16-65

The 16x65 designation tells you two things: the gauge and the chamber length in millimeters. It is shorter than the common 16-gauge 70 mm standard, so these shells only fit guns built for the same chamber length. This category carries the SB Special Slug 27g, a solid slug round for big game.

What 16x65 shells are

16x65 means a 16-gauge shell with a 65 mm case, shorter than the usual 70 mm standard. A 70 mm shell physically fits into a 65 mm chamber, but firing it is dangerous, since pressure builds too high inside the barrel. Check your gun's exact chamber length before you buy.

A 65 mm chamber is most common on older double-barrel guns. The chamber length is usually stamped on the barrel next to the gauge marking, so check it before ordering.

16-gauge 65 mm shells: what you need to know

Three things matter most: chamber length, projectile type, and weight in grams. Get any of these wrong and the shell either does not fit the gun or lacks the force to stop the animal.

Chamber length, 65 mm

A 65 mm case holds less powder and shot than a 70 mm one. This means softer recoil, but also a slightly lower muzzle velocity than a 70 mm shell in the same gauge.

16 gauge, between 12 and 20

16 gauge sits between the common 12 gauge and the lighter 20 gauge, powerful enough for big game, yet lighter to carry through a long sit in a high seat.

The slug projectile

The SB Special Slug 27g is a solid metal slug built for a shot at big game out to roughly a hundred meters. A slug flies straighter than shot pellets and keeps more energy on a precise, single-point hit.

Where these shells fit in

16x65 slug shells work well on a driven hunt through dense forest, where the animal often appears at short range, and from a high seat during a still hunt, where one accurate shot is what counts.

How to pick the right shells

Before you buy, check your gun and the hunt ahead: chamber length, the load it allows, and the expected shooting distance.

• Check the chamber length stamped on the barrel against the shell's case length.
• Confirm your gun is rated for slug loads, not shot loads only.
• Judge the likely shooting distance. A slug performs best out to about a hundred meters.
• Note the slug weight in grams, since it drives both recoil and impact force.
• Store different gauges separately to avoid mix-ups in the field.

Field advice for the hunt

A slug shot needs more preparation than a string of shot pellets, since one round has to land exactly right. Pattern your gun with the specific shell you plan to carry before the season starts, as makers give slightly different points of impact.

On a driven hunt, keep the gun ready and wait for a clear line of fire, since other hunters or dogs may be moving behind the target. From a high seat, check the wind before you settle in, so the animal does not catch your scent.

Brands

This category carries SB shells, the Special Slug line from Sellier & Bellot, known among hunters who take big game with a smoothbore gun.

If your gun takes the standard length, browse 16-70 shells or 20-70 shells for a lighter gun. For signaling during a hunt, see signal ammunition. If you are unsure which shell fits your gun, write to us and we will advise.