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Thread: Who loads 16 ga. regularly?

  1. #1
    Boolit Master

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    Who loads 16 ga. regularly?

    Any dinosaurs left out there?
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  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master


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    Both lead and bismuth, but not buckshot or slugs. I should try some buckshot though.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
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    I load some 16 ga. 2½" for a pre-war German double. Don't shoot it much but now I can without going broke.
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  4. #4
    Boolit Master
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    Yep, me too. Load 2 1/2 for my M12 and regulars for the rest. Only lead shot and generally 7/8 oz loads. If I need more I got 12s for that I am looking to work up a slug or rb load for a M37 and M31 , just cause.
    “You don’t practice until you get it right. You practice until you can’t get it wrong.” Jason Elam, All-Pro kicker, Denver Broncos

  5. #5
    Boolit Buddy PBSmith's Avatar
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    One dinosaur reporting in from the upper Great Lakes. A few years back I was shooting 16ga exclusively for 5-stand, skeet and bird hunting. Handloaded both 2-1/2 and 2-3/4 shells, depending on age of the firearm. I managed to find dies for my old Pacific DL-250 but got more satisfaction doing it the old way with a Lyman Vandalia press from the 1950's. Like Mr. King, I loaded mostly 7/8 ounce, even some 3/4 ounce. As I recall, Graf & Sons was a good supplier for wads and hulls of that caliber. Great gauge, great guns.

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master GhostHawk's Avatar
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    It is on my todo list.

    Some buckshot for sure, possibly round ball or slugs.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master gpidaho's Avatar
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    As you know, BPI is a great place to find components. If I had to buy shells at local stores a 16ga. wouldn't be the gauge I'd chose but I'm on the lookout for a nice one at the right price. Estate sales maybe. Gp

  8. #8
    Boolit Grand Master


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    Quote Originally Posted by gpidaho View Post
    As you know, BPI is a great place to find components. If I had to buy shells at local stores a 16ga. wouldn't be the gauge I'd chose but I'm on the lookout for a nice one at the right price. Estate sales maybe. Gp
    Whether you like Walmart or not, they have a good price on 16 gauge ammo. At least the 1 ounce loads. Both Federal and Remington at about $8 a box, and #8 or #6 shot. That's how I get my empty hulls to reload.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
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    I load 16 occasionally. In fact I need to load some buckshot since I haven't been able to find it anywhere.

    ETA: I didn't find any last year when I was looking, but I just went to Ammoseek and found a few places selling Aguila 1 Buck.
    Last edited by Tracy; 08-22-2018 at 10:45 PM.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    I've got three 16 gauge loaders !

    A 600 JR for buck and slugs . A 650 I bought new two years ago for bird and skeet loads and just this year I bought a brand new 9000 on Ebay to replace the 650 and I've yet to use it .

    I have a one Parker GH , a couple euro SxS's and three drillings . I wanna get another Parker GH or VH one an 0 frame with 26" barrels but only time will tell about that one !

    So far I've only loaded #1 buck in the 16 and my only slug mold is the Russian derivative of the Lyman sabot slug mold .

    The Claybuster knockoff of the old WAA16 wad is a good choice . They also took that wad and put a thing in the bottom to take up space for a 7/8 ounce load , that wad works very well in WW hulls with an ounce of shot . I also sporadically use the REM SP-16 wad but not as much as before I've found the CB WAA16 works well with slugs and fairly well with buckshot or atleast it has in my own applications .

    FWIW I used to load the 16 almost exclusively with SR7625 but since they quit making that powder I've gone to Universal Clays and Unique for a good portion .

    I've already killed a deer with my handloaded #1 Buck in my Parker GH and hopefully this season I can topple one with the Russian knock off slug if the Gods are willing .
    Last edited by 6pt-sika; 08-23-2018 at 12:26 PM.
    Parker's , 6.5mm's and my family in the Philippines

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by megasupermagnum View Post
    Whether you like Walmart or not, they have a good price on 16 gauge ammo. At least the 1 ounce loads. Both Federal and Remington at about $8 a box, and #8 or #6 shot. That's how I get my empty hulls to reload.
    Last year I bought three flats of WIN 16 gauge Dove/Quail loads from one of our distributers for I think $80 a flat . As well as some of the Remington Dove/Quail loads for about $65 a flat . Ended up with 6 flats total all 8 or 7 1/2 except for one flat of 6's . To be honest I bought them because of price and for the hulls .

