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I have a shooting friend who has just changed from a 12g side by side, to a 16bore O/U
nice gun, does Pheasants ok,,,does not appear to be alot different performance wise than the 12,,,but a fair bit lighter to carry around...
any body any views on the 16 as opposed to the 12 or 20bore?? gun or cartridge,,etc,
I'm thinking about a change aswell..

I use quite a bit my Lanber Ranger 12g single trigger non ejector for rough shooting and Pheasants, its a nice gun, first one I ever bought, had it for years,, and I can hit things with it,, but its quite a heavy gun,,and as I get older, it seems to get heavier!! ...

I Have been using my 12g side by side more and more lately mainly because its lighter..

So maybe the time is right for a change,,,,any advice please..

I'm a big fan of the 16 bore although I don't have one at present. Used to shoot a lot of grouse with one in my younger days. It doesn't give up much to the twelve but is that bit lighter. You notice the difference on longshot hard to kill targets.

16 bore cartridges with one wrap on 80 grm cartidge paper make first class cartidges for my Greener police gun in 14 bore.

I like 20 bores as well but there is no room for error with them and they can certainly tighten up your shooting. Again I have used them on grouse but don't know how good they'd be on bigger game like a pheasant, would you be getting enough pellets on target as the range stretches?

I only shoot side by sides as I never got the hang of O/Us, personally I think they are bit of a fad and won't catch on, I mean they are not proper shotguns.

Nothing at all wrong with the smaller bores - I always use a 20 bore on game shoots.

The only thing you need to be aware of with a 16 is the ammo, not that many people shoot them and if you happen to run out of cartridges on a big day you're a bit stuck as it's unlikely that anyone else will be shooting one.

The really nice things about shooting the lighter guages are they they are lighter to carry around, and it's doubly satisfying to fold a good high pheasant with one - especially after some clever dick has just been telling you how you'll be under gunned for these high birds :lol:

Used a 16g a few years ago, belgium S/S sweet shooting but 250 cartridges cost me the same as 1000 12g!!!

I use a 16G for game and occasionally for clays ...

Cartridges are about 5% more expensive (like for like) - but always make sure you have plenty with you. They tend to stop at 28gram although there are a few 30g around but nothing more.

The shot string will be longer and there will be a few more flyers and overall spread will be greater so a tighter choke may be required.

It is certainly a lot lighter to carry around for the day and overall just as good as a 12G. At the beginning of the day you may miss the long range birds but at the end of the day the tired 12G user will be missing the ones on the tip of his barrel!