Which 16 gauge to Buy?

M

mpd61

New member
OK I'm at the local shop and have a bad soft spot for old 16 gauge guns.

1. Beautiful 99.5% H&R Topper Model 158 for $100
2. JC Higgins Tube fed Bolt action excellent couple wood dings $50
3. Mossberg Pump 500 98% for $100
Arrrrgg! The Topper is mint, the other two are repeaters, with the Higgins a bargain. Help me!!!!!
:eek:
 
Have you checked on parts availability for the Higgins? It might be a deal breaker.
 
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If you need a repeater, get the Mossberg. If you don't, the H&R is a great gun for the money and will last forever. I have a lot of expensive shotguns, but there is always room for a good single or two.
 
Topper. Light and swings easy for rabbits or birds.

Having more than one shot is not necessary. I started out with a sawed off Stevens 20 gauge (barrel cut to about 22 inches). No choke. I could hit very well with my one shot.

The bolt action will disappoint you - slightly heavy, awkward bolt operation, and mediocre fit for swinging on running or flying upland game. No doubt there are many hunters out there who do fine with their bolt action shotguns. To them I say, BRAVO. You're a better shotgunner than me.

Jack
 
Just curious - on why you want a 16ga ....

Today there are so many shell options for 12ga and 20ga ....its easy to find a 20ga load in 1 oz which is a standard 16ga load / or load or buy a 12ga load in 1 oz ....

Just curious why you're attracted to the 16ga ( I have an old bolt action 16ga in my safe too ...) but the last time I purchaed 16ga shells they were at least $ 15 a box ....
 
Jim, the OP said he has "a bad soft spot for old 16 gauge guns." He didn't say anything about shooting them. ;)
 
Something isn't right here. If the OP has a soft spot for old 16ga then why look at a Mossberg 500?

To me, old 16ga = Savage 311, Browning Auto 5, etc. Truely classic old guns.
 
Thanks!

I have a 12 gauge pardner pump protector for HD already. As silly as it sounds, the 16 gauge seems to work O.K. for me. I used to shoot Pheasants, ducks, and turkeys in my younger days with an 870 wingmaster. ( even shot trap!) What I found in the store was surprising: the Bolt gun was actually light and swung well. The Mossberg was solid and balanced well. The old(er) Topper single was just plain beautiful. BTW...They're all mod choke.
I have no problem finding 16 ga loads at Bass Pro and the gun shows, sometimes real cheap and sometimes about 10-15% more than the 12 /20 gauge stuff. OK...Maybe I'll buy two, which two though?
:confused:
 
Ok, just curious.... ( I only have about 25 shotguns / so I'm not saying you shouldn't buy both ) ....just curious about why on the 16ga.

A 16ga is fine ....but balistically, you can make a 12ga or a 20ga perform balistically the same as a 16ga.

To me - the 16ga - is the odd gague out ....( where most of us own and shoot 12ga, 20ga, 28ga and .410's ....) ...
 
I've been hunting upland game with my 16 gauge double since 1973. Its an older Fox that had been Grandad's. Sure, a high base load of 20 gauge equals performance of my low base loads. But this point has no value to me because I have the 16.

!2 gauge has never had any appeal to me except for defense and slugs for deer. But this is not meant to sound critical of those who love this popular gauge. 12 gauge has been the sales leader for several decades!

- The sixteen faded when gun makers started screwing 16 gauge barrels to 12 gauge receivers.
- The 16 faded when 20 gauge rec'd most of the "new press".
- The 16 faded when waterfowl hunting req'd steel shot. There was a resurgence of the 10 gauge for a time.

Jack
 
16 is great! hands down the Mossberg. You might want to shoot more than one bird or you might miss occasionally like me. The H&R is , well, a single shot and those light singles kick. The bolt gun is a no-go. Hard to manipulate. You almost have a single shot when it comes to birds. By the time you work that goofy bolt something that flies is probably out of range.
 
Thanks!

Publius thats a great relevant answer! I know that Browning has a regular production BPS in 16 Gauge on a true 16 gauge frame for about three years now, including an english-stocked upland. There has to be a market out here for them still!
:D
 
Part III

Okay went back and the Higgins bolt really is out of the running. That damn Topper 158 single is pristine outside and mirror clean inside. My only question on the Mossberg 500 pump is whether it's a 16 gauge tube on a 12 gauge frame. Hard to tell next to the older 500/600's there as well?
:confused:
 
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