Rio Field shotshells in 16 gauge (part no. RC168) load a 3 dram equivalent charge of 1 ounce of #8 shot at 1,300 feet per second, keeping the classic 16-gauge platform properly fed. Rio Ammunition builds this as a straightforward field load for a gauge that has never lost its following among upland hunters who value its balance between 12-gauge payload and 20-gauge handling. The #8 shot size throws a dense pattern well suited to dove, quail, and clay targets where pellet count matters more than long-range energy. For 16-gauge shooters who have a hard time finding a dedicated field load, this shotgun shells is exactly that.

Key Specifications

• The gauge is 16 gauge, a classic field gauge prized for its balance between 12- and 20-gauge performance.
• The shell length is 2.75 inches, the standard 16-gauge field hull length.
• The dram equivalent is 3 dram, a standard field-load propellant charge.
• The payload weighs 1 ounce, a traditional 16-gauge field charge.
• The shot size is #8, dense patterns for skeet, dove, and quail.
• Muzzle velocity is listed at 1,300 feet per second, a brisk field-load speed.
• Each box holds 25 rounds, a practical count for a day in the field.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does #8 shot compare to #7.5 for upland hunting? #8 shot throws a denser pattern with slightly less pellet energy than #7.5, a common trade-off favored for dove and quail over larger upland birds.

What makes 16 gauge different from 12 or 20 gauge? 16 gauge is often described as carrying like a 20 gauge while patterning closer to a 12 gauge, a balance that has kept it popular with upland traditionalists.

Buy Rio Field 16 Gauge #8 Shot

A 16-gauge gun deserves a dedicated field load instead of a shelf full of 12- and 20-gauge options, and Rio Field is built to keep that classic gauge in the field. Order from our Lubbock, Texas gun shop and it ships fast to your door.