    And while I shouldn't say this I've shot a fair amount of this factory stuff in my Parker GH of 1911 vintage that has dare I say it Damascus barrels .

    My waterfowl hunting is sporadic at best and it's usually done with a herd of 10 gauge Parkers that I also load for . But I have Bismuth on hand #1 , #2 and #4 I just might load up some #4's maybe an ounce for the 16 gauge being as I have a nice new Boykin Spaniel puppy that acts like she wants to go grab a dead duck !!!!
    Parker's , 6.5mm's and my family in the Philippines

  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master


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    Where did you get those remington loads? I have been saving up the federal hulls, but am starting to think the Remington's might be better with their plastic basewad, and a little more volume. The thicker walls seem to fit most wads better too. Every wad seems a little loose in the federal hull.

  13. #13
    Boolit Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by megasupermagnum View Post
    Every wad seems a little loose in the federal hull.
    I started using a strip of news paper on the bottom of the wads to tighten them up in the hulls, I believe Ajay posted this a while back.
    Scott

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  14. #14
    Boolit Master
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    Same as alan and rking, I load quite a few 2 /2 in. hulls for my drillings and combination guns and 2 1/2 in. brass hulls with BP for my non-Nitro proofed drilling and combination gun. Pretty much stick to 1 oz. and 2 1/2 drams.
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  15. #15
    Boolit Master
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    Sharps4590, I see your in MO, going to be a small gathering of 16ga shooters in Vanzant in oct. You might enjoy it, so far only 4 serious 16ga shooters but total of 11 so far. Private range with camping and skeet/ trap and misc games... good chance to meet others interested in the more "fuddy" aspect of our sport. Aka dinosaurs
    “You don’t practice until you get it right. You practice until you can’t get it wrong.” Jason Elam, All-Pro kicker, Denver Broncos

  16. #16
    Boolit Buddy
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    I used Solo 1250 in my 1 oz loads unit they quit making it. It was the perfect powder for low pressure loads in the 16 with 1 oz loads and Win CF hulls.

  17. #17
    Boolit Master

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    Dinosaur, yes. But I don't load for it. I use a model 37 Ithica Deerslayer for brush work. I buy the factory jobs. That said, read this thread with interest. I have a couple 16 ga slug molds, one with adjustable weight. The other is an Ideal Forester type slug. I would like to load for this as shot is expensive. I have in 16 ga, An early Ideal - Lyman set, a Thalson set, an RCBS set, and the ALL American set for the All American press. ANd a bunch of misc shells, papper and plastic and brass.
    So I just need to get motivated.

    NO THE MOLDS are NOT for sale.

    Maybe I will cast up a bunch for trade this winter if anybody cares.

  18. #18
    Boolit Buddy kaiser's Avatar
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    Another "dinosaur" checking in here who loads 16ga on a regular basis for upland game. I have five 16ga shotguns and am more than content with their performance, compared to a 12ga, without the extra weight or recoil of the larger gauge. BP sells plenty of high quality components for the 16 and the gauge is versatile enough to cover any game you might select for a 12 or 20, to include deer with slugs. I seldom buy factory loads, unless Walmart has a special on my favorite dove load of 1oz of 7 1/2 shot.

  19. #19
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    I have three 16 gauge guns now. The one I've shot most is an old Savage 94 and I like it a lot for squirrel hunting. I bought on an estate sale from an avid trap shooter so I doubt I'll ever need to load small shot loads (lots of 7 1/2s and 8s) but I have a lot of wads and a press and suitable powders and data which I will use eventually. I need to start shooting shotguns more.

  20. #20
    Boolit Master
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    Ascast, would you post a picture and/or dimensions of the slugs you molds cast. Im thinking of having a mold cut so looking for good ideas. Would only be shot from vintage fixed choke smoothbores, mostly modified choke.
    Thanks in advance
    “You don’t practice until you get it right. You practice until you can’t get it wrong.” Jason Elam, All-Pro kicker, Denver Broncos

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BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
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