Quote:
Originally Posted by Arthur Shaffer
I'll chime in since I have bought quite a few lately:
Parker 16 g DH 28" Damascus
Sauer 16 ga Hammer
Sauer 16g x 20 g rifle cape gun
Unknown German 16 g Hammer
German 16 g O/u combo gun
German 16 g Drilling
Sterlingworth 16 g (x2)
Ithaca 16 g Flues Gr3
Ithaca 16 g Gr 4
Ithaca Field 16 NID
Manufrance Ideal 16 g (Spectacle action)
Manufrance Simplex 16 g
Manufrance Robust 16 ga
H&H boxlock 16 g
And being shipped:
Verney-Carron 16 g
Browning Citori 16 ga
Truly my favorite gauge over many years. After shooting a well made 16, any 12 feels ungainly due to size unless heavy shooting. The secret is weight and balance. Modern 16's are generally just twelves with small barrels. All my 16's weigh 6-1/4 or less, except the combo guns etc. Many weigh in the 5's. I don't buy them if they are heavy. In truth, many 20's and 28's weigh more. I seldom shoot them with over 7/8oz and have seen no need to. I find the effectiveness of these as good as the 1 oz loads.
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So, Art, what is the primary use of this great array of 16s? I find the 16 almost perfect for Bobs and grouse, but like something heavier for waterfowl and pheasants, and something lighter for woodcock, snipe and rail.
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"Doubtless the good Lord could have made a better game bird than bobwhite, and better country to hunt him in...but equally doubtless, he never did." -- Guy de la Valdene (from A Handful of Feathers )
"'I promise you,' he said, 'on my word of honor, I won't die on the opening of the bird season.'" -- Robert Ruark (from The Old Man and the Boy)
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