16 Gauge

Anyone shooting/reloading for 16 GA? Just picked up a pair and press.

Even being a 16, unless you shoot a ton you're likely better off just buying it. I've wanted to get into shotgun loading for a while, and every cost analysis I run I can buy shells cheaper than load. Using reclaimed shot can bring it down to just about equal. If you're loading steel or heavy game loads like 5s or 6s you may come out. What 16 did you get?

Absolutely love a 16ga! Got a sxs ive had for 17yrs now still one of my favorite gauges. What brand you end up getting? Far as reloading new had. Desire to reload shotgun

Just pick a load off the chart and use the right bushing. You try to get close to 1200fps. Some advantages to reloading I used to load a 1oz load of #9s for my 20ga. Made quail easier to hit.

Agree that I can buy for nearly same price I can reload for. And this already having the shot (new and reclaimed) and primers. If I add that cost in, more to reload or at least the same. But have it all, as was reloading for 12 and 28. And can dang sure save $ on the 28s. Loading 12s for 3/4 skeet loads so big reason there and been loading 12 for 30 years.

I will most likely go ahead an reload for the 16s because I have 1/2 the supplies and a guy has a press he will give me.

I picked up an Ithaca Mdl 37 Modified and a Winchester Mdl 12 w/ poly choke. Got them for a great price I couldn't pass up.

So not long after this thread, I got gifted an old 16ga stevens 311. I noticed that a lot of the loads out there are essentially replicating 12ga field loads (1 1/8th oz at ~1300fps). I am not terribly recoil sensitive, but I wouldn't want to shoot a couple of boxes of that on the dove field with a no recoil padded gun. I decided to say what the hell and bought the stuff to load an ounce to soften it up. Bought a couple hundred primed cheddite shells and 1oz wads from ballistic products, and a load all. That's when I realized Herter's offers the load I want at 69 per case. Oh well, we will see how it goes with the loading.

Steve - I'll keep a lookout at the gunstore for 16ga shells. When folks sell/trade in guns lots of times they throw in the ammo with it. If ammo isn't in factory original boxes the store won't sell it on the floor. If I'm not there ask for Doug. He runs the ammo warehouse out back.

Thanx!

Shooting the Cabelas Herters in the Ithaca for now.

However, since found out the 1926 Win Mdl 12 has a 2 9/16" chamber. And reaming it to 2 3/4" won't work because the port is too short to eject a 2 3/4" hull after firing!

For the Win Mdl 12 two options - buy RST 2 1/2" loaded ammo ($110/case + shipping) or cut the 2 3/4" hulls to 2 1/2" and reload...

If you can find the cheaper Remington shells. Not the green and yellow box, but the bow with the picture of the dove on the front. They are actually a 2 9/16" shell, even though the box says 2 3/4. If you put them beside a 2 3/4" shell, they are shorter. We have a short chambered A5 that shoots them well, and won't shoot anything else.

Wow! That is outstanding information. I will look them up! Thanx!

Bonus points for that one.

It is DEF bonus points! Bought two boxes tonight. Going to shoot one in the Ithaca 2 3/4" and then cycle the empty in the 1926 Mdl 12. If it cycles clean, I am good! Crossing my fingers!

Update. Shot 3 shells of the Remington thru the Ithaca (2 3/4" chamber), brought them home, and put them next to std 2 3/4" hull. They are DEF shorter! And they WILL cycle thru the Mdl 12 after firing! After I got done mic'ing everything, the "std 2 3/4" (only one hull) mic'd out to 2 23/32" fired. The Remington mic'd out to 2 21/32". The 21/32" is short enough to cycle in the Mdl 12.

Before I fire a bunch of them and break the original stock again (which will make it firewood) I an going to have the forcing cone lengthened if it is not 2 21/32" long. That way I will know I am not going to get any over pressure and the shorter std Rem hull will cycle.

Good to hear it's working out for you.

Also, being as this is the handloaders forum, I'll mention that all you would need to hand load short shells is your components a roll crimper and a drill or drill press. It takes a while, but once you get an assembly line going, it's not too bad. And you can make the loads just like you want.

I've been loading steel shot for years now, I recommend buying by the case for anyone that ask if they should reload duck loads or not.

If you can't come out ahead by reloading 16 gauge shells then I doubt one could save money on any other gauge.

I only load now to use up what I have acquired. I actually ran out of time to load some dove loads and bought a case last year.

A 16 was my grand paws favorite hands down. I grew up toting his 16ga montgomery ward single shot. I dont know how many times we would run into another hunter and they would ask to look at it. They would break it down to see a number on it then look at him and say...id give you a hundred bucks for it. Pop never would. It was just an old beat up single shot montgomery ward 16ga. We always wondered what the deal was about it? Sorry to get off topic.

The pair of 16s are on true 16 frames. They are awesome! until I get the loader that A guy will let me have, shooting factory. I am really looking forward to taking them into the field!