16 Gauge Blues

[270man]

I've never even fired a 16-ga shotgun but remember lots of hunters using them when I was a kid. It seems to me that the 16-ga has survived only because of nostalgia -- not for performance. This isn't inherent to the gauge. It's just that the ammo makers have put all their research dollars into 12 and 20 gauge. Shooter demand probably had a lot to do with it.

I'm a big 6mm fan but it may have the same problem. On paper one can get a bit more performance than from the 243 but the difference is probably small. I don't believe either deer or varmints would be able to tell the difference. Practically speaking, I should have gone with the 243 because it has thoroughly beaten the 6mm in popularity. I'm not sure where I could buy a factory 6mm. Remington has dropped them from their standard sporter line (i.e. BDL, ADL, etc.) and Ruger no longer offers their Model 77/Hawkeye rifles in 6mm. If you are sold on the 6mm, as I am, the answer is to reload. Since buying my first 6mm, a Remington 700 BDL, over 35 years ago I have never shot anything except paper targets with factory loads.

I hope the caliber makes a comeback one of these days -- and I'll wish the same for all of you 16-gauge fans.

270man