Itching for a 16 gauge

[Tom Jay]

My gun safe is full of 12 gauge and 20 gauge sxs's (including 3 Parkers, 2 Win 21's and a few O/U's) and I'm itching to buy something new, like a 16 gauge sxs. All my guns are box locks with a wide variety of chokes. In a 16 gauge I'd like 28" barrels with M/F or M/M chokes. I mostly pheasant and grouse hunt and take an annual pilgrimage south for quail, and of course I like shooting clays. My price range is around $2k and for that I have found several 1920-1940 era LC Smiths, a few Parker Trojans and VH's and a couple of Lefevers. I like them all, and no Parker's best. But don't know much about the others. Any opinions/suggestions/commentary would be helpful. I'm going to the Baltimore show next weekend to take another look around. Thanks.

[Shawn Wayment]

They're out there...I saw an Elsie field in Cabelas the other day in 16 that's mint for $999

[Kevin McCormack]

Start looking for a 16 ga. AH Fox Sterlingworth grade or higher. They are very sweet handling guns; like the M21 and a few other makes, the same frames were used for 16s and 20s alike. They are still a lot of gun for the money but their popularity is increasing rapidly. You are looking for a good combo of chokes and barrel lengths and they are out there at roughly half the price of a Parker for a non-ejector gun, especially an 0-frame Parker. Be aware that a lot of them (Foxes especially) in the early guns (c. 1905-1920) have a LOT of drop at the heel; not so much at the comb. If you can shoot up to a 1 5/8 - 1 3/4 drop at comb stock, you can get by unless DAH is pushing 4+ inches (not unheard of in the earliest guns! With M&F chokes, you can go to spreader loads and open up roughly one degree of choke per barrel, and effectively shoot IC&M, etc. I tried RST's spreader loads in my 16 ga. A grade with 28" M&F barrels on grouse, and it was murder! Also a joy to carry all day in the heavy brush. Philly guns are most desireable, but don't pass up the early (c. 1930-35) Utica Foxes. Come by our tables (B 4&5) at Baltimore next weekend and we will 'Fox' you out.

[Kenny Graft]

If looking for a light bird gun the Fox SW is a very good choice most are just over 6lbs. The Savage guns may have modern dimensions, philly guns will have 1 5/8x 2 5/8 or more drop normally. If parker is your choice find a O frame at 6 plus lbs, 1 frame at 6 3/4 lbs prices will start at 2k for most any 80% and up gun. I just paid 2800.00 for a nice O frame 16 with 28" barrels and modern stock dimensions...its a keeper. Don't forget the NID Ithica guns,....SXS ohio

[Tom Jay]

Kevin, I'll check you out next week in Baltimore