The Gentleman’s Gauge
Famed shooting and shotgun writer Michael McIntosh described it as a paragon of grace and the uplander’s darling. William Harden Foster author of the book New England Grouse Shooting dubbed it “The Little Gun” after harvesting his first grouse with it at the age of twelve. A classic gauge it holds sentimental memories, reminding us of a simpler era when America produced some of its finest side by sides. Yet with all its accolades, it still fits the role of the proverbial middle child. A valid argument could be made that it is under appreciated and the least acknowledged gauge by most upland hunters. A true wallflower if you will. As the desire for hunting begins to stir in our youth most of us start out with an old hand me down12-gauge. Then down the road, should a passion for upland hunting develop, a large percentage of us switch over to the well publicized 20 gauge. It is a natural progression, but there is another option, the humble and often overlooked 16 gauge.
The Rise and Fall
The 16 gauge was developed in the 1860’s spreading out across Europe where it still has modest demand in its home nation of Germany, as well as Spain, France, and southern Italy. During its heydays in the U.S.A from the 1940’s to the early 60s the 16gauge was highly regarded by upland hunters and held up to 25% of the market share. Unfortunately, as time moved on with upland bird numbers on the decline and shrinking access to land, along with the a new found popularity with skeet and trapshooting where the 16 gauge was not used in competition. Combining with that, hunters were now turning more towards deer, waterfowl and turkey where the 12 reigned supreme, the writing was clearly on the wall. With demand for the 16 in decline, many shotgun manufacturers followed the money, concentrating on production of 12’s and the next in line 20gauges.
Reasons why Upland Hunters should own a 16
One does not need to have the verbal sway of an Atticus Finch to plead his case and convert the serious bird hunter on the merits of owning a sweet 16. One 16 gauge aficionado was most eloquent when he stated that the term best can be subjective, but it was his opinion that the 16 gauge has scientifically and anecdotally proven to deliver some of the most effective and efficient patterns available, and a gun that patterns well mean more birds in the game bag at the end of the day. In fact, the first national skeet-shooting championship was won with a 16. Weight and balance will also play a pivotal role in one’s choice of firearms. The most import thing to remember when looking to purchase a 16 gauge is to make sure it was built on a 16 frame. I say this because some models are built on a 12 frame which provides no reduction in weight, leading to a cumbersome bird gun. A 16 built on a true 16 or even a 20 frame makes for a better-balanced lighter carry and a and more responsive gun, which in turn enhances the hunting experience over the course of the day while in pursuit of woodcock and grouse. This past summer finding myself with a very light wallet, I was forced to sell a charming field grade Belgium made16 to meet the demands of a gun dealer who refused to budge on the price of an unblemished Parker VH that had caught my eye. The point being was that the young man who ended up purchasing my Belgium did not believe it was a 16 at first, because in his words. “It wasn’t bulky and felt so light!” A quality 16-gauge shotgun built on the proper frame will often weigh no more than five or six ounces over a quality 20 gauge.
A hunting cohort once stated between sips of coffee while preaching the virtues of his favourite Italian 16 gauge. “It carries like a twenty, but hits like a twelve.” I admit, his comment was spot on, although the Ali line “Floats like a butterfly sting like a bee” Would be equally applicable. The sweet 16 can be deadly on upland game, enough power to drop a big rooster pheasant heading out over the horizon, but light enough to smoothly swing on a savvy grouse doing its best impression of a poltergeist, weaving in between a line of birch trees.
The one dark cloud associated with this gauge is the difficulty in acquiring ammunition. I concede that it can be a challenge to find certain loads, and that 16 ammunition is not mass produced on the same scale as the 12. However, in standard field grade loads 6’s 7.5 and 8’s I have never had any issues. A 1oz load in number 7.5 shot with an IC and Mod chokes make for a flawless combination in the field, providing a first-rate pattern with minimal recoil.
Price always plays a factor; most of us have financial limits when it comes to purchasing a shotgun. So, we must shop accordingly. I have noted that in many cases, shotguns of similar quality and measurements in a 20 or a 12gauge often cost up to 20% more than their 16-gauge counterpart. That Belgium gun that I spoke of selling earlier was purchased from a local gun shop for a price far below its actual value and I made a tidy profit on its resale. It is not unusual for a gun dealer to under-price the 16 on the basis that they are sought out by a smaller niche market consumer and therefore can be difficult to sell.
16 Gauge Brands New and Old
Even though production of the 16 has dropped significantly since its heyday there are a few reputable brands that still manufacture quality, well balanced aesthetic shotguns, such as Browning with the Citori model, Fausti, Cz Sharptail, and Rizzini’s. Conversely, if you are a vintage16 gauge buff, there is a bright side. With a bit of legwork, you can find some very fair prices on Ithaca’s, Parkers, A.H Foxes, and some splendid European models such as Sauer and Bernardelli. These guns were built during an era where pride went into every gun, and every gun was hand built by a skilled craftsman. The best deals will always come with the field grade models. If you take care of these older shotguns their value will only appreciate over time. As these are vintage guns, it would be wise to have them inspected by a competent gunsmith for any defects and measured for shell length before purchasing.
One more Excuse to own a 16
My son is a typical teenager who relishes every opportunity to give the old man a hard time. In one instance he came downstairs looking for a financial handout as I was cleaning my Parker after chasing woodcock on a wet October morning. “Mom says that you didn’t really need to get that gun you know! I gave him a sideways glance; he clearly did not get the hint and decided to keep up with the interrogation. So why did you get it?” I nodded politely and asked. “How many guys do you think will be in the woods today with a vintage side-by-side shotgun?” My son replied, “A few I guess.” “Now how many will be out chasing birds with a 1928 Parker.” My son rolled his eyes. “Even less I suppose.” “Now how many will be out with a 1928 Parker in sixteen gauge?” My son exhaled “OK probably none!” I smiled broadly. “Sometimes it’s nice to stand out from the crowd. Now you got your answer.” With that he grimaced and quickly departed forgetting all about the money request. Now I could have given my son the reasons that I have just laid down in this article, perhaps even mentioning the fact as it is considered a gentleman’s gun, and that those who own one would then belong to an exclusive club. I just don’t think I would have gotten the same reaction. Even though the 16 is unlikely to ever regain its past popularity, there remain a few dedicated bird hunters who refuse to let it drift off into the sunset. Strangely enough, there has been a small resurgence over the past decade related to its demand, so the next time you’re in the local gun shop and spot a stylish 16gauge on the wall, ask if you may take a closer look. Before you know it, you may find yourself roaming through the aspen with a gentleman’s gun in hand on a whole new path of upland hunting.
