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< 16ga. General Discussion ~ 16 ga. or 2 1/2" 12 ga? |
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Posted:
Sat Aug 25, 2007 6:27 am
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Member
Joined: 02 Dec 2006
Posts: 741
Location: Long Island, NY
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What is the difference? I don't mean emotionally. But, isn't the 2 1/2" 12 ga. just a "fat" 16 ga.?
Both require advance ammo considerations, so there is minimal difference in that arena.
Maybe I should have posted this on another board. |
_________________ "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind" ... Dr. Seuss
"There aint nothin' better than huntin' with a Setter" |
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Posted:
Sat Aug 25, 2007 6:49 am
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Member
Joined: 01 Feb 2005
Posts: 740
Location: New England, home of fat teddy k.
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Probably not much. maybe better shot string length with the 12.
Gun weights should be similar, payloads similar. But the stigma of shoting a 12, even if you tell them it's a 2 1/2, don't know if its worth it. |
_________________ I'm not sure, but indecision may or may not be my problem |
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Posted:
Sat Aug 25, 2007 7:20 am
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Member
Joined: 09 Dec 2005
Posts: 989
Location: Las Vegas
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I think they're pretty comparable in weight. I was close to buying an English 12ga. 2 1/2" but it didn't work out and I ended up with a 2 1/2" 16ga. The 12 was 6 1/2lb and the 16 is right about 6 1/4. I think the 12ga. will handle a little heavier shot load.
I believe Larry Brown has been hunting with a 12ga. 2 1/2" gun for the past year or 2 and maybe he will chime in here.
Matt |
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Posted:
Sat Aug 25, 2007 7:48 am
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Joined: 25 Jun 2006
Posts: 79
Location: SE Pa
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The 2.5" light 12 is a much more versatile gun. I have had a few English with my favorite being a WC Scott, before regrettably I sold it to finance my Fox 16. You can load it up to 1 1/4 if you had too, but not recommended and load it down to 7/8 oz which I used for clays and woodcock. Some of the light English 12's almost have the profile of an American 16. I had one English 16, but they are too light for me, with many weighing under 6 lbs. I like a 6.5-6.75 lb game gun, so I had my Fox 16/20 combo built at that weight. |
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Posted:
Sat Aug 25, 2007 9:08 am
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Member
Joined: 01 Dec 2006
Posts: 524
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When you ssay "better shotstring length" what do you mean by that?
I've never heard of shotstring length being something that would be construed as better. Unless of course, you mean no shotstring at all.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but according to Bob Brister, I thought the goal in shotgunning is to create loads with no shotstring, thereby rendering a more lethal pattern by haaving the shot all arrive together, in as much as that can be achieved. Obviously, if a given load all arrives at once, it will be more lethal than a long string, some of which won't even hit the game. The only advantage to a long shotstring is if you err in lead provision on game and need the trailing pellets to be your killers becasue the first pellets have already gone past the target. |
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Posted:
Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:11 pm
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Member
Joined: 01 Feb 2005
Posts: 740
Location: New England, home of fat teddy k.
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just what I meant, maybe didn't convey it . Better= shorter. squarer load. |
_________________ I'm not sure, but indecision may or may not be my problem |
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Posted:
Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:21 pm
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Member
Joined: 20 Mar 2005
Posts: 1522
Location: NH
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huns,go back to the hottub with your beer. |
_________________ A bad day of hunting is better than a good day of work. |
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Posted:
Sat Aug 25, 2007 1:20 pm
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Member
Joined: 01 Feb 2005
Posts: 740
Location: New England, home of fat teddy k.
