[mikebrown18]

Hello i am new to the duck hunting scene and was wondering if i could use my grandfathers old 16 guage side by side for them? Would i need a chokes? How exactly are chokes installed? Will the old barrels be able to handle steel shot? All help will be greatly appreciated!!

 

[greenster]

First Two years I duck hunted I used Browning Sweet 16 a-5 auto, I have a few questions for you first. How old is it because most older shot gun do not have chokes and you say it's side by side makes me wonder if more if it has chokes because SBS choke's were not available as soon as the auto's and pump's did. As far as installing it should take a special tool like a quarter to take it out and it comes out at the end of the barrel screws out. For 16Ga I would go no wider than a full choke. To my final question what exactly is the manufacturer of you gun and what model is it will help everyone in assisting you if you would provide this information.

 

[Mr. 16 gauge]

IMHO, forget steel factory loads in the 16 gauge......it will cause you to curse like a trooper as you watch lively cripples swim away.
Having said that, I doubt that your Granddad's gun will tolerate a steady diet of steel shot....most older doubles will burst or seperate along the seam where the barrels are welded together......I don't think you want that to happen to your heirloom.
However, if you want to take that gun hunting, all is not lost....you have two choices: 1.) Bismuth or 2.) Tungsten Matrix. If your Granddad's gun can handle modern lead shotshells, then they can handle these loads. The bismuth loads come in size 4 & size 6; the Tungsten Matrix (NOT tungsten Iron, which is a totally different substance) comes in sizes #4, #5, and #6. Of the two, I prefer Tunsten Matrix (made by Kent corp.); it seems to hit and kill similarly to lead. I've used both of these effectively out to about 35 yards on duck over decoys.

One thing I will suggest: before you use this gun, have it checked out by a competent gunsmith....some older guns have a shorter chamber (2 9/16"), and this can cause high (and dangerous) pressure in some older guns. As far as choke goes, the gun might already have some degree of choke, and they can help you with that as well.....Most older doubles can't have choke tubes installed anyway (the walls are too thin), and I wouldn't put tubes in an heirloom anyway.
Good luck.......................................... :thumbsup:

 

[mikebrown18]

it is a pretty old gun. It is a j. stevens/ springfield model 5100. Im not sure of the age but believe it is pre 1960. he used it for ducks and geese on his farm with good sucess so i am wandering if i could still use it and if it would b ok to shoot steel shot out of it.

 

[mikebrown18]

the barrels have engraved on them: Selected Forged Steel, Proof tested 16 guage, 2 3/4" chamber. So the tungsten matrix will be ok? That would be nice considering PA allows it.

 

[Webfoot12]

16 g is not the best duck gun, but it can be done. I don't believe there are any 16g guns chambered for 3". I would also bet that 16g steel would be pretty expensive. Most of those older shotguns were not made to handle steel. The same goes for your chokes, older guns don't have removeable choke tubes. For a pretty penny I know there are companies that can install them. If you had a modified and improved you would be fine, or even full.

You might be better off to look for a used 12g or you can get a new 870 Remington that shoots 3.5" or 3" for a decent price.

http://ableammo.com/catalog/product_inf ... s_id=19588

Good Luck

 

[greenster]

16 g is not the best duck gun, but it can be done. I don't believe there are any 16g guns chambered for 3". I would also bet that 16g steel would be pretty expensive. [/quote

#2-4 shot only like $11 at wal-mart and I believe your right I have yet seen 3" 16ga but I hunted my first Two years with 16ga with great success and I still use it time to time today.

 

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Steel shot is not expensive, but it is ineffective (IMHO).....bismuth and TM are better and act more like lead, but it is quite a bit more expensive. However, how much more expensive if you have to shoot several times to try and finish off a cripple?
Your gun is basically a lower end variant of the Steven's 311....they were made for sale in discount stores, hardware stores, Sears, ect. It is an EXCELLENT field gun and if your granddad took good care of it, it should be quite sound (I have two 311's....one in 12 gauge and one in 20 gauge). The 2 3/4" on the side indicates that it is indeed chambered for modern shells, and should work just fine for TM and/or bismuth shotshells.
As far as steel goes, I wrote to Savage (Stevens was a division of Savage) when steel first came out in the 70's and I asked them about the use of steel shot in their guns......basically, I was told NOT to do it, for the reasons I cited above (barrel welds).
As far as chokes go....if the barrels are 28" or longer, chances are the gun is choked modified and full or full and full.....this should do just fine for waterfowl hunting.
There is no such thing as a 3" 16 gauge, nor do I think that there ever was nor there ever will be. As far as needing a 3" gun to take ducks, I think that is just a bunch of Malarky perpetuated by the gun and ammo makers......some days I wonder how we were able to kill anything (ducks, turkeys, deer, pheasants, ect) prior to the advent of the 3" and 3 1/2" shell.
Hope this helped.....good luck this fall. :thumbsup:

 

[ol' yeller]

I have a buddy that still shoots and old 1950's 16 ga. auto. He only goes a few times a year and decided it's not worth buying another gun.

Most of the older guns come with permanent chokes and from what I've seen a lot of those seem to be full chokes. He just buys some TM or bismuth like others have stated and flat out knocks them dead.

 

[DeerScarer]

Mack's Prairie Wings (.com) has the Tungsten-Matrix 16 guage loads for about the cheapest price per box you'll see anywhere. Unfortunately you're going to have to pay for UPS ground shipping too, but still very worth it in my opinion. I recommend the #5, but for short range #6 should get the job done quite well through a more open choke, IC or Mod.

www.mackspw.com Look under Kent ammunition.