Dog Soldier
member
I would like an A-5 Browning Sweet 16. But the prices are simply too high.
Has 16 gauge become popular again?
- Thread starter bersaguy
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DM~
Member
Thanks... I was using Remington hi brass number 6's, at 27 yards it rolled him right over...
No need for anything special, if you let them come in a bit...
DM
No need for anything special, if you let them come in a bit...
DM
I would like an A-5 Browning Sweet 16. But the prices are simply too high.
The prices for mass-produced repeaters have gotten insane. No need to pay too much for self-loader. I have seen 16ga Citori in excellent condition for $1200. That price was not unfair. We have to remember that Japanese ones are made of more modern steel come w/choke tubes and have simpler takedown and are therefore superior to old Belgian made ones.
I would like an A-5 Browning Sweet 16. But the prices are simply too high.
I would look at old Remington 1100. LGS had 16ga VR 26" IC choked gun that looked like it just came out of the box for $600. That is half or less of what you can expect to pay for vintage Sweet Sixteen in unused condition. The Remington is superior gun because it uses gas metering system not coil spring (early ones had flat spring) wrapped around magazine tube that needs to be adjusted when going from light to heavy loads. The new Sweet Sixteen is an ugly and expensive gun that uses same recoil system as Benelli. Neither old Auto-5 or new version does anything to redistribute recoil impulse like that found in gas operated semi-autos.
LoneGoose
Member
"The 16 has been in decline since the 3" 20 gauge hit the market. It is not coming back, but will not go away. Too many good old guns chambered in 16. Been seriously thinking of adding a 16 Ga. model 12 to the herd. When I see the right one at the right price, I shall do so. Carries like a 20, hits like a 12. Most vintage 16's I have seen were built on a 20 gauge frame. A 16 Ga. Model 12 is a sweet handling shotgun."
In my opinion, my 16 ga. 37 has a softer kick than a sxs 3" 20 ga., using pheasant loads in both.
In my opinion, my 16 ga. 37 has a softer kick than a sxs 3" 20 ga., using pheasant loads in both.
Dog Soldier
member
Many of us simply like the old Belgian A-5 Browning. It is likely due to the fact we grew up in the days when the A-5 was the choice of the "Hard Hunters".
slumlord44
Member
I have had a Belgin Browning Sweet 16 for any years. Love it. Also have a Stevens 235 16 gauge hammer double that is a ball to shoot. As stated they may or may not be making a comeback but I don't see them going away anytime soon. The "experts" have been saying that for at least 40 years. Hasn't happened yet.
Browning Arms Co. is keeping the gauge going by offering new Auto-5, BPS and soon another run of O/Us. Interestingly they giving my beloved .300H&H a nod by offering A-bolt in this caliber. Wonderful, isn't it.
Browning made a big deal this year out of reintroducing the 16-gauge A5 with a big "Sweet Sixteen" marketing campaign: http://www.browning.com/products/firearms/shotguns/a5/current-production/a5-sweet-sixteen.html
jmorris
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I knew a guy that always seemed to have items that were undesirable for sale, he used that fact as a selling point.
Some one could ask the guy about a '78 Pinto station wagon and he would start off with "Oh, these are very rare..."
Folks seemed to be immediately sucked in as he was a heck of a salesman. I, on the other hand, always finished the sentence in my head with "...because most were crushed and turned into something useful like trash can lids."
Some one could ask the guy about a '78 Pinto station wagon and he would start off with "Oh, these are very rare..."
Folks seemed to be immediately sucked in as he was a heck of a salesman. I, on the other hand, always finished the sentence in my head with "...because most were crushed and turned into something useful like trash can lids."
Hey, I just bought a "Pinto station wagon" of the gun world in the form of 16ga Remington shotgun. It's 7lb4oz 16ga Remington 1100. It carries like 12ga, but recoils like a 20ga.
Oh yeh! If you want worse, much worse I can help you with gun selection. Just ask and you shall receive.
That is very very ugly yet excellent handling shotgun. The weight it around 6lb and the guys over at 16ga.com say it is very reliable gun. Them boys are the experts of "it carries like a 20ga but hits like a 12ga. I bet it hits like a 12ga in both directions. Just don't try to figure out where it was made. Let us just say that it is shopping basket of outsourced parts assembled in undisclosed location probably outside the USA. I am sure if it was assembled into three large parts here they would proudly state Assembled in the USA with lovely little American flag next to the statement.
jmorris
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I wouldn't go that far but price and popularity don't always go hand in hand, often it's just the opposite.
It would be like comparing the price of a calculator and an abacus for example. One is a complex design of circuitry, switches and display and the other is wood beads on sticks. Due to the popularity of the more complex item, one can actually get them cheaper than the simple one.
Just look at many of the "valued" firearms out there that didn't sell well, so they quit making them then all of a sudden they become valuable for no other reason than there is now a finite number of them.
When it comes to Ithaca 37 field grade guns the 20ga and to lesser extent 16ga pieces bring a premium. In early 80s cost for old used one in very good shape was $250 to $300 today they cost $400 to $450. It is good to see one of the best upland game pump get some well deserved respect.
The 16ga I bought is not a very good field gun, but it is a self-loader and I can use it as HD gun being that 16ga BK loads are mostly 1BK which is ideal for that role. It is basically expensive shiny door stop. It is too heavy to carry for hunting and #8 shot target suitable loads are almost twice as expensive as 12ga loads. The fact that it carries like a 12 but hits like 16 and recoils like a 20 does not hurt in HD role at all. Being it is Remington 1100 in top shape means that it can be sold for good money at later time if I decide to let it go. The fact that it has 26" VR I.C. barrel helps in this matter a lot. Short barrel repeaters with open chokes are surprisingly easy to move. Not sure about rest of the country but around here Remington 1100s in very good condition are hot ticket items. They actually sell better than old vintage Wingmaster 870s.
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The classic 16ga English game guns are far far less common. Your standard was 12ga 1&1/16oz shot out of 65mm chamber your 16ga was 2" cartridge nicknamed Pigmie holding 7/8oz shot. I'm very familiar with your classic game guns from London, Birmingham and from Provincial makers. Those classic British game guns of the Golden Age of Shotgunning can not be beat. When it comes to classic American double shotguns people seek out 16ga and 20ga guns because 12ga versions sadly were heavy, clumsy feelin' iron and wood clubs.
Gary O
Member
For years I have used size 6 lead shot at 1200 fps in my 16 gauge to great effect on pheasants. But now here in California we are ordered to switch over to non-toxic shot for all game birds except on private "game farms". What do you folks suggest? Thanks...
The best is HeviShot and it is available in 10 cartridge boxes at about $4 to $5 per shell. It is the best ammo you can buy. You can also use Kents new offering of Bismuth (Cabela's had it on sale in 16ga at $13.99 per pack of 10 with #5 or #6 shot) or upland steel loads with #4 shot. The steel shot will be least expensive non-tox alternative. If you have old classic double with soft soldered barrels and choose to use standard HeviShot (there is HeviShot Classic Doubles that is supposed to be designed to shoot in old shotguns) or Steel you can expect barrel bulges in front of choke area followed by rib separation.
I would like an A-5 Browning Sweet 16. But the prices are simply too high.
I'd like to have mine back - it was stolen in a break in.
jasonv
Member
I love the 16. Just picked up a new Browning over under in 16 gauge.
I'll tell you at the end of a long day pheasant hunting the guys carrying the 12 gauges are tired and envious of the weight of mine.
I think I have 5 16 gauges. Here is a pick of me and some birds. I got three of these birds with a 16 ga wingmaster made in the mid 1950s
I'll tell you at the end of a long day pheasant hunting the guys carrying the 12 gauges are tired and envious of the weight of mine.
I think I have 5 16 gauges. Here is a pick of me and some birds. I got three of these birds with a 16 ga wingmaster made in the mid 1950s
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Which Browning did you get the light weight one with alloy receiver or the heavy one with steel receiver? The weight difference is about one pound.
jasonv
Member
I got the white lightening. It is 7lbs
One of the problems with the 16 is that the shell length has changed. Older guns have 2 9/6" or even 2 1/2" chambers and since WWII the fired length of a 16 gauge shell is 2 3/4".
Unless you reload, shooting those bargain 16's is expensive.
Unless you reload, shooting those bargain 16's is expensive.
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