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Joined: 08 May 2018 Posts: 196

Saw an old British sxs at 5lbs 14 ounces chambered for 21/2 shells and saw another at 6lbs 4 ounces.What weight do you guys feel comfortable to carry all day in a 16 ga.

Joined: 07 Mar 2010 Posts: 483 Location: South Eastern PA

Up to 6.5 pounds and maybe even a little more is fine for me but I’m 6’3”, 220 lbs.

What’s good for me may not work so well for someone else.

Anything under 6.5 lbs for me. I have carried that literally “all day” on some 20 mile treks. My current long trek gun weighs 6.25 with a recoil pad to send out the 1-1/8 oz loads without flinching, but 1 oz is the norm. It will be my main gun this season with the Citori in the shop.

If you can handle the recoil, lighter is better.

Joined: 17 Oct 2019 Posts: 456 Location: New Jersey

I like 5-3/4 to 6-1/4. That gun sounds like a dandy.

Upland
Waterfowl
Skeet
Trap

My light 16 gauge guns become uncomfortable with 4 rounds of skeet.

The heavy ones are a burden for pheasants

The powerful loads of 3 1/4 and 1 1/8 hurt in light guns

So the weights listed are they for upland guns and grouse guns?

AC,
I like my 16 gauge double guns to weigh 6.8 lbs or under. I just ordered a Bristol Silver 16 gauge gun, that is suppose to weigh around 6.6lbs. However after taking with the men who have purchased this particular gun, many of the guns are weighing 6.10lbs and some even over 7.4lbs. I hope the Turkish Walnut Wood on my new gun is on the lighter side, we will see when it arrives this weekend.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Joined: 01 Oct 2007 Posts: 962 Location: Minnesota

I have a Rizzini 550 B that weighs 6.1 pounds. I don’t find it uncomfortable to shoot or carry in the upland fields.

Joined: 01 Oct 2007 Posts: 962 Location: Minnesota

Duplicate, sorry.

Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 1114

I'm taking my 6 1/2 pound Fausti DEA and 6 1/4 pound RFM out west to hunt my buddy's Idaho ranch. Lots of hills and rough country, but those weights will make the hunting easier. Not sure I'd want a gun under 6 pounds for shooting Fiocchi GP loads out of.

Joined: 08 May 2018 Posts: 196

Thanks for the reply’s.I will be shooting RST 21/2 low pressure.Have a sauer 16 under 6 lbs and with the pheasant loads last year kicked really hard.I have 3 shotguns and they are all out for repairs so I need to get one soon.

Joined: 07 Jun 2020 Posts: 229

I have found the RST shells kick more than my reloads, given some weight of lead 1oz. That said RST shells effectively deliver birds in the hand

Gentlemen,
The RST light loads have always kicked more than the Poly SpredRs, and Polywad was able to produce their SpredR loads for less cost than the RST SpredR's. I do miss Poly shells very much. I have used both for many years and like both 2 1/2" 16 gauge SpredR's especially for Grouse & Woodcock hunting, I also use the RST & Poly shells in 20 and 28 gauge guns. When hunting I seldom notice the difference in recoil, my adrenal flow is usually pretty high when gunning Grouse & Woodcock. I did notice the difference when shooting true double Clays for Grouse hunting practice. When I reloaded I could definitely make lighter kicking 16 gauge shells. However it meant a great deal to me when RST came out with their 2 1/2" SpredR shells, for my Classic double guns.

I have not had to rolled my own for years now, great shells for reasonable money.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

I wish Polywad was still producing shells today.

Joined: 01 Mar 2017 Posts: 52

Member Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2350 Location: West MI

At this stage of the game, somewhere in the neighborhood of #7-7.25 works for me; Upland, Target (low gun) & Waterfowl...1,5/8-1 & 1-1.25oz respective. Much lighter and the gun gets a little whippy for me. Albeit, open to changes as this game progresses.

My 6.5 lb & under preference is solely for upland. The weight doesn’t matter to me for ducks unless I’m trekking really far to get to my spot. The Citori WL weighs 6.5 lbs and has been everywhere. The combination of weight, reliability and familiarity has made it my number one, and that’s really where the weight preference comes from. I shoot everything from 5/8 to 1-1/4 oz @1350 fps out of it.

The 6.25 lb Sarasqueta has kept my scores consistent from the Gr6. By the book I paid too much, but when you consider the weight and relative ease with which I transitioned to using it, the price was a steal. I’m limiting the payload to 1-1/8 oz max, mostly to protect the gun, but also my shoulder somewhat. It will definitely see some upland and possibly woodduck or teal, but likely no heavy swamp work. I’ll use the Stevens for that.