16ga

[SXS OHIO]

I started hunting roosters out in Kansas in 2008. I had added a set of Merkel 16gauge barrels to my DT-PG-SF Parker reproduction 20 gauge. Galazan had them made and I sent my gun to them, and they fitted up a set and numbered them to my gun. These are great barrels be the way! Choke is very important for my rooster set up. I had them open the right barrel from mod to IC .009 and left the full barrel as it came. The full barrel is actually .031 or X-full in 16 gauge. I like them over the Kreghoff barrels because the full is only .024 of choke and that is .002 under spec for full choke in 16 gauge. This gun comes in at 6lbs-4oz with the 28" 16-s in place, SWEET. This gun fits me and swats down roosters.....(-: I shoot Fiocchi 5# HV and don't bother switching shells when we find Quail as the 5-s do a great job, have never shot up a bird with 5-s in the IC barrel and by the time I shoot the x-full barrel the birds are out there anyway. I have shot 2 true doubles on wild Quail in Kansas and a true combo of a rooster and a Quail. I do not think a lesser gauge would perform like my 16 does in Kansas on them tuff to kill roosters. Great news after several years of drought in Kansas the birds are back!!! I love those Kansas combo hunts with the wild quail. If Kansas has a good hatch and the weather cooperates, I will be out there tromping the fields with my two young setters this Nov/Dec 2026...(be the Lord willing). SXS Ohio