Any 16 gauge tips and tricks I need to know?

[OldBearHair]

Before the model 12 16 gauge in post 20 came along my Brother-in-law gave me a 16 gauge single shot shotgun. Man that thing could kick. Got around to soaking the barrel with Hoppes overnight. Next day dropped the cord with a sinker on the end in the barrel and pulled a tight cotton cloth folded just right out the end of the barrel. What came out first was a round lead piece with a solid ring in the center with finger like extruded lead on front and back of it... Shot pretty good after that.

[John Boy]

Words of advice: If you reload the hulls, Fiocci are the only new hulls sold (Precision Reloading) And if you reload them, don't buy the Lee Precision 16G LOAD-ALL II because the new hulls are too long and will not fit in the press


You need the MEC 600 Jr. Mark 5 Single Stage Shotshell Press 16 Gauge 2-3/4" and the cost is $228.00

[15meter]

Il need to measure my chambers... 2 3/4 worked well.

I shot 2 3/4 with a side x side that had 2 1/2 chambers. Paid it 100$. Damn did that thing beat up my shoulder!

Do plastic hulls come out looking like bottleneck cases? When I was a kid I shot a 2 1/2" 410 with 3" shells.
They ejected with a distinct bottleneck shape. Didn't know there was a 2 1/2" version. It kicked pretty good for a 410.

Got my first pheasant with that gun with the wrong ammo.

[megasupermagnum]

Words of advice: If you reload the hulls, Fiocci are the only new hulls sold (Precision Reloading) And if you reload them, don't buy the Lee Precision 16G LOAD-ALL II because the new hulls are too long and will not fit in the press


You need the MEC 600 Jr. Mark 5 Single Stage Shotshell Press 16 Gauge 2-3/4" and the cost is $228.00

None of that is correct. You can buy both Cheddite and Rio hulls brand new from Ballistic Products. I loaded with the Fiocchi 2 3/4" hulls from BPI until I got a good supply of Federal hulls. They load just fine on the Lee load all II. Do not get the MEC 600 JR, it is an inferior machine.

[6pt-sika]

I have no less then three 16 gauge loaders at the moment !

A 600 JR for loading buckshot and slugs , a 650 I bought new to load birdshot loads and more recently a new 9000 I got off Ebay for a good price ! So now the 650 doesn't do much anylonger .

[sharps4590]

megasupermagnum and rking22 are both correct regards the date Winchester changed to 2 3/4 for the 16. Yes, 2 3/4 shells will fire but the star crimp is still being forced into the bore and that has to raise pressures. As was mentioned there is always the possibility the chamber was lengthened but you can't know that until it is checked.

I don't shoot a lot of shotgun and all I have is 16 bore, consequently I don't need an expensive loader. Every hull I've loaded has worked just fine in my cheapy Lee Load All. Mostly I shoot 2 1/2 shells because all but one of my 16's is German and old. I cut back 2 3/4 hulls to correct 2 1/2 length and have been doing that for 30 years or more. I load the 2 1/2 in. shells on the same Lee and it works just fine. All I have to do for them is remove the shell after the shot charge is dumped, insert the over shot card and roll crimp it. If a fella was shooting trap or skeet with his 16, the way I load them would probably drive a fella nuts but, I don't shoot 5 boxes a year so it's fine for me.

[skeettx]

I load most of my 16s on a Texan M-II press, it really spits them out
Mike

[Kev18]

I'd need to look into presses. I have a Lee supplier close to me. So il probably get a cheap press there most likely. I have a ponsness and Warren for 12 gauge.

[megasupermagnum]

I'd need to look into presses. I have a Lee supplier close to me. So il probably get a cheap press there most likely. I have a ponsness and Warren for 12 gauge.

If you already have the PW, I'd highly recommend the 16 gauge tooling kit. The tooling costs as much as a used MEC, but is a top of the line machine, as I'm sure you know. The Lee does work well enough though. I loaded 16 on the Lee before I bought a PW. Even now that I have the PW, I still haven't seen any reason to buy the 16 gauge kit when the Lee works.

[John Boy]

You can buy both Cheddite and Rio hulls brand new from Ballistic Products.

* Cheddite - "Check for Availability"
* Rio - There now back in stock