01 / At a glance
The basics
- Origin
- Traditional bore system
- Introduced
- Long-standing
- Ignition
- Centerfire
- Case form
- Rimmed shotshell
- Diameter
- Gauge
- Case length
- 65 / 70 mm
Rounded values to help you identify the cartridge, not manufacturing drawings. See the cited standard for exact dimensions and tolerances.
Do not mix it up
A 16 gauge shell can slip into a 12 gauge chamber and lodge in the barrel, where it blocks the next shell. It is a well-known cause of burst barrels. Never keep different gauges together.
The 16 gauge sits between the 12 and the 20. A standard load carries 1 to 1⅛ ounces of shot, the guns are lighter and slimmer than most 12 gauges, and the recoil is moderate. For much of the 20th century it was the upland hunter's favorite, called the "sweet sixteen" for the way a good gun handled. Today it is a niche gauge with a loyal following, a limited shell selection and a lot of fine old guns still in the field.
Like any shotshell, the 16 gauge has several variables: shell length, shot size, load weight and choke. This guide explains each one, shows how to choose a shell and a shotgun, and compares the 16 gauge with the 12, the 20 and other sizes. It is a reference page, not a loading manual, and it contains no handloading data.
A short history
The word "gauge" comes from an old British system. A 16 gauge bore is the diameter of a lead ball that weighs one sixteenth of a pound, so sixteen such balls weigh a pound. A smaller number means a larger bore, which is why the 12 gauge is bigger than the 16. The bore of a 16 gauge measures about .662 inch (16.8 mm).
The 16 was a mainstream size by the late 19th century and stayed one for a long time. In the United States it was popular from the early 1900s through the middle of the century, and it was a common choice for farm guns and upland doubles. Many of the best-known pumps, autoloaders and doubles of the era were made in 16 gauge alongside the 12 and 20.
Its decline came from two directions. The 20 gauge, loaded with a heavier shot charge in the 3 inch shell, took over as the light gauge. The 12 gauge, with light target and field loads, covered the rest. Makers cut back 16 gauge production, and ammunition companies followed. It never vanished, and a steady group of shooters still keeps it going.
Why people still shoot it
The first reason is handling. A 16 gauge gun is often built on a frame close to a 20 gauge, so it weighs less than a typical 12 gauge, yet it carries a bigger shot charge than a 20 gauge. Many hunters feel it is the best balance between a light gun and a useful load.
The second reason is patterns. A 16 gauge fires a 1 ounce or 1⅛ ounce load through a bore that is wide enough to keep the shot string short and the patterns even. Many upland shooters find that it patterns very well with a modest choke.
The third reason is the guns themselves. A large number of fine doubles, pumps and autoloaders were made in 16 gauge, and they are still around. For many owners the gauge is inherited along with the gun, and that is enough.
Specifications at a glance
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Nominal bore diameter | About .662 in (16.8 mm) |
| Common shell lengths | 2½ in (65 mm) and 2¾ in (70 mm) |
| Maximum average pressure (SAAMI) | About 11,500 psi for 2¾ in shells |
| Common shot loads | 1 oz and 1⅛ oz in 2¾ in shells; 1¼ oz in magnum loads |
| Typical velocity | About 1,165 to 1,300 ft/s for shot loads |
| Common shot sizes | #9 to #4; steel and other non-toxic shot in special loads |
| Slug weight | About 4/5 oz to 1 oz; few slug loads are made |
| Typical gun weight | About 6 to 7½ lb |
Values are rounded for reference. Exact dimensions and tolerances are in the SAAMI and C.I.P. standards cited at the end of this page. Many older 16 gauge guns have 2½ inch chambers.
Strengths and limits
The 16 gauge is a friendly, balanced gun. It also has trade-offs you should know about.
| Advantage | Limitation |
|---|---|
| Light gun with a useful shot charge | Fewer shell choices than 12 or 20 gauge |
| Even patterns with moderate chokes | Shells cost more and are not stocked everywhere |
| Moderate recoil | Few new guns are made, so choice is mostly used guns |
| Well suited to upland birds and rabbits | Not the first choice for geese, large turkeys or steel shot on ducks |
The 16 gauge does best on upland birds and small game at normal ranges. A shooter who wants one gun for everything is better served by a 12 gauge. A shooter who wants a light, lively gun for grouse, quail and pheasants will find the 16 gauge a very good fit.
Availability is the main issue
The guns are easy to find on the used market. The shells are the problem. Many stores stock a few 16 gauge loads or none, and buying online is common. Stock up when you find shells you like, and keep them labeled and separate from other gauges.
Shot size and what it does
A shotshell fires many pellets rather than one bullet, so pellet size and count matter more than a single trajectory. Smaller shot gives more pellets and denser patterns but less energy per pellet. Larger shot gives fewer pellets with more punch.
A typical 16 gauge load carries 1 ounce or 1⅛ ounces of shot. That means a 1 ounce load of #8 holds about 410 pellets, a load of #7½ about 350, and a load of #6 about 225. A 1⅛ ounce load holds about an eighth more. The chart shows lead shot. Steel, bismuth and tungsten alloys have different densities, so the numbers per ounce are different. Check the box.
| Use | Common shot sizes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Skeet and light clays | #9 and #8 | Target loads are made, but are not common |
| Dove and quail | #8 to #7½ | Small, fast birds at 20 to 35 yards |
| Grouse and woodcock | #8 to #6 | Open chokes and short shots |
| Pheasant | #6 to #5 | Use heavier loads and a modified choke |
| Rabbit and squirrel | #6 to #4 | Pick the size that gives clean kills at your range |
Pellet counts are approximate for lead shot and vary slightly by maker. Always read the box and pattern your shotgun, because every barrel and choke combination shoots a little differently.
Recoil and shooter comfort
Recoil comes from the weight of the shot charge, the velocity and the weight of the gun. A 1 ounce load in a six and a half pound 16 gauge kicks more than a light 20 gauge target load and less than a 1⅛ ounce load in a light 12 gauge. Most adults find it comfortable for a day in the field.
A good stock fit still matters. Many old 16 gauge guns have straight, short stocks made for a different shooter, and they may shoot low or high for you. A gunsmith can often bend or lengthen a stock. Gas-operated semi-automatics soften the kick compared with fixed-breech guns.
How to choose a shell
Start with the job. Then choose the shell length, the shot size and the load weight. With the 16 gauge, also check that the shell fits the gun.
Shell length
| Length | Typical use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2½ in (65 mm) | Older guns, light loads | The original length; fits every 16 gauge chamber of that size |
| 2¾ in (70 mm) | Upland birds and small game | The modern standard; needs a 2¾ inch chamber |
Check the chamber length stamped on the barrel before you buy shells. Many older guns have 2½ inch chambers. A 2¾ inch shell in a 2½ inch chamber can raise pressure, and you should not fire it. If the markings are worn, have a gunsmith measure the chamber.
Load weight
A 1 ounce load is a light, soft-shooting choice. A 1⅛ ounce load is the standard field load, with more pellets for longer shots. Magnum loads with 1¼ ounces or more exist in small numbers and are for modern guns marked for them.
Lead and non-toxic shot
Many wetlands and some other areas require non-toxic shot such as steel, bismuth or tungsten alloys. Steel patterns differently from lead, and steel loads for 16 gauge are limited. Do not fire steel shot in an older gun with a soft barrel, such as a vintage double with Damascus or thin steel tubes, unless the maker says it is safe. Check the rules where you hunt before you buy shells.
Slugs
A few makers offer 16 gauge slugs, mostly for smoothbore deer hunting. The choice is small. For deer, a 12 or 20 gauge slug gun or a rifle has far more options.
How to choose a shotgun
The right shotgun depends on what you plan to shoot. These are the points that matter most.
- Action. Side-by-side and over-and-under guns are the classic upland choice, and many old doubles are 16 gauge. Pumps and semi-automatics exist, and they soften recoil or cost less.
- Condition. With older guns, have a gunsmith check the bore, the chamber length and the lockup before you shoot it. Look for pitting, dents and loose barrels.
- Chamber length. Check the barrel. A 2¾ inch chamber fires 2½ and 2¾ inch shells. A 2½ inch chamber must only fire 2½ inch shells.
- Barrel length. Barrels of 26 to 28 inches suit upland birds. Shorter barrels are handier in thick cover.
- Chokes. Old guns have fixed chokes, and the markings tell you what they are. Newer guns may have screw-in tubes, which let you change the pattern.
- Fit and weight. A gun that fits you shoots better and hurts less. Try a few before you buy.
Chokes and patterning
A choke is a narrowing at the muzzle that controls how tightly the shot spreads. A tighter choke holds the pattern together for longer shots. A more open choke gives a wider pattern for close targets. The 16 gauge patterns well, so moderate chokes are usually enough.
| Choke | Constriction | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Cylinder | None | Very close range, thick cover |
| Skeet | Very light | Close birds |
| Improved cylinder | Light | Upland birds, 20 to 30 yards |
| Modified | Medium | All-around, 30 to 35 yards |
| Full | Tight | Long shots and turkeys with the right load |
Patterning means firing at a large sheet of paper at 40 yards and counting the pellets inside a 30 inch circle. It shows how your gun, load and choke work together. This matters more with the 16 gauge, because the choice of shells is small and a vintage gun may shoot differently from what the choke marking says. Pattern before the season, not during it.
Practical uses
Upland birds
This is the 16 gauge's home ground. For grouse, woodcock, quail and pheasants, a light gun with a 1 or 1⅛ ounce load of #7½ to #6 is effective at normal ranges. It carries well on a long day.
Small game
It works well on rabbits and squirrels with #6 to #4 shot and an open or modified choke. Pick the shot size for clean kills at the range you shoot.
Turkeys and deer
Some hunters take turkeys with the 16 gauge and a tight choke, and some take deer with slugs at short range. Both work in the right hands, but the 12 and 20 gauge have far more loads made for the job.
Clay targets
The 16 gauge is shot informally on clays, and sub-gauge events include it in some clubs. It is not a mainstream target gauge, and light target shells are harder to find than they are for 12 or 20 gauge.
16 gauge vs similar gauges
The table lists the gauges most often compared with the 16 gauge. Figures are rounded.
| Gauge | Bore diameter | Common shot load | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 gauge | .729 in | 1 to 1⅜ oz | All-round hunting and clays |
| 16 gauge | .662 in | 1 to 1⅛ oz | Upland birds and small game |
| 20 gauge | .615 in | 3/4 to 1 oz | Upland birds, light hunting and clays |
| 28 gauge | .550 in | 3/4 oz | Quail, doves and skeet |
| .410 bore | .410 in | 1/2 to 11/16 oz | Small game, youth and skeet |
Against the 12 gauge, the 16 is lighter and kicks less, but it has fewer shell choices and a smaller range of uses. Against the 20 gauge, it carries a bigger shot charge in a similar-sized gun, though the 20 is easier to feed and has far more guns and loads. Against the 28 gauge, it has more margin on larger birds and is cheaper to feed in many places.
Care and storage
Clean the barrel after each session, pushing a brush and patch through the bore and checking the choke tube threads if the gun has them. Wipe the action and apply a light oil. Older guns need extra care: keep the wood dry, watch for rust inside the barrels, and avoid harsh solvents on old finishes. Store shells in a cool, dry place, away from other gauges. Keep firearms and ammunition locked and out of reach of children and unauthorized users.
Safety and common mistakes
- Never keep 16 gauge shells with 12 gauge or 20 gauge shells. A 16 gauge shell slides into a 12 gauge chamber and lodges in the barrel. A 20 gauge shell slides into a 16 gauge chamber and lodges in the barrel, where it blocks the next shell. Firing a 16 gauge shell behind it can burst the barrel. This is a well-known accident, and the 16 gauge is easy to confuse with the 20 gauge because the shells look similar.
- Check the gauge marked on the barrel before you load. Match the shell to the gun every time, and read the headstamp on the shell.
- Do not fire a 2¾ inch shell in a gun with a 2½ inch chamber.
- Have vintage guns checked by a gunsmith before shooting. Damascus and thin-walled barrels can fail with modern loads.
- Treat every firearm as loaded. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.
- Know your target and what is beyond it. Shot can travel a long way.
- Wear eye and ear protection. Shot can bounce back from hard targets, and the muzzle blast is loud.
- If you reload, use only published data from a current manual and start low. This page does not contain loading data.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 16 gauge still a good choice?
Yes, for upland birds and small game, especially if you like a light gun. The drawbacks are fewer shell choices and higher prices than 12 and 20 gauge.
What is the difference between 16 gauge and 20 gauge?
The 16 gauge has a bigger bore (.662 in against .615 in) and carries 1 to 1⅛ ounces of shot, against 3/4 to 1 ounce for the 20. The shells look alike, so keep them apart.
Why is 16 gauge ammunition so hard to find?
Far fewer 16 gauge guns are sold than 12 or 20 gauge, so stores stock little of it. Online sellers and sporting goods stores that cater to bird hunters usually have a better selection.
Can I shoot a 20 gauge shell in a 16 gauge gun?
No. A 20 gauge shell can slide down the barrel of a 16 gauge and lodge in the bore. If a 16 gauge shell is fired behind it, the barrel can burst. Never keep the two together.
Can I use 2¾ inch shells in my old 16 gauge?
Only if the chamber is 2¾ inches. Many older guns have 2½ inch chambers. Check the stamp on the barrel, or have a gunsmith measure it.
What shot size should I use?
#8 or #7½ for doves and quail, #6 or #5 for pheasants, and #8 to #6 for grouse and woodcock. Check local rules for non-toxic shot.
Can the 16 gauge hunt waterfowl?
It can with the right non-toxic loads, but the choice of those loads is small. Most waterfowl hunters pick a 12 or 20 gauge.
Can I reload 16 gauge shells?
Yes. Hulls, wads and powders for 16 gauge are available, and reloading is one way to get around the limited selection. Use only published data from a current loading manual and follow its safety instructions.
Sources
Sources reviewed · 29 October 2026