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single malt, my good man, but it's to f***ing hot or that. Central air is working ovetime. hit a 100 on the porch. shooting with sprocket in the am, you up for a road trip?? |
_________________ I'm not sure, but indecision may or may not be my problem |
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Posted:
Sat Aug 25, 2007 5:48 pm
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Member
Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 285
Location: Black hills of South Dakota
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I have an English-made 2 1/2" chambered 12 gauge, and like it a lot. It weighs about 6 1/2 lbs. and is proofed for 1 1/8 oz. loads. It is very much like a 16 gauge 2 3/4' chambered gun in the loads it takes, although a strong 16 might also use 1 1/4 oz. loads. In actual use I find it is a delightful shotgun in feel and in its effectiveness on pheasants. I can't tell much difference at all between how it and my 16 gauge Model 12 hit when they are used with the same shot charge. Incidentally, the only inscription on the gun is "Harrod's" on the rib- if anybody knows who made the doubleguns for Harrod's Department Store I would be interested in finding this out. |
_________________ Quid Me Anxias Sum |
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Posted:
Sat Aug 25, 2007 5:54 pm
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Member
Joined: 20 Mar 2005
Posts: 1522
Location: NH
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hunshatt wrote: |
single malt, my good man, but it's to f***ing hot or that. Central air is working ovetime. hit a 100 on the porch. shooting with sprocket in the am, you up for a road trip??
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Keep drinking that crap and you're gonna drown in the hot tub.
Why don't you call me in the AM and ask me as you are getting to the range.
The wife is away this week and I'm puppy sitting at home for the 5 children. Especially the sick one.
Have a good shoot. I may go shoot some trap in the AM. I shot last night but I think I need to burn up some more RGLs. |
_________________ A bad day of hunting is better than a good day of work. |
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Posted:
Sat Aug 25, 2007 6:42 pm
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Member
Joined: 09 Dec 2005
Posts: 989
Location: Las Vegas
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Personally, I think the "square load" thing is a misconception. Shouldn't the bigger bore shoot a shorter shot string given the same shot weight?
Matt |
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Posted:
Sat Aug 25, 2007 7:45 pm
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bigkev wrote: |
The 2.5" light 12 is a much more versatile gun. I have had a few English with my favorite being a WC Scott, before regrettably I sold it to finance my Fox 16. You can load it up to 1 1/4 if you had too, but not recommended and load it down to 7/8 oz which I used for clays and woodcock. Some of the light English 12's almost have the profile of an American 16. I had one English 16, but they are too light for me, with many weighing under 6 lbs. I like a 6.5-6.75 lb game gun, so I had my Fox 16/20 combo built at that weight.
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Kev, I disagree that the 2 1/2" 12 is more versatile. I'm loading and shooting, right now, 3/4, 7/8, 1, 1 1/8. and like the 2 1/2" 12, I "could" go 1 1/4 oz if I wanted to.
That said I can buy 16 gauge shells in a LOT more places around here than I can find 2 1/2" 12 gauge shells (like nowhere but the net).
I've got 16 gauge guns from 6lbs up to 7lbs. They will always fit my hands better than a 12.
I really don't see any real advantage to a 2 1/2" 12. |
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Posted:
Sat Aug 25, 2007 9:59 pm
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Member
Joined: 03 Dec 2006
Posts: 759
Location: Somewhere in the Socialist State of Minnesota
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Wouldn't the shot string depend on the way the gun is choked? A full choke has a longer shot string then an I/C choke. Therefor with comparable loads, a 12 gauge choked full would have shorter shot string then a 16 choked full. Which actually means nothing as you'd probably pattern your gun anyway and use the choke and shells that pattern best for you. As I see it that's the advantage of having a gun with screw in chokes. Just my thoughts on the subject. I like using the 16 as everybody asks " why shoot a sixteen?" |
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Posted:
Sat Aug 25, 2007 11:26 pm
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This thread needs to be moved over to the "12 Gauge Society" site.....whoops, there isn't one! Scandalous! |
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Posted:
Sun Sep 02, 2007 10:58 am
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Joined: 23 Jul 2007
Posts: 59
Location: ILLINOIS
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Steve Smith from the Pointing Dog journal/Shooting Sportsman/Wingshooters Journal on VS shoots a Webley & Scott 2 1/2" 12 at 6.5 lbs. Choked IC & Full.
He says he likes it because the pattern is "more like a globe and less like a sausage"
I do agree with him.
But he goes on to say he has many more 16ga guns.
He loves 16ga.
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