Discreet growth in popularity of the 16 bore?

[Uncle Norm]

The mention of sixteen bores has stirred a memory. When I was about fourteen (1964), I finally managed to persuade my Dad to come shooting with me on my Saturday afternoon walkabout. Dad was duly armed with Great Uncle's single barrel 'Knockabout' sixteen bore.

Now Dad had been a regular soldier from 1938 to 1946 and was not particularly enamoured with guns.

We walked together across a meadow, when a rabbit popped up on its haunches from a warren in the middle of the field. I saw Dad start to take careful aim but said ''Its out of range Dad''. He lowered the gun and gave me a puzzled look, saying ''but its only a hundred yards, how far can you shoot a rabbit with this then ?'' ''About forty yards'' says I.
''Well that's no bloody good is it'' Dad exclaimed in disgust. That was about the end of his shotgun shooting expeditions.
So there you have it 'sixteen bores are no bloody good' .

 

[paul k]

I have used 20b, 16b and 12b over the years. I currently use a Beretta 20b O/U for my driven game shooting and there is a worthwhile saving in weight over a 12b but at the cost of putting less shot in the air. I'm not sure that a 16b offers a big enough weight saving to make the reduction in load worthwhile over a 12b and, whilst I'm certainly not knocking those who like to use a 16b, personally I can't see the benefit.

 

[Krico308]

I have a Cogswell & Harrison in 16b, side by side, which is a joy to shoot with. It is my go to partridge gen and no slouch on early season pheasants either.

 

[ileso]

16 bores a very rare here as well, I have been patiently waiting for a nice one to cross my path for some time now... ammunition is a bit of a ahssle, but as mentioned before the key is not to run out, so buy up when you get the opportunity.

plus, if more people have them then ammo will be more readily available...

 

[timbrayford]

I don't see why the 16 bore shouldn't be more popular, 12 bore seems to have been made the choice by default.

Aside from wildfowling, if you shoot accurately and safely both 20 & 16 bores are more than adequate

 

[JasonH]

Another fan of the 16 here I have had some of my most memorable days hunting with mine. I have the pleasure of owning a Augustus Francotte side lock ejector perfect walked up / semi driven game gun.

 

[Roedinator]

Another fan of the 16 here I have had some of my most memorable days hunting with mine. I have the pleasure of owning a Augustus Francotte side lock ejector perfect walked up / semi driven game gun. View attachment 72566

now that does look like. A real beauty
regards pete

 

[Heym SR20]

PM

it used to be that the steal in the used gun market were 16bores. I have always lusted after a Holland and Holland dominion and 16 bores were just about within reach (tatty and a non-ejector and limited engraving) But now everybody is talking about them prices are rising steeply - so please don't start posts as this.

And Brexit has buggered things up again with business collapsing so funds I thought were coming in are now being ploughed back in to keeping business afloat, and devaluation of £ has just made them cheaper to the overseas buyers. Oh well.

 

[JasonH]

Thanks Pete I'm sure you have a few cabinet jems by the sound of things.

 

[Roedinator]

thanks pete i'm sure you have a few cabinet jems by the sound of things.

Just a couple but a nice 16 is the latest itch that needs scratching !!
regards pete

 

[JasonH]

Just a couple but a nice 16 is the latest itch that needs scratching !!
regards pete

How about this lovely Stephen Grant then? Gilles Marriott had it for sale at the Game Fair in June exceptional gun quality throughout.

 

[enfieldspares]

My pair of Arrieta 'Made for Somerton Guns' came from Giles Marriott.

View attachment 72651

 

[Roedinator]

How about this lovely Stephen Grant then? Gilles Marriott had it for sale at the Game Fair in June exceptional gun quality throughout.View attachment 72648View attachment 72649

very nice but minds made up 30 inch barrels with single trigger and preferably Churchill rib
regards pete

 

[theshootist]

I have a Jeffrey 16b boxlock. Its a lovely thing and its noticeably lighter and smaller but not so small that it feels dinky, like the 20b boxlock I tried and ended up giving to my sister! I'll be using it this season along with another gun on my shoot who also shoots 16.

 

[JasonH]

My pair of Arrieta 'Made for Somerton Guns' came from Giles Marriott.

View attachment 72651

very nice are they crowns with coin finish engraving?

 

[JasonH]

very nice but minds made up 30 inch barrels with single trigger and preferably Churchill rib
regards pete

Let's make it interesting set a budget and lets see what we can find you.

 

[enfieldspares]

Very nice are they crowns with coin finish engraving?

No, in as far as I can work out from the specifications they are Model 803 guns as they are Holland and Holland's self opening system. I bought a facsimile Somerton's catalogue off the internet and they 'name' them rather than number them.

 

[scrumbag]

I think 16b is a good chambering and if you ask a lot on the continent and in the USA 16b is the optimum.

Possibly as others have mentioned there is a resurgence as a lot of relatively cheap 16s are out there