When I first started this thread I had no idea it would generate the responses it has had. I really started it because of the lack of shells which make it very hard to shoot beautifully balanced shotguns. On the whole, I feel they are the best balanced "out of the box." I suppose that will also generate some severe feelings.

hrm aint that a shame have had a lot of good luck with those "poop" dove loads over the years. Musta been the doves and quail didn't know about anit-it-money either.

GoodOlBoy

You know Larry..they may have just been the best balanced of all the gauges.. The smaller in gauge you go the lighter and smaller the gun. Have had 2 really well made 410s and they were just too light and small to shoot really well. I must say though that the M-21 20 ga is one of the easiest shooting guns I have ever used. A few ounces heavier than the average but it really is a nice 2 shooter. I also had a nice Win 21 in 16 ga at one time. It weighed just about the same as the 20 and kicked a little more. BUT it was also a great 2 shooter.. and worked just fine for quail. Bored cylinder and modified. My 20 ga is bored cylinder and skeet 2(which is a kinda light modified..or a tight improved cylinder). I also have at this time an old M-21 12 ga skeet. Won at the 1947 Grand Trapshoot by a friend's father. It was really a great shooting quail gun also but that sucker will beat the snot out of ya after a while of shootin it. I actually ran a 100 at skeet with it one time many years ago. Never shot it again competitively. Yep you just may be right about the best balanced of all the doubles being the 16.

Another reason why I love my two 16 SxS doubles. They are both a delight to carry and mount. And, like Good Ole Boy said, I doubt that the doves I have shot with them knew they were killed with (factory) "poop" loads instead of pricey "target" loads. Most of my shooting now is done with reloads using Remington's target grade shot and power piston wads - probably the same as used in their target loads.

I do not disagree that the 16 ga. is in decline -more's the pity because those old SxS doubles were and still are nice guns. My two - a Belgian Lefauchaux and a German J.P. Sauer & Sohn - were brought home from Europe by my father-in-law after WW2. The only reason I have them anyway is that I inherited them upon his passing. I certainly couldn't have afforded to have bought them. I'll continue to shoot and enjoy them and will pass them along to my son who I hope will continue to use and enjoy them.

Yeah what blows my mind is seeing less 16s and more 28s around here now days. What the heck? Not that I am running down the usage of a 28, but why would you want to shoot a gun that just plain costs more? I can buy almost any type of shotgun in plain to fancy at about half the cost of a 28 just by getting it in a 20, and ammo is less than a third the price around here for a 20.

I mean if you inheirited great grandads, or got one for a steal thats one thing. But I see guys paying top dollar for low end 28s when they could pay mid dollar for top end 20s. . . .

Now thats one I DON"T get . . . .

GoodOlBoy