16 gauge hunting rifles: review, characteristics, reviews

• November 14, 2018
• Weapons and ammunition
• Natali Michaelis

Every experienced hunter should have a universal weapon in his collection, with which he can hunt both birds and small fur-bearing game, as well as wild boar. Most often, this role is played by a 16-gauge shotgun. If you are new to the hunting craft, then when choosing a weapon you should trust the advice of professionals who have accumulated and carefully preserved knowledge about hunting for several generations. In the article you will find a lot of useful information on this issue.

What is 16 gauge?

To answer this question, you first need to understand that gun barrels can be made using a smooth or rifled cylinder. In smoothbore guns, the muzzle towards the end of the bore may taper or be permanently straight. Determining the caliber is not that difficult. In smoothbore guns, it depends on how many lead bullets of the same mass (about 453.6 grams) can fit in the barrel at a time. In this case, the diameter of the bullet must necessarily correspond to the diameter of the narrowest part of the barrel.

It is worth noting that the smaller the diameter of the muzzle hole, the more bullets will go into it, because you will have to use smaller ballistic projectiles. A striking example is that the twentieth gauge is considered much weaker than the twelfth, and the sixteenth is approximately between them.

Flaws

However, the following disadvantages are often identified:

• a small number of animals that can be hunted;
• the complexity of the design of guns, which is not suitable for beginners;
• slight sharpness of combat (compared to other calibers).

In addition, the caliber is not suitable for long-range shooting due to its accuracy characteristics. Another disadvantage is that every year it becomes more and more difficult to purchase such weapons, since new models of modern rifles are constantly appearing. There has never been any unambiguous attitude towards rifles of this caliber. After all, a lot also depends on individual preferences.

Positive features of 16 gauge

Even to this day, disputes do not subside among hunters, the reason for which is 16-gauge shotguns. Fans of such weapons consider it the golden mean between destructive power and shot spread, giving absolute preference to sixteen millimeters. And it’s not in vain that such a weapon was loved! It combines the optimal balance of the most important technical characteristics: weight, sharpness, power, practicality, shot spread, and so on. The gun is excellent for running hunting - it is quite light compared to the same twelve-gauge and has good firepower, which in most cases is enough to kill an adult wild boar or elk.

The elegance and aesthetics of 16-gauge shotguns are also noted. As a rule, fans of such guns do not provide any compelling arguments about the benefits of their unit. Only the golden mean is mentioned, although the difference between 16 and 12 gauge remains minimal. Apparently, someone just likes highly specialized weapons. However, you still need to know about the merits of your faithful hunting companion.

The sixteenth caliber is also supported by the fact that such guns began to appear in the middle of the last century, and most hunters of that time actively used them. Weapons were produced by both domestic and foreign companies. This rare unit serves faithfully to this day.

Advantages

To summarize, we should talk about the advantages of 16 gauge, putting them in a single list. This will help you understand why this caliber is so popular among beginners and professional hunters:

• optimal power - not as high as that of 12 gauge, but allowing you to hunt even small predators;
• combat sharpness - ease of use helps you fall in love with guns of a given caliber, and even with a further increase in the arsenal, the shooter, as a rule, always has at least one “sixteenth” carbine;
• optimal technical characteristics - the balance of weapon size, weight, recoil, and reload speed is chosen surprisingly accurately;
• practicality - affects the availability of ammunition on the domestic market, ease of maintenance of the guns themselves;
• the use of modern mechanisms - this has expanded the possibilities for choosing smooth-bore weapons, taking into account the shooter’s preferences;
• good accuracy at short/medium distances - this plays into the hands of commercial hunters.

Low recoil allows you to do without additional shock absorbers, compensators and other devices. This has the effect of reducing the weight of the gun. As a result, the shooter can go hunting light or take extra ammunition, which is never superfluous.

Due to its light weight, 16 gauge is well suited for hunting on foot.
16 gauge shotguns are excellent for learning the first skills of shooting smoothbore hunting weapons. Low recoil and moderate weight make carbines of this type the optimal choice for teenagers and women.

How to choose a gun?

So, you have decided on the caliber, but choosing a convenient and reliable weapon that suits you specifically will not be so easy. First you need to understand who will be hunted. All smoothbore guns are excellent for shooting small and medium-sized fur-bearing animals, wild birds, and some units are even capable of killing an adult bear. Unlike rifled weapons, a smooth-bore weapon fires a charge of shot or buckshot, so it will be much easier to hit a moving target.

