16 Gauge Blues

[dovehunter]

Originally Posted by skeet

...I've had 16's when there was good ammo available...

What do you mean by "good ammo"? At least around here, if Winchester, Remington, or Federal makes it in a 16 ga. load, you can find it. Granted you may have to do some shopping around and/or available quantities may not be on par with those for 12 or 20 ga. shells and the 16s may cost more, but you can find them.

I don't disagree that a 20 (especially the 3") will do whatever a 16 will. For that matter, for upland bird hunting, doves, etc., I think the 20 will do anything that a 12 will - if the shooter does his part. I just enjoy shooting my 16s. They are kind of a novelty and there is something to be said for shooting something that is different from the rest of the pack. And, since I reload, (as long as I can get wads) I can brew up pretty much any kind of load I want.

Incidentally, I have one of those 16 ga. 870 pumps you mentioned. It does have screw-in choke tubes. I even went so far as to purchase an extra 22" barrel for mine for close-in shooting or in the thick stuff. I like the heck out of mine.