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Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 124 Location: Kansas City

I was in a local gun shop last week that had 2 nice Belgium Sweet Sixteens. Both were in good condition and priced to sell. The dealer wanted $500 for one and $850 for the other. I asked why the difference in price and the dealer told me the one for $850 had 5 barrels. My problem is I'm not a auto guy, I like 2 barrels and 2 triggers. If a shotgun has only 1 barrel you should have to pump it between shots. However, how can a man who loves the 16ga not own at least one Browning Sweet Sixteen?

buy them both, keep the best parts of each and sell