Sixteen-gauge shotguns are divided into double-barreled and single-barreled.

Double-barreled ones are divided into:

• horizontal - trunks are located in a horizontal plane;
• vertical - trunks are located in a vertical plane.

Single-barrel shotguns are great because they don't block your view with their wide barrels. On the other hand, it will be much easier to hit almost any target with a double-barreled shotgun. Verticals and horizontals differ not only in the location of the barrels, but also in the specifics of aiming and subsequent retention.

Horizontal shotguns give the worst visibility of all double-barreled shotguns, but they do not have the same windage as the same vertical ones. This means that during strong winds it will be much easier to aim from horizontal guns. According to experienced hunters, even after the first shot you can take aim again at a moving target in just 1-2 seconds. However, all these pros and cons of double-barreled shotguns are ambiguous, since in most cases everything depends on the skills of the shooter himself.

Gun systems

Hunting weapons are divided into two types:

1. With non-retractable trunks.
2. With folding trunks.

The latter are the most common among those who like to hunt. People call them “fractures.” The choice of such a device for reloading and disassembling weapons was not without reason. The mechanism is very reliable, easy to operate and durable. To load the gun, you will need to place a round in the chamber and then close the gun. In "breakdowns" there is no mechanism for automatically feeding cartridges for subsequent shooting, but it will not be difficult for the hunter to remove the spent cartridge case and place a new cartridge in its place. This operation is performed within a few seconds.

Servicing a gun with folding barrels is much easier than with an automatic cartridge rammer. This is why “breaks” are so popular among professional shooters.

Shotguns with the ability to flip barrels have their own classification:

1. Firearms with external hammers. This cocking mechanism is the simplest, most reliable and wear-resistant. However, such weapons are obsolete; many manufacturers have abandoned such a system. Basically, such guns are produced by factories to individual orders. Their cost exceeds several thousand dollars.
2. Weapons with an internal trigger mechanism. It has a complex design, but is extremely popular.

Internal trigger mechanisms differ from each other depending on the design:

• the mainspring is pumped and the firing pin is cocked when the barrel is lowered;
• cocking is carried out when the hunter opens the gun; if the barrel is raised, the firing pin will switch to combat mode;
• the spring responsible for the firing process inside the weapon is compressed if the hunter switches the shutter key.

IZH-58

One of the best domestic horizontal weapons for a novice hunter. The gun has internal trigger locks with safety locks that prevent accidental shooting, as well as a triple bolt - the barrels are locked using two lower hooks and one upper one. The modified variation IZH-58 MA is distinguished by an automatic fuse, and the IZH-58 MAE is equipped with an ejector that can be easily removed if necessary. The length of the IZH-58 16 gauge barrel is 710 millimeters. The weight of the weapon is 3.3 kilograms.

When did the IZH-16 hunting rifle appear in mass production?

The Soviet Union was rich in various inventions and innovations in the field of hunting weapons. Testing, research and development of new models were constantly carried out.

Within one decade, you could see several new hunting rifles, which for the most part became better and better.

Sometimes you can simply get confused about the dates of their creation, since some of them were even released in the same year.

According to factory documents, this double-barreled shotgun began mass production in 1962, and ended its journey back in 1972.

Thus, for ten years the plant has consistently produced this model, which indicates its good combat qualities and durability.

MP-43

The main distinguishing feature of the MP-43 (IZH-43) from the IZH-58 and its modifications is the universal double-trigger trigger mechanism. That is, the hunter can shoot both in autonomous and single-trigger mode. This model has received a more ergonomic shape, and recent releases have shown that the manufacturer has improved the build quality and began to process the metal better. IZH-43 is highly reliable and forgives most of the mistakes that beginners make. That is why this weapon is so loved by novice hunters.

Separation of guns by purpose

Weapons for sporting and hunting purposes are divided into two types: sporting and hunting. Their reloading and cocking systems are similar, but during operation you can notice their significant differences. Sporting shotguns can be equipped with additional parts such as:

• weighting agent;
• choke;
• orthopedic handle;
• stock with many adjustments for length and height.

Such guns are inconvenient to use while hunting an animal; they are only suitable for sport shooting at moving targets, such as skeet.

