Back when the world and I were new, about 1 out of 4 US made shotguns came as a 16. It gradually got squeezed out as improvements came in 20 gauge ammo and more dependence on the 12.
Lots of earlier sportsmen/women used the 16 for everything up to buckshot and waterfowl. Took my first 40 geese or so with one.
Right now, there's a bit of a revival for the 16. The Vintager types have found lots of utility in the 16 for upland work, Remington and Ithaca have both come out with new 16 ga pumps, and Browning had a run of 16 gauge Citoris that seemed to sell out faster than Icewater in H*ll.
There used to be rather a good bargain in old doubles chambered for the 16, they sold for hundreds of dollars less than similar 12 and 20 gauges. The opportunity seems to be past, oft now the 16s are MORE.
HTH....
