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< 16ga. Guns ~ Got my first 16ga. Hungarian FEG Monte Carlo |
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Posted:
Mon Nov 30, 2020 7:42 am
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Joined: 12 Aug 2020
Posts: 9
Location: Fayette-nam
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Growing up in rural Ohio, I was exposed to the 16ga from a young age. My Grandfather always had a 16 gauge. After he passed, my dad held onto my grandpa's Iver Johnson single shot 16. I always loved walking around the countryside with it in tow. It made me feel more connected to my grandpa even though he was gone.
I enlisted in the Army right out of high school and got stationed at Bragg in NC. I didn't trust the unit armorers to hold onto anything of value so I didn't get any firearms for a while. My contract finished this year and I sold a bunch of leave days back and decided to get a 16 gauge of my own.
I spent a while looking for a SxS and I almost got a Tula from the 1920s but the guy sold it before I could make an offer. Then I found this FEG Monte Carlo.
By my research, it appears to be early 50s manufacture. The wood is in great shape and the barrel is in decent shape. I took it to the clay range and it points really well. I'm a smaller frame guy (5'6" 150lbs) and the length of pull is perfect for me. I will say, after going through a box of shells... my shoulder was not happy. Had a nice stock shaped bruise for a couple days.
Overall, I really like the gun, both for the classic look and the nostalgia. |
_________________ "16 gauge was ordained by God to be the Superior Race." -Thomas Jefferson... probably. |
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Posted:
Mon Nov 30, 2020 9:15 am
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Joined: 21 May 2010
Posts: 603
Location: Victoria BC Canada
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Stock bruise from a 16 ga.? I suspect you were not shouldering it snug enough? You are quite used to 5.56mm recoil, I'll bet. |
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Posted:
Mon Nov 30, 2020 10:09 am
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Joined: 12 Aug 2020
Posts: 9
Location: Fayette-nam
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Carlos wrote: |
Stock bruise from a 16 ga.? I suspect you were not shouldering it snug enough?
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Probably. I admit, I am a shotgun amateur. I need to practice more. Next time I'll try and shoulder it with puissance.
Carlos wrote: |
You are quite used to 5.56mm recoil, I'll bet.
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Or lack thereof. Haha. Though most of my time was spent on a radio talking to some deaf arty guy or a JTAC who thought he was John Wick incarnate (but we all know he isn't). |
_________________ "16 gauge was ordained by God to be the Superior Race." -Thomas Jefferson... probably. |
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Posted:
Mon Nov 30, 2020 10:53 am
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Joined: 31 May 2009
Posts: 153
Location: Orofino, Idaho
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Have you or a gunsmith measured the chamber length? Being European, I doubt it is 2 3/4"; most likely 2 1/2". |
_________________ I have more 16ga. shotguns than I need, but fewer than I want...At present: DeHaan S2, Remington M31L, Remington Wingmaster 870. |
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Posted:
Tue Dec 01, 2020 7:36 am
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Joined: 12 Aug 2020
Posts: 9
Location: Fayette-nam
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T-Bone wrote: |
Have you or a gunsmith measured the chamber length? Being European, I doubt it is 2 3/4"; most likely 2 1/2".
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It is 2 3/4". The dealer I purchased it from measured it and it chambers and shoots them fine. |
_________________ "16 gauge was ordained by God to be the Superior Race." -Thomas Jefferson... probably. |
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Posted:
Tue Dec 01, 2020 4:56 pm
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Joined: 09 Aug 2007
Posts: 444
Location: WI
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You may want to have the chambers checked again, just to be sure.
I like to use the RST Lite loads for bird hunting with all the lightweight 16's I have, regardless of chamber length. They lack the pressure necessary to cycle some autoloaders, but in a double they are perfect.
If you shoot a round of trap with field loads and a light gun, you may very well have some bruising on the shoulder.
And you get bonus points for your somewhat archaic choice of English words. Well done. |
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Posted:
Tue Dec 01, 2020 8:50 pm
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Member
Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 370
Location: Columbia, SC
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What loads are you shooting?
My wife has a Spanish 16 gauge that fits her. She shoots standard target loads (1 oz at 1165 or 1200 FPS) OK but 1 oz at 1300 FPS kicks the crap out of her (and me, for the record).
1. Be sure the gun fits you.
2. Shoot ONLY 1 oz at 1200 FPS or less - more doesn't kill more birds or break more targets but does hurt you.
If it still beats you up your shooting form is off. |
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Posted:
Wed Dec 02, 2020 8:07 am
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Joined: 12 Aug 2020
Posts: 9
Location: Fayette-nam
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nj gsp wrote: |
You may want to have the chambers checked again, just to be sure.
I like to use the RST Lite loads for bird hunting with all the lightweight 16's I have, regardless of chamber length. They lack the pressure necessary to cycle some autoloaders, but in a double they are perfect.
If you shoot a round of trap with field loads and a light gun, you may very well have some bruising on the shoulder.
And you get bonus points for your somewhat archaic choice of English words. Well done.
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I just checked it again and the chamber is about 1/2" longer than a 2 3/4" shell. So based off my understanding (which is admittedly limited) I think that means it's kosher.
I will definitely look into those RST loads. I would like a lighter shooting round for practice.
