Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Small Game 12 gauge or 16 gauge, which is better?

Let's debate the merits of these two cartridges. The 16 is lighter and packs a punch. The 12 packs a bigger punch but needs somewhat bigger guns. Is it worth it, if both were readily available? <BR> I know that, unfortunately, the 16 has gone out of style.

I have both in pump guns, and I will say this. If you're shooting #6 shot or smaller there is no difference. Both have the same shot load and drams. It's only when you go bigger (like for docks, geese etc.) that you start sacraficing performance. As far as the 16ga being out of style, don't hold your breath. With the resurgence of old cartridges (mostly due to the CAS craze) the 16ga is making a come back. It's still difficult to find shells at time, but I think this has to do more with locality. In Texas I never had a problem finding them (at roughly the same cost as 12ga). Out here in CA, they're next to impossible to find, and when you do, be prepared to pay almost twice as much for them. Too bad, my 16ga has killed more dove than I can count. ~MarinePMI

The sixteen is SWEET! For upland gunning, I think I prefer the handier package and superb balance with, as you pointed out, no loss in payload!!<P>I agree about the twelve once you get into larger shot sizes and 1 1/4-plus payloads. That's twelve country.<P>Rick Bin<p>[This message has been edited by RickBin (edited February 22, 2001).]

My dad has a double barrel 16 that is one of the fastest upland game guns yet to be seen. It is smooth and fast and light. Unfortuneately, the ejectors don't work, but with such a great gun, it's worth it.

For upland hunting, I don't see much difference. I am primarily a dove hunter and have found my shots per bird ratio is about the same using a 16 ga. as a 12 ga. With a 20 ga., on the other hand, my shots per bird ratio goes up considerably. I like 'em all and use 'em all - that's what makes it so much fun.

I do alot of rabbit hunting with dogs and think the 16 guage is just about perfect for it.<P>I dont know why they arent any more popular than they are.<P><P>------------------<BR> <A HREF="http://TheSouthernOutdoorsman.com" TARGET=_blank>TheSouthernOutdoorsman.com</A>

IN MY OPINION IF I HAD TO OWN ONLY ONE SHOTGUN IT WOULD BE A 12GA. AND I WOULD BUY IT IN A 3 INCH CHAMBER. IN SUCH A GUN YOU CAN USE SMALL 7/8 OZ. LOADS WHICH IS EQUIVALENT TO A 20GA. LIGHT LOAD AND GO TO 2 OZ. MAGNUM LOADS FOR MUCH LARGER GAME. AND THERE ARE MANY SHOT LOAD VARIATIONS IN BETWEEN. SO THIS ONE GUN WOULD OFFER YOU VERSITILITY. ADD TO THIS THE SCREW IN CHOKE SYSTEM AND YOU COULD EASILY GET BUY WITH ONE SHOTGUN. IT MAY BE TO HEAVY ON OCCASION BUT IT PROBABLY WON'T BLACK YOUR ARM EITHER. HAVING SAID ALL THIS I MUST SAY THAT I OWN SEVERAL SHOTGUNS IN SEVERAL GUAGES. AND IT'S FUN TO USE THEM ALL. BUT IF I COULD ONLY OWN ONE I WILL STICK TO MY WIN. MOD 12 IN 12GA. AND IT'S 3" CHAMBER. IT'S DONE IT ALL OVER THE YEARS FROM BUCKS TO DOVES AND DID IT QUITE WELL. LUCK!

I look at it this way. My favorite load for upland birds (quail and doves) is 1 & 1/8 ounces of # 9 or #8 shot. In a 20 gauge gun this is a heavy magnum load and recoils a little too much for my style of shooting. Of course it is a rather light recoiling load in a 12 gauge but I have to carry a heavier gun in the field all day.
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<br>The 16 gauge with a one and one eighth ounce load is the perfect combination for upland birds. It handles like a 20 and throws shot like a 12. The Ithica 16 gauge pump is a joy to carry and shoot in the field. I have lusted for a good 16 gauge side by side that I could afford for YEARS! If any gun company ever comes around and starts making them ( hear me Ruger, Weatherby, Browning ) I will buy one for myself, my wife, and both of my sons.
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<br>I will still prefer a 12 gauge for water fowl and turkey but if I had a 16 gauge double barrel my 20 and 12 gauge Red Lables would never see the light of day again.

Big Hunter, I am by no means a shot gun expert allthough I currently am down to six shotguns. Of all my shotguns there are two that get used. My favorite upland gun is my Old Reliable meat in the pot Winchester Mod. 12 pump in 16 guage. Fast easy packing and always works. The other is my Ithica 37 featherweight, kicks hard and works great on ducks. had the choke opened for steel shot. i also have a Browning auto 12 ga. this is a heavy gun and is a lot slower to swing. My Remington 20 guage auto is fast handling but not as reliable as the Mod 12. I also have couple other clunkers but the mod 12 in 16 is the best for me.
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<br>Bullwnkl.

I guess I would have to say the 12ga. would be my choice for the simple reason that you have the power to reach them far out shots if needed or you can download your hulls to match 16 or 20ga. performance and recoil. Plus the added convenience of readily available components without having to make special orders.

To me it realy would depend on the use. I hunt mostly upland birds and rabbits, I LOVE my 16 ga. But if I wanted to get into serious waterfowl hunting, or turkeys then I think a magnum 12 is without equal for versatility.

For "Small Game"
<br>.410 :-)

The only thing to do is get a couple of guns in each guage. I've done it this way. There is the long barreled 12 for pass shooting ducks and the short one for over decoys, then you'll need a shortbarreled 20 for grouse and along barreled one for dove shooting and then there's the long barreled 16 when your the blocker pheasant hunting and a short barreled one when your hunting ringnecks over pointing dogs. After a few years you'll find yourself picking one of the six when you know you realy don't want to go home empty handed. THAT'S THE BEST GUAGE FOR YOU. Then you'll only have to worry about the ones that you see and feel you can't live without.
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<br>Good Luck
<br>erich

I like my old remington 16 guage pump. The down side is that you cant go into a country hardware store and find 16s anymore. If you have a big day missing doves, and run out you may just be done.

Big Hunter:
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<br>I suspect that your Dad's 16 gauge has extractors, not ejectors. Fairly common in less expensive(and some more expensive, since they are more reliable) guns, they just lift the shell up a bit to allow the shooter to manually remove them. If it has ejectors that are broken, then they are almost certainly repairable.

I'm "Big Hunter's" dad, and yes, you got it. You'd think as much as he's studied on guns and ballistics, he'd know the difference!
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<br>As to the debate over 12 and 16, the 12 is better just due to versitility. I do love both my 16s, but when it comes rabbit season, my old 12 ga Mossberg 500 with a 24 inch smoothbore slug barrel is still the best thing around. Short, fast and deadly.
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<br>Matter of fact, I catch alot of heck from that gun. My "Old Man" yells at me all the time for shooting them on the jump! "Let the dogs circle them before you shoot them!" "Heck, Dad, I thought that was why we carry shotguns."
<br>7mm

Well i love my sixteens i sot my first deer with one at 9 yrs old and the just seem to be real fast and comfortable but if you are only gonna own just one shotgun i would suggest the 12ga i own 16 shotguns and planning on buying a franchi in 28ga next but this is my two cents worth if you are gonna buy more then 1 shotgun then buy a sixteen you will be hooked just remember to bring extra ammo you can't always buy it at little ma and pop stores <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />