I hunt dove most often with my 1960 Swt16 Browning A5. Any 16 gauge fans out there? If so, I was wondering what loads some of you guys use. I normally use Fiocchi shells as they are one of few that have a decent selection for the 16 ga. I do not reload so I always buy from my local dealer. However, do to the rising costs of shells I was wondering if there were any other companys out there that produce good reasonally priced shells for the 16 ga enthusiast.

I've recently heard of a company called Sellier & Bellot. Has anyone ever tried these shells. If so, any pros or cons with them? My dealer can get them for about 1$ a box cheaper than the Fiocchi. They don't have a big selection like Fiocchi, but they have a particular load that I feel would be ideal for dove. It's a 2 3/4 Dram 1 1/16 oz 7.5s. If my calculations are correct the muzzle velocity should be around 1200 ft/s and the pellet count should be around 365. It should be a mild load to shoot, and perhaps produce nice dense patterns. What are your thoughts........?

By the way, I use an IC choked barrel in early season and change to a MOD choked barrel in the late season.

Thanks in advance....... A5-HUNTER

It's an excellent load that I use extensively for dove, quail, & grouse in my 1921 Ithaca Levfever Nitro Special.

 

S&B produces a decent shell and since you don't load, the lesser cost would be a plus. It's nice to hear they are importing S&B shotshells again as production or shipments to the U.S. were halted a while back. S&B hulls were a bit thick so they frequently do not crimp well for the reloader but then again, this is not a concern. These loads should do fine for dove.
I use mainly Remington and Federal loads for my 16 ga, they are readily available and reasonably priced. I mostly buy the game loads as I can use the factory shells for targets or light hunting such as ruffed grouse, dove, etc. and then reload the hulls for other uses such as pheasants.

 

I also use that load in my old Topper 148 single shot 16, although I think the load is 3 1/4 dram, not 2 3/4 dram. That's a big boost in velocity, I would think the #8s would be an excellent dove load, but I just bought that old 16 last December and have mostly shot clays with it. That S&B load CRUSHES clays. It's a lot of recoil for such a light gun though, so I prefer the cheap, 1 oz, Remington load (2 1/2 dram if I recall correctly).

I also shoot Fiocchi, of course. #5, 1 1/8 oz GP load. Killed a December ruffy with it no problem and even a HUGE jack rabbit in January (although I'd go with nothing smaller than #4 on those now that I see how big they really are! ).

-Dave

 

My dad owns a 1940's Ithaca 36 16 ga that we like to shoot at doves. I always just stoke it with the cheap stuff. Remington Game loads. One ounce of 7.5 shot traveling at 1200 FPS knocks them dead just fine.

 

I have a Garbi SxS in 16 gauge. I used to shoot Fiocchi but now almost exclusively shoot B&P (http://www.bandpusa.com/), it's ammo of the highest quality and they have resisted price increases the best (also free fedex shipping). You should also check http://www.16ga.com/ for all things 16 gauge.

 

S&B produces a decent shell and since you don't load, the lesser cost would be a plus. It's nice to hear they are importing S&B shotshells again as production or shipments to the U.S. were halted a while back. S&B hulls were a bit thick so they frequently do not crimp well for the reloader but then again, this is not a concern. These loads should do fine for dove.
I use mainly Remington and Federal loads for my 16 ga, they are readily available and reasonably priced. I mostly buy the game loads as I can use the factory shells for targets or light hunting such as ruffed grouse, dove, etc. and then reload the hulls for other uses such as pheasants.

Are they really coming back? Where did you find out?

 

http://dkgtrading.com/nobelsport/hunting.html

Nobel Sport Hunting

I get them from here.
http://www.rrarms.com/catalog.php?actio ... rand=16-GA

Felt recoil is the same as RGL 1 oz loads to me.

 

I hunt dove most often with my 1960 Swt16 Browning A5. Any 16 gauge fans out there? If so, I was wondering what loads some of you guys use.

Doves get whacked here with red box Federal heavy field loads (same as Fed. Classic) 1185 fps, 1-1/8, #7-1/2 shot.

 

I like the Remington Game Loads 1 oz. in 7 1/2's or 8's on doves and they work very well. They are a 1200 fps load.

