16-67

A 16 gauge shotgun with a 67 mm chamber is a less common combination than the usual 12 gauge gun, but if you own one, you need shells built for that exact chamber length. A slug, not shot, is the choice when you need one reliable, concentrated hit from a single well-placed shot - this is the ammunition hunters load for wild boar or red deer with a smoothbore barrel.

What a 16-67 slug shell is

The 16-67 marking states two things at once: gauge (16) and chamber length (67 mm). Shells with this marking only fit guns whose chamber is built for exactly 67 mm - a longer shell will not close into the chamber, and firing a shell meant for a shorter chamber in the wrong gun is unsafe. Inside, instead of shot pellets, sits a single solid slug body shaped to fly straight and transfer its energy on impact.

Who these shells are for

A 16-67 slug is for the hunter who fires at big game with a smoothbore gun during a driven hunt or from a high seat, where a slug is the only option or the one the hunting rules require for that game. Such a shot usually comes at short to moderate range, when the animal breaks cover for a few seconds during a drive and you need to shoot fast and accurately.

Slug types for smoothbore guns

Hunters and manufacturers work with a handful of slug designs, each behaving differently in flight and on impact.

Brenneke type slug

A classic design with a plastic or felt wad fixed at the base, spun by internal ribs. It flies stably even from a cylinder-bore or lightly choked barrel and is widely used across Europe for big game.

Sabot slug

A smaller-diameter slug wrapped in a plastic sabot that falls away after leaving the muzzle. It needs a more precisely matched barrel and is usually paired with dedicated smoothbore or rifled-choke barrels.

Sub-caliber slug

A design with an active diameter smaller than the barrel's bore, reaching higher velocity but requiring closer matching to the specific gun.

Monolithic slug

A slug machined from a single piece of metal, usually a copper alloy, that deforms less on bone contact and leaves less fragmentation in tissue.

How to choose the right shells

1. Check your gun's chamber length - it must be exactly 67 mm, or you need a gun that accepts a shorter shell.
2. Confirm the gauge is 16, since a slug for another gauge will not fit your barrel.
3. Match slug weight and type to the game you hunt and the expected shot distance.
4. Check that the manufacturer's recommended choke matches your barrel's choke.
5. Choose certified ammunition with clear markings printed on the shell.

Practical field advice

Before the season, fire a test shot from your own gun so you know the point of impact at your usual distance - a slug's trajectory differs from shot. Run a cylinder or full choke setting unless the manufacturer says otherwise, and keep shells dry, since moisture affects primer reliability. On a driven hunt, keep slug shells separate from shot shells so you never grab the wrong one while loading in a hurry.

Brands

This category is represented by FIOCCHI, an Italian manufacturer with a long history in hunting and sporting ammunition, whose Brenneke-type slug is well known among smoothbore gun owners.

Looking for a different chamber length or gauge, see the 16-70, 12-67 and 20-70 shells, plus signal ammunition. If you are unsure which shell fits your gun, write to us and we will help.