Models for hunting are significantly lighter; the choke constrictions, depending on the model, can have different shapes and constrictions. Hunters divide them into two groups:

• fishing;
• hunting

The first option should be easy. Since they are used much more often and are subject to wear and tear, the manufacturer makes them from durable materials and also equips the gun with a simple mechanism. This helps to facilitate maintenance and repair in its subsequent operation.

IZH-18

Perhaps the best 16 gauge shotgun of all single-barreled guns. Has an internal trigger position. On the narrow barrel there is a front sight that does not have an aiming bar. IZH-18 is quite convenient to use and very easily disassembles into three components - the barrel, the fore-end and the neck of the stock, which is usually a pistol stock. The fuse is not automatic, but a push-button one.

If the gun is not completely closed, the locking device will prevent an accidental shot. If the weapon is dropped or hit, the trigger will automatically engage. The barrel length is 7300 millimeters. Weight - about 2.8 kilograms.

Popular verticals

Over-and-under shotguns have a distinctive charm, which is why they are loved by many hunters. For the same reason, they are also popular among fans of recreational shooting.

The main advantage of these guns is excellent visibility. However, when aiming, the shooter must make allowances for the wind, since the barrel may wobble.

MR-27

It is also IZH-27. The pistol stock greatly simplifies the handling of this 16-gauge smoothbore shotgun. An indisputable advantage is the internal trigger trigger. Interceptors are responsible for safety in handling - interceptors that help prevent an accidental shot.

Choke and half-choke barrels have a characteristic muzzle constriction. Single locking is carried out due to the wedge entering the coupling groove.

Smoothbore shotgun IZH-27 caliber 16x70

TOZ-34

A very respectable representative who captivated the hearts of commercial hunters not only with high shooting performance, but also with a beautiful appearance. The gun has a different barrel locking system than the one used in the MP-27. Among the key advantages it is necessary to highlight:

• reduced weight - only 3.1 kg;
• comfortable bed with a protrusion under the cheek;
• rear shock absorber on the butt.

Double-barreled over/under rifle TOZ-34

MC-21

One of the first semi-automatic rifles that was created in the USSR. MTs-21 is also the only domestic version of a self-loading weapon operating on the principle of a moving barrel. Used for commercial or amateur hunting. It has a tubular magazine on the fore-end that holds 4 rounds. The minimum combat accuracy is about 65% at a distance of 35 meters. When the bolt and barrel move backward, the internal hammer is cocked.

A fairly reliable model, which is most often used in regions with cold climates. Quite easy to disassemble and maintain. Does not require frequent lubrication. The barrel length is 750 millimeters. The weight of the weapon is 3.2 kilograms.

Removing cartridges

An ejector or extractor is used to remove the spent cartridge case from the chamber. The first device ejects the cartridge case from the barrel when opened, the second is only capable of prying the cartridge case at the bottom. Then you need to grab it with your hand and pull it out of the gun.

The ejector operates much faster than its competitor. However, it breaks down much faster, is quite expensive, and in addition, it must be regularly maintained (cleaned of dust and dirt, wiped with gun oil). In addition, he is afraid of water, so when hunting in swampy areas or near bodies of water, it is preferable to take with him a weapon with an extractor mechanism.

Recommendations for selection

Regardless of caliber or brand, any weapon must have good technical characteristics. Here's what you should pay special attention to when purchasing:

• Adaptability is an indicator of the weapon’s suitability for the shooter’s physique. You will not find it in any gun passport, but you can and should ask the seller to give you the weapon in your hands to evaluate this parameter. Raise your gun and aim it at some target. The barrel of the “wrong” gun will lie below or above the target, or will simply point to the side. Most often this is due to the fact that the weapon is too heavy for the hunter. This leads to misses and wasting extra time aiming.
• Balance. To find balance, you need to balance the gun. The weapon has good balance if the breech end of the barrels is located at a distance of about 70 millimeters from the center of gravity. Balance is also determined by weighing the gun with and without a forend. The ideal mass ratio is 2:2.2.
• Posadism. The mass of good weapons is concentrated in the middle part. If you take it in your hands, the end of the barrel and the butt will be much lighter. Otherwise, the aiming process can become very difficult. It will also be much harder for the shooter to raise the gun.

When choosing a weapon, pay attention not only to the technical characteristics and reviews of the model, but also to your feelings while working with the unit. The legendary sixteenth caliber was loved by hunters for a reason. Such weapons have good accuracy of fire combined with great destructive power. A universal and almost ideal gun for any hunt.

