Home Forums Reloading 16 Gauge Society 16 gauge slugger!

All right all you 16 sleuths out there!

I'm 72 years old and have been killing deer for 65 years.
I've killed deer with a rifle, muzzle loader and one with a bow.
I'd say I've averaged one+ a year, figuring in the few years I wasn't able to hunt and then the years I filled multiple tags.

In all my days, I have NEVER killed a deer with a slug! 🤯
I'm hoping to change that this year.
1) semi auto
2) 16 gauge
3) slug
4) no scope

What can I reasonably expect to be the effective range?
50 yards?
60 yards?

I've got two slug choices.
4/5 oz
OR
7/8 oz

I realize that with a scope increasing accuracy, it will probably kill out to 100 yards.....but I don't have that luxury.

Thanks for your input.

Get 2 or 3 brands and test them. There will most likely be a clear winner, at least that is my experience with slugs.

Only you can decide on effective range.

Betting it will kill farther than you can accuratly shoot with a plain bead.

Fixed choke or screw in tubes?

Screw in tubes.
The gun was manufactured in 1932. The S/N says it was one of the first 500 made!
The stamping on the barrel revealed that it wasn't original to the gun.
I don't know if there was more than one barrel or the original was damaged beyond repair.
Since the barrel wasn't original to the gun, I sent it to Briley in Houston and had it threaded for tubes.
Their basic service gives you three tubes.
I got X-Full for turkeys, a tighter Mod tube and a tighter Imp Cyl tube.
I'm using the most open tube.

Tried a couple of slugs at 25 yards. Guestimated a sight picture.
First one hit 1.5" high dead above the bull. I pulled the second shot, but it would still be a killer shot. Dead o.n horizontally and 1.5" right.

Got plenty slugs. My shoulder withstood two slugs just fine. A prosthetic shoulder can't handle that much abuse.

Do they offer a rifled tube?

Never thought to ask.... but at the time, I wasn't even thinking about shooting slugs.
Another tube is only about $80 +/-, IF they even offer one.

10gauge
I understand about the several different brands concept. I don't disagree.... BUT.....
I've got Rem 4/5 oz slugs and Win 7/8 oz slugs.
One or the other will HAVE to work.

AND....
Sixteen ammo ain't cheap. I AM cheap! LOL!
Sixteen ammo is also difficult to locate. Especially slugs and buckshot.