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I am going to run a little poll here. I have a lot of friends who shoot 16 gauges and consider them upland game guns. Some of these friends don't like 12 gauges or bigger. On the other end, several quail preserves around here want small bores only, and that means 20 or 28, no 16's or 12's. Still other friends use 16's for grouse hunting with spreader loads and then load them up with no. 5's for turkeys. I lean toward 16's being small bores, myself. I first heard of 16s when the owner of a quail plantation in Moultrie told my Dad to get a Parker 16 for quail hunting.

So what does the group think? I have a poll, but would love to hear what you all think as well. Hopefully, this will be fun.


Here is a photo of my Parker GH 16

[URL=http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/Mills_Morrison/media/IMG_18631_zps19946098.jpg.html] [/URL]
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fn16ga
PostPosted: Sun May 18, 2014 7:48 am  Reply with quote
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I would consider anything smaller that a 12ga small bore . For turkey and Water Fowl the 16ga is really not the best , yes it can be done and I do it with limits ( you can do it with a 410 if want to .). To me the max load for the sixteen is 1/1/8 oz but 1 oz and smaller are ideal. I have seen 1 1/4 oz loads for 3" 20ga and 1oz loads for the 28ga does that make them a big bore ?

As a lover of the 16ga I tend to push it limits using it for Turkey , Water fowl and Deer hunting using buck shot and do quite well with it . A lot people also do this with the 20ga. But it doesn't make either one of them a big bore .

The 16ga is definitely best as an upland game gun .
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skeettx
PostPosted: Sun May 18, 2014 9:00 am  Reply with quote
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10, 12, 16 = big bore
20, 28, 410 = small bore

Just my take on things

The 16 is a big bore acting like a small bore, and that is
what the charm is about, Yeeee Hawww

Mike


Last edited by skeettx on Sun May 18, 2014 3:58 pm; edited 1 time in total
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popplecop
PostPosted: Sun May 18, 2014 9:58 am  Reply with quote
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I agree with Skeetex

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jschultz
PostPosted: Sun May 18, 2014 11:41 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 07 Apr 2007
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Location: northwewst Wyoming

Me thinks that small/big bore is not relevant because the 16 Ga. can handle everything from 3/4 oz. through 1 1/4 oz. loads. So, with upland hunting as the baseline I consider the 16 Ga. to be the perfect bore. Very Happy
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mike campbell
PostPosted: Sun May 18, 2014 12:21 pm  Reply with quote
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Rolling Eyes


Last edited by mike campbell on Sun Aug 11, 2019 12:53 pm; edited 1 time in total
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AmericanMeet
PostPosted: Sun May 18, 2014 12:41 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 26 Apr 2010
Posts: 3172
Location: NCWa

If you ask Goldilocks she'll tell you that the 12 gauge is too big; the 20 gauge is too small, but the 16 gauge is just right Smile
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3crosses
PostPosted: Sun May 18, 2014 2:33 pm  Reply with quote
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Over an ounce of shot = Big
An ounce or less = small
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fn16ga
PostPosted: Sun May 18, 2014 2:59 pm  Reply with quote
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skeettx you forgot the almighty 8ga
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A5Mag12
PostPosted: Sun May 18, 2014 3:56 pm  Reply with quote
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16 and larger = big bore
20 and smaller= small bore
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skeettx
PostPosted: Sun May 18, 2014 3:58 pm  Reply with quote
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Well, I reload for 24 and 32 gauge, but did not mention them either.
I had to draw the line somewhere Smile

The 8, 14, 24 and 32 gauge guns can also be quite fun.

Mike

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Mills
PostPosted: Sun May 18, 2014 4:17 pm  Reply with quote
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The comments about load/shot size are well put. I will add to that there is a difference between a 26" IC/M on a light frame and a 30" F/M on a heavier frame
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Carlos
PostPosted: Sun May 18, 2014 6:09 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 21 May 2010
Posts: 602
Location: Victoria BC Canada

Both; It depends.

The 16 can be loaded for heavy duty use, and for light game where there is a lot of walking. I am just a bit disappointed that it isn't more popular. If the cost of feeding this great all-round gun were lower there would be many more 16 gauge shooters. Cost kept me away from the 16 for too long.
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Dogchaser37
PostPosted: Sun May 18, 2014 6:29 pm  Reply with quote
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I consider it a large bore.

Reloading for the 16 really isn't much more expensive than reloading for a 12.

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Gil S
PostPosted: Mon May 19, 2014 3:14 am  Reply with quote
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Mills, I think Mike (Campbell) is right on as well. I would consider 10 and 12 big bore. Some of my 16 gauge doubles weigh less than some classic American 20 gauges and the loads I shoot out of them range from 3/4 to 7/8 oz. I recall when wild bird quail plantations banned autos and pumps because of fear of covey extinction rises. Then came doubles only and no 12's. Owners didn't want a big pattern killing more than one bird per trigger pull. The lightweight 2 and 2.5" Brit guns in 12 might have bigger bore size than a 20, but their loads are often smaller than some folks shoot out of 20 and 28 gauge guns. I've been on dove hunts where some 28 gauge shooters are using 1 oz. loads. With gun type and gauge restrictions by some owners of plantations, it became more about appearance than reality. However, their land, their rules. Gil
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