[Southpaw]

You bet Mike. Enjoy the read. What I really like about the first paragraph in excerpt is that it is talking about perfect shot column dimensions or so called squaring the load, that the 16 gauge naturally does with a 1 ounce load. I think that is what was so attractive about 16 gauge as a field gun; light guns, manageable recoil (with proper load) and great patterns. Even diminutive Annie Oakley really liked 16 gauge a lot as her go to gauge. I also suspect that with the proper dimensional shot columns that the 16 gauge has less shot stringing problems. (Just an unverified hunch that some or most might disagree but..)

All I know is that Germans know something about ballistics.

Also like the lower part talking about what others have mentioned about German guns, they throw a lot into some guns but a lot have features not really suited for upland hunting. I think years ago if they would have adapted guns to upland style dimensions favorable to that pursuit there would be a lot more well made sxs upland guns in US hunter arsenals. I think anything German between WW1 and probably into late 1950's was frowned upon in mainstream populous pschye. I do know that alot of American service men came home with a lot of Suhl sxs's but alot of those were cheaper made guns. Used to see alot of them in gun stores but not as much anymore.