I appreciate the compliment on my verbiage. Most people just think I'm a weirdo. |
_________________ "16 gauge was ordained by God to be the Superior Race." -Thomas Jefferson... probably. |
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Posted:
Wed Dec 02, 2020 8:10 am
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Joined: 12 Aug 2020
Posts: 9
Location: Fayette-nam
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FlyChamps wrote: |
What loads are you shooting?
My wife has a Spanish 16 gauge that fits her. She shoots standard target loads (1 oz at 1165 or 1200 FPS) OK but 1 oz at 1300 FPS kicks the crap out of her (and me, for the record).
1. Be sure the gun fits you.
2. Shoot ONLY 1 oz at 1200 FPS or less - more doesn't kill more birds or break more targets but does hurt you.
If it still beats you up your shooting form is off.
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I currently shoot Estate 1 1/8 oz at 1295 FPS.
I will definitely look into getting some lighter loads before going to the range.
Thank you for the advice. |
_________________ "16 gauge was ordained by God to be the Superior Race." -Thomas Jefferson... probably. |
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Posted:
Wed Dec 02, 2020 9:32 am
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Member
Joined: 30 Nov 2011
Posts: 1698
Location: Minnesota
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Are you familiar with the manufacturers practice of stamping the barrel flats with the chamber length. If yours has it , it might say 65,67, or 70 representing length in mm. 70=2 3/4. A picture of the flats would help us help you look for it.
Did the shop measure the chokes for you?
A 1 1/8 oz at 1295 is a heavy field load. I'm about your size and the thought of that load for trap brings tears to my eyes-ouch The Estates are the same as Federals and their 1oz loads are known to be one of the softest feeling recoil wise 1ozers available. Or, start reloading and we'll help you with making 7/8 ozers! |
_________________ Great dog, Great friends,Great guns |
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Posted:
Thu Dec 03, 2020 3:29 am
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Member
Joined: 04 Mar 2008
Posts: 1943
Location: Lowcountry Ga.
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A friend has a 12 ga. made by the same company. It is a sturdy, well made gun. The ejector system is a unique self-contained system that can be easily removed from the forend to allow simple extraction. Does yours have this feature? Gil |
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Posted:
Thu Dec 03, 2020 11:27 am
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Joined: 12 Aug 2020
Posts: 9
Location: Fayette-nam
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Savage16 wrote: |
Are you familiar with the manufacturers practice of stamping the barrel flats with the chamber length. If yours has it , it might say 65,67, or 70 representing length in mm. 70=2 3/4. A picture of the flats would help us help you look for it.
Did the shop measure the chokes for you?
A 1 1/8 oz at 1295 is a heavy field load. I'm about your size and the thought of that load for trap brings tears to my eyes-ouch The Estates are the same as Federals and their 1oz loads are known to be one of the softest feeling recoil wise 1ozers available. Or, start reloading and we'll help you with making 7/8 ozers!
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I'll have to check the receiver to see if they stamped it.
They did not measure the chokes. I have a set of calipers, is there a way to do that myself? |
_________________ "16 gauge was ordained by God to be the Superior Race." -Thomas Jefferson... probably. |
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Posted:
Thu Dec 03, 2020 11:29 am
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Joined: 12 Aug 2020
Posts: 9
Location: Fayette-nam
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Gil S wrote: |
A friend has a 12 ga. made by the same company. It is a sturdy, well made gun. The ejector system is a unique self-contained system that can be easily removed from the forend to allow simple extraction. Does yours have this feature? Gil
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That it does. I like the ejector though. It adds some dramatic effect. |
_________________ "16 gauge was ordained by God to be the Superior Race." -Thomas Jefferson... probably. |
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Posted:
Tue Dec 08, 2020 10:28 pm
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Member
Joined: 02 Feb 2007
Posts: 1734
Location: Central Missouri
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Nice olé guns ,
1/2 oz , 5/8 oz or 3/4 will make the olé girl calm right down .
No pain is a wonderful feeling.
Regards , Nick |
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Posted:
Mon Dec 14, 2020 1:47 pm
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Joined: 15 Dec 2011
Posts: 156
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thegentlemanssidekick wrote: |
Gil S wrote: |
A friend has a 12 ga. made by the same company. It is a sturdy, well made gun. The ejector system is a unique self-contained system that can be easily removed from the forend to allow simple extraction. Does yours have this feature? Gil
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That it does. I like the ejector though. It adds some dramatic effect.
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Nice gun. Yugoslavian manufacture? I played with a few of them at KTP in the past. I liked it and would probably would of ended up with one of them but I lucked out and found a 16GA BRNO instead.
It will lose a little weight if you remove the ejector. Nice option if you are carrying it all day. Personally I prefer extractors because I don't have to go looking for empty shells. Leave no foot print right. Also makes for quicker reloading, at least for me, if a covey is going on at a time.
Removing them though will effect the balance point though, but I bet only slightly. |
_________________ Thats right, I'm an armed liberal (SORT OF) and I like to shoot furry little critters.... and I kill 'em with:
12Ga LC Smith
16Ga Fox Sterlingworth
16Ga BRNO
20Ga LC Smith
20Ga Miroku x2 (Model F & Model 500)
28Ga AYA 4/53 (bucket list item #6) |
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