The history of the appearance of “small things” from TOZ

The TOZ-8 small-caliber rifle, which became the base model for all other “small rifles” in this series, was created in 1932. This rifle was created for sport shooting. Soon, on its basis, a lightweight hunting carbine was created, called TOZ-8M. The models in this series had the following advantages:

• The simplest design ensured that the carbine would not break unless specifically broken;
• The weapon remained operational in any conditions;
• The accuracy of the rifle was very high.

This weapon turned out to be so popular that its production continued until 1957. Despite the simplicity of the design and small caliber, the weight of the TOZ-8 was 3.2 kg.

In 1957, a group of design engineers at the Tula Arms Plant developed a new line of small-caliber weapons chambered for the 5.6 mm caliber cartridge. This line includes the following models:

• TOZ-16. This carbine was single-shot;
• TOZ-17. Five-shot version;
• TOZ-18. Multi-charge version, which was additionally equipped with an optical sight.

A year later, this line was replenished with another carbine with improved characteristics - TOZ-21, which had a magazine for 10 rounds.

Reviews from hunters about 16 gauge

Judging by the reviews of professional hunters on thematic forums, what attracts them most about the 16-gauge is its versatility of use. When fired from such a weapon at a small animal, the wounded animal will not be much damaged. At the same time, the killing power should be quite enough to kill a large animal. Even a formidable brown bear can be mortally wounded by shot, if you shoot in the right place from a distance of no more than 35 meters.

Also, some hunters pay attention to the ease of operation of 16-gauge shotguns. It is much easier to disassemble a vertical or horizontal rifle than a Kalashnikov assault rifle, so even an inexperienced amateur can cope with this task. In addition, such weapons forgive most handling errors. This will be especially important for beginners. A large number of protection and blocking elements will not allow a novice hunter to injure himself during operation.

Soviet models are relatively inexpensive compared to imported analogues of sixteen-gauge shotguns. In addition, domestic double-barreled shotguns can be “fed” with almost any cartridge, while for American and European shotguns it is necessary to use expensive branded cartridges. What if a hunter is just starting to learn to shoot? Therefore, in order not to go broke on ammunition, it is recommended to give preference to Russian models of sixteen gauge.

As for the sixteenth caliber itself, it is not for nothing that it is called the “golden mean”. Twenty gauges are usually used for game hunting because they produce a wide spread of shot, while twelve gauges are only suitable for hunting big game. What should a passionate hunter who loves to hunt both ducks and wild boars do? That's right, get a sixteen-gauge model.

Shotguns with non-retractable barrels

16-gauge shotguns with non-retractable barrels consist of a barrel, a magazine that can hold several cartridges, and a mechanism for automatically ejecting cartridges. These types of weapons have a faster rate of fire.

One of their significant drawbacks is their whimsical nature when using the gun. Such a mechanism requires careful lubrication, periodic adjustment, and high-quality cartridges.

Fans of weapons with non-reclining barrels most often choose pump-action shotguns. They are reloaded manually; to do this, simply move the bolt with one hand. Such models are unpretentious and reliable.

Modification TOZ-16-01

Beginning in 1977, the Tula Arms Plant began producing a modernized version of the small-caliber carbine, called TOZ-16-01. Carbines 17 and 18 modifications also underwent modernization. The modernized model received some changes related to the unification of the barrel, receiver and bolt with parts of the TOZ-8M sports rifle.

Now the TOZ-16-01 carbine has become more accurate, the receiver has received improved protection against accidental dirt. In addition, an important innovation was the replacement of the outdated fuse with a more reliable flag type.

The TOZ-16 carbine and its multi-shot modifications were produced until the end of the 1980s, but did not receive recognition on the international market. The main reason for this was the design of the weapon, which was not intended for the use of reinforced 5.6 mm ammunition. Currently, these carbines are very rarely found among hunters, and it is almost impossible to buy them.

Improvements to TOZ-16

The main disadvantages of a hunting rifle are its single-shot nature and the lack of an optical sight, which makes accurate shooting at long distances difficult. Since mounting an optical sight requires a suitable bracket, this poses some difficulties, especially in this day and age. The most suitable mounting device for this weapon is the bracket from the Mosin rifle, which fits perfectly on the TOZ-16.

Each hunter solves the problem with the single-shot capacity of this carbine in his own way. The most popular method is to make special rubber or plastic strips that have holes for cartridges. They are attached with self-tapping screws to the wooden stock of the carabiner.