Quote:
Originally Posted by fabsroman
Now, the question is, which went away first, the ammo for the 16 gauge or the 16 gauge guns?
. I just do not think most people have the ability to use a 20 gauge.
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Fabs..you know I had a gun shop and reloading supply business on the shore. For 35 yrs. I sold 16 ga ammo for a while. The demand just went away. There were lots of GOOD 16 ga guns available. I even bought a few. I had a 2 barrel Philadelphia Fox in 16. Beautiful gun..shot it well. Just didn't really have a need for it. I shot quail with a really nice Winchester 21 in 20 ga..or an 1100 standard skeet gun in 20. The 16 was just not needed. Tried it on doves and it was ok. They actually had 16 ga one ounce target loads good ammo too. Killed em just as well as a 12 or 20. Shells cost a bit more and were harder to buy...even for my business. The demand for the shells disappeared before the guns, my friend. There were a few old farmers(hey I'm one of them??) that continued to shoot the 16..Croppers for the most part. Poor enough that they didn't have the money for a new gun...and the 16's were selling cheap so they used what was cheap. Share croppers went the way of the buffalo on the shore...just like the demand for 16's. BTW was doing a gun show this weekend and saw a nice 16 double...hammer gun in about 90 percent. Sold too..for 1200 bucks..but this is food for another thread
BTW Fabs..I don't think that the ability to use a 20 isn't there.. I think it is the perception that it isn't as big a gun so it won't shoot as well. The 20 is enough gun for most upland situations and only really out of it's league on most waterfowl ...in the average shooters hands. Many years ago(lead shot days) I shot teal with a 28 ga at very short ranges and it worked fine...but is it a duck gun??.. No....only in the right situations which are few