16 gauge question

[Squid4]

I have a JC Higgins 16 gauge in really good condition that i just picked up. Will this gun be good enough for hunting turkey and deer? I would have gone with a 12 gauge but since i am short i havent found a 12 ga that is comfortable for me. Plus i like to hunt grouse. So i thought the 16ga would be a good gun for both. Any thoughts or opinions?

thanks

[petey]

Should be perfect for both. Hopefully you can find shells for the thing though.

I can't recall the last time I've seen someone have 16's on the shelf.

[GoodOlBoy]

Academy sometimes has 16 gauge. If not.

www.cheaperthandirt.com
www.midwayusa.com
www.cabelas.com

In that order.

GoodOlBoy

[M.T. Pockets]

The 16 is a great shotgun, used to be very popular around here for pheasants & ducks. When whitetails moved into the area everyone used their bird guns with slugs and the 16 killed a lot of them.

In the 1960's and 70's everyone wanted a 12 guage that could shoot 3" magnums. It's been downhill since then.

Petey's right about the ammo. It's out there, but it's getting harder to find. Be prepared to pay more too.

[Rapier]

Many shotgunners regard the 16 as the very best hunting gun. Hits as hard as the 12, with about the same recoil as the 20. It is just a dying chambering today in the US but is still very popular in Europe and South America. It is the #1 ga in Argentina for locals, I asked our outfitter.
Ed

[L. Cooper]

Keep in mind that all shotguns shoot pellets with essentially the same velocity. A #2 shot from a 20 guage will kill just as well as a #2 shot from a 10 guage. The only difference is that the 10 guage will shoot a lot more of them at once.

So a 16 guage will definitely kill effectively if you put the pellets on target. Effective patterns will have a longer range than a 20 guage, and slightly less range than a 12 just because of the number of pellets in a load, but the gun will be very effective within its range.

Nothing wrong with the choice at all.

[Rapier]

See there you go with all of that technical stuff..... I tried my very best to stay away from that, as you can see for sure.
Ed

[Lilred]

JC Higgins...they are Sears & Roebuck guns...that's cool. I've only owned one but I've seen alot of deer get killed with a JC Higgins and they are mean at a turkey shoot too.

Forgive me fer bein kinda off topic here...but I love those "chain store" guns. I think they are a neat piece of shotgun history. Most were made by major manufacturers for the stores. I think Ted Williams replaced the JC in the 60's...but I might be a little off on the time frame.
Back to the subject...
I love a 16 but I've had em kick like a 12 cause some of em are so light.
Shells are hard to find too but if you ask a local gun shop, most are nice enough to get a full case in fer ya and you can buy em by the case. I bought #1's and low brass 6's like that.
Anway, good luck with yer gun, that is a cool shotgun.

[Squid4]

Thank you all for of your comments. You have definitely reassured me that i made the right choice!!

have a good day

[rickjordan]

I used to own a Stevens 16 gauge side by side and killed a lot of birds with it! I would still have it but it got to the point that when you pulled one trigger, both went off! I can still feel the pain of that happening to this day! I was only 17 or 18 then and would have shot any gun you handed me but THAT hurt!

[Contenderizer]

I own two 16 gauge guns; one a pre-WWII German made Simpson side by side, and a Ranger O/U. The Ranger is a Sears trademark and was likely manufactured in the same era as your JC Higgins. I only fire target loads in my guns as they were manufactured during a time when shot shell pressures were less than they are today. Perhaps I am being too conservative with the Ranger, but it works for me as I only use it on doves, rabbits and tree rats.

Try to date your JC Higgins and be certain that modern shells are safe to use. Error on the safe side until you know for sure.

[MacD37]

Originally posted by Contenderizer
I own two 16 gauge guns; one a pre-WWII German made Simpson side by side, and a Ranger O/U. The Ranger is a Sears trademark and was likely manufactured in the same era as your JC Higgins. I only fire target loads in my guns as they were manufactured during a time when shot shell pressures were less than they are today. Perhaps I am being too conservative with the Ranger, but it works for me as I only use it on doves, rabbits and tree rats.

Try to date your JC Higgins and be certain that modern shells are safe to use. Error on the safe side until you know for sure.

Contenderizer , you don't have to worry about factory shot shells in any shot with JC higgens, or Ted Williams stamped on it! These shotguns are not that old, and are all full nito proofed, and are fine with any high, or low brass shot shell of the proper length! Most of the SEARS shotguns were made by Mosberg, and the lever actioned centerfire rifles were made by Winchester, centerfire JC Higgens centerfire bolt rifle are just FN Mauser sporters and are fine rifles, I have on chambered for 30-06 and it shoots like a well made custom. the side by side shotguns were made mostly model 310 Savage, and the .22 s were made by High Standard. A few double barrel shotguns were made by Lurona, I have a 20 ga by lurona from Sears. none the less they are all made for modern shot shells, and there is no worry about their ability to handle them safely!

Squid4 The 16 ga shotgun is a fine hunting piece, and theough shells are a little hard to find on dealer's shelves, they can be ordered, and all ammo makers make them. I would order a case of #5 shot for ducks, and turkey, and a case of #7 1/2s for all the doves quail, and grouse! Also if you intend useing the shotgun for deer, then order some Berenneke slugs, and find where they hit on target out to 100 yds, then limit yourself to 75 yds on deer.

I have side lock, hammer, H. Berrela cape gun that is 16 ga on the left barrel, and 8x57JR on the right barrel. The shot barrel was for 2 1/2" shells, and choked tight as a drum when I got the gun. I had my smith open the choke up to modified, and the chamber lengthened to 2 3/4" . Now the shot tube patterns 89 % at 35 yds in a 30" circle around center, and the Brenneke slugs will place a slug right beside the rifle's 196 gr rn bullet at 100 yds every time, both barrels hitting right on target dead on the rifle iron sight picture! This little cape gun , is deadly on deer, elk, and wild boar out to 100 yds with the slug, and to 300 yds with the rifle, and blue quail, and doves are in trouble when this little cape gun comes out of the case!