My favorite load is the Remington hull with 7/8 oz. of 7 1/2's at about 1260 fps. They fall just as dead with the light loads as they do with the heavy factory loads. These, however, are reloads. I know you don't reload but you don't mention a reason. There are some new wads coming soon from Downrange and 16ga.com can fill you in on all of the particulars of the 16 ga.

I shoot an A5 and a 525 o/u, both in 16 ga. They are both great guns.

 

No dove season here in NY, but I do hunt with my Sweet 16 a few times a year.

I use either the Fiocchi multi sport or the Remington Game Load... I can get either for about $6 a box right now.

I haven't seen the S&B shells in a LONG time. The last ones I saw were roll crimped...

 

Thanks guys for the replies...... As it turns out, my dealer was unable to get anymore of the S&B shells after all. I did purchase all of the remaining boxes (3) he had, but he explained that they had been on the shelf "for a while" (maybe a few years). The shot size was #6, so I guess I'll save these for the rabbits.

As for the doves....... I'm still looking for a "true" 16 ga load at a resonable price. I should have been more specific in my original post about what I was looking for. IMO, all 16 ga loads should start at a minimum of 2 3/4 Dram eq. My idea of the perfect dove load would be........ a Dram eq between 2 3/4 and 3 and a shot charge between 1 and 1 1/16 oz with #7.5s or 8s. Major manufacturers like Federal, Winchester, and Remington, all have Dram eq loads of 2 1/2 and 3 1/4, but nothing in the middle. IMO, the first is a 20 ga load and the second is a 12 ga load. Just my $0.02 cents........ maybe I should look into reloading............

Glocksig......... Does B&P have or make 2 3/4" shells for the 16 ga? The only 16ga shells I could find online made by them were their "F2" series of shells and they were 2 5/8". These shorter shells will work in my gun (A5), but are pricey. I think these shells were special made and intended for use in older guns with short chambers and the price reflects this. I like the load however...... 1280 f/s and 1 1/16 oz with an assortment of shot sizes. I'm guessing this is a 3 Dram eq load, but I couldn't find any info on that. This falls on the upper end of what I was looking for, and anything "hotter" would be too much recoil in a light weight gun for doves. My dealer can get these, but they are over $11 a box....... I would like to find something cheaper, but then again, I normally shoot less than a flat of shells a year at doves. Our limit is 12 birds and I hunt 6 to 8 times during the season.

Thanks again to all who replied........any other comments or suggestions are welcomed......good hunting to all.....

A5-HUNTER

 

I shoot the Win and Rem 1 oz. GLs for spring and summer bird practice (skeet, 5-stand, trap, pasture trap) quite a bit from my 16 ga. F.A.I.R. O/Us. No probs at all, and they're available in 7.5 and 8. Matter of fact, the Wins in No. 6 are also one of my first choices for the bottom barrel, choked IC, for pheasant. They're decent shells for the money. A one-ounce load from a 16 is more bird-lethal than most people imagine, IMO.

Federal Premiums are terrific shells, IMO, when you can find them and if you are willing to pay for them. And that's no small if ... but I generally only need a box a year for cockbirds. For doves, they'd be cost-prohibitive. But the Game Shoks are affordable, and I don't mind them at all.

 

I shoot B&P F2 Legends in 16 gauge on doves and they are very good loads. Haven't tried them out of my Sweet 16 yet but will this year (ten hunts in ten days). They are expensive. They are currently $93.45 per case/flat of eight boxes. You can order them yourself. Shipping is free, delivered to your door and you won't have to pay sales tax.

 

i just received a case of the above mentioned b&p's, i got them 7 shot, will report in 23 days how they work in my 16 ga citori white lightning, i also bought some 28's in 8 shot

 

Anyone who has been to Argentina can tell you that you don't NEED more than 7/8 oz of 7.5 or 8 to kill dove. But I can't find 7/8 oz 16 gauge loads and I'm too lazy to reload some before season starts so I'll shoot the Rem Game Load 1 oz 1200 fps. Academy has them for $7 a box which is close to half of what I pay for Fiocchi at Cabelas.

 

Anything that shoots #7.5 or 8s and goes bang would seem to be a good dove load for 16 ga.

 

Maybe RST shells... they seem to be great shells...

http://www.rstshells.com/Shells-best.htm