Gun Dog Forum

Does anyone use 16ga 2 1/2. Do you have hard time finding ammo. And any one find it cheap

switchbackkd wrote:Does anyone use 16ga 2 1/2. Do you have hard time finding ammo. And any one find it cheap

Yes - I use them in my Uggie - Cheap - no. Best prices I have found are at Polywad http://www.polywad.com/vintager.html
or at RST http://www.rstshells.com/rst_classic_sh ... shells.htm

all around the same at $10-$12 a box at case price. I really like the RST 2.5" 1200 fps Lite.

I use them too....enjoy shooting a couple of older guns. Watch the B&P site...once in a while they will have a sale and/or free shipping. The F2 shells will run about 10-12 a box. Shells are actually 2 5/8" but they work fine in short chambers.

I got a case of 16 ga. RST #7 papers last year. I like them, and they pattern well out of all of my 16's. That's good enough for me.

Got a few boxes of Polywad Spred-R loads too, they open up quick and have a full pattern at 20-25 yes with skeet and IC chokes. Got them for early season grouse, looking forward to using them this fall.

Is there any manufactures of 16ga non toxic

switchbackkd wrote:Is there any manufactures of 16ga non toxic

Kent Tungsten matrix and their is some steel available as well. Don't believe it is 2 1/2 though.

Try 16 gauge society.com they have all the answers.

Choose your shots wisely.

http://www.rstshells.com/store/c/19-16-Gauge.aspx

Have you considered reloading? I shoot a 1937 Guyot 16 ga. 2-1/2" for all my upland hunting. I have a jig set up for cutting 2-3/4" hulls down to 2-1/2". I have always enjoyed reloading and I can save a lot by reloading the 16, 2-3/4 or 2-1/2. Of course you have your initial investment of the Reloader but with a little research you can pick,one up for half the cost of a new one. Reloading is probably the most relaxing hobby I have. If you decide to go this way and have any questions I would be glad to help you.
Steve

I read once of a device to cut the crimp off a shell that had the crimp going bad. Seem's the the writer cut them off shells that had bad crimps and then re-loaded them at 2 1/2". I have no idea where to get the dies but you could probably get them made pretty easy. Get another press in the same gauge and take the dies to a machinist and have a quarter inch removed from the tops? I should do that with my 28, hulls just don't last long enough.

I have one and in my area the ammo is around 1.00 - 1.50$ a box higher than 20ga. which doesn't bother me since I only fire on birds. Those shooting trap might want to find a better or cheaper place to get the ammo if you plan on putting that many rounds through it.

Corry

Clay N Feathers wrote:Have you considered reloading? I shoot a 1937 Guyot 16 ga. 2-1/2" for all my upland hunting. I have a jig set up for cutting 2-3/4" hulls down to 2-1/2". I have always enjoyed reloading and I can save a lot by reloading the 16, 2-3/4 or 2-1/2. Of course you have your initial investment of the Reloader but with a little research you can pick,one up for half the cost of a new one. Reloading is probably the most relaxing hobby I have. If you decide to go this way and have any questions I would be glad to help you.
Steve

Where did you find the press and dies? If they aren't to expensive it might be worth having just to get extra mileage from the hulls. Where did you get loading data?

DonF wrote:....Where did you find the press and dies? If they aren't to expensive it might be worth having just to get extra mileage from the hulls. Where did you get loading data?

http://www.16ga.com for all things 16 gauge.

I would only buy short or standard 16s for hunting tho.
Clays might find a reason but...few serious and competitive clay shooters will be shooting the 16.
Unless one shoots a true bunch....deals can often be found along with all manner of loads of which a handload can not better.

Sorry for the long delay Don F. I had not checked in in a while. I originally ordered a shell cutter from Ballistic Products but found it hard to use and very time consuming. So I made my own jig and clamp it in a vise and use a hack saw for cutting. Much, much faster and makes a sharp cut on the edges. Send your email via "private message" your email and I will send you photo's. not sure how to post them on this site. I use them for upland and clays. Join the 16 ga. Society and they have 100's of load info.

Steve