16 gauge & deer/turkey hunting question

[Squid4]

Today i just picked up a 16 gauge bolt action shotgun, is this gun sufficient for hunting deer (with slugs) and turkey (turkey rounds)? It holds 2-3/4 inch shells

Thanks

[fabsroman]

It will do just fine on both. I have never seen 16 ga. slugs for sale, but then again, I have never really looked that hard for them.

Hunting turkey with a 2 3/4" shell in 12 ga. would probably be pretty challenging, in 16 gauge it would be even more challenging, but it just means that you have to get closer to the bird. Pattern the gun and see how far out you can get a good turkey pattern. Then, set the decoy up, range it, and figure out how far out from the decoy you can take a good shot. Simple as that.

[skeet]

Fabs pretty much covered the whole thing..except you'll be just fine 2 3/4 inch shells killed plenty of game for plenty of years Just as he said, find out where the old gun shoots. Heck I just bought a little bolt action 410. Mainly to give to a friend for squirrels and rabbits. Main thing is to have a good time.

[M.T. Pockets]

I can't speak for turkeys, but I live in a slug zone for deer hunting and a 16 guage slug is a very adequate round. I use a 12 guage myself, but would gladly hunt with a 16 and I can't think of a single deer I've killed with a 12 that a 16 wouldn't have taken just as well.

[Squid4]

Thank you for your replies.

One last question, can i shoot slugs and bird shot from this gun without having to change the barrels?

Thank you

[skeet]

I have to assume you have screw off chokes on the end of the bbl. Don't think I've ever seen removeable bbls on a bolt gun. They did make the guns with removeable chokes that screwed on the end of the bbls. If that is what you mean..use an open choke for slugs...and yes you can shoot bird shot and slugs from the same choke. But remember that slugs generally shoot better from Improved cylinder or modiified chokes

[Dom]

Short answer = yes.

But for shooting slugs, you need to shoot a few brands to see if any actually hit where you are aiming. Find a brand that gives you good accuracy and then go buy a whole bunch of them. If none give you good accuracy, then you'll have to close the shot distance down to the point where they are accurate to hit the proverbial pie plate, and limit your shots to that distance. Actually that's also a good idea to pattern your shot for when you go for Turkeys.

An easier way, but more expensive, is to save and purchase a rifled barrel slug gun strictly for deer hunting, and find accurate sabots, and then put a scope on it. Waidmannsheil, Dom.

[Gil Martin]

The 16 would work just fine and finding ammo around here is not a problem. One of these days this area will restrict the use of rifles for deer. I already have a Remington 870 16 gauge set up with a scope for when that happens. All the best...
Gil

[gd357]

Should do fine for both. the first deer I killed was with a 16 gauge, and at 60 or so yards, went clear through the chest and dropped it in it's tracks. My little brother uses a 20 gauge for turkeys, so if that'll work, a 16 should suffice.

gd

[Mr. 16 gauge]

The big three (Rem, Fed., and Winchester) all make a foster type slug in 16 gauge. Brenneke (my choice) makes it's slug in 16 as well. Lightfield used to make a sabot-type slug in 16 gauge when Ithica made rifled bores for thier 'new' M37 a few years back. Fiocchi also makes a 16 gauge slug, but might be hard to find.
I would definetly recommend patterning your 16 gauge for turkeys, and at different ranges. Federal used to make a copper plated load in #4 and #6 with 1 1/4 oz of shot, and Fiocchi's "Golden PHeasant" load with 1 1/8 oz of Nickle plated #5s would be worthy of a look also.
If you have an adjustable choke device on your shotgun, I have found that a more open choke (i.e. improved modified) might give tighter patterns than a full or extra full choke......experimentation is the key. Good luck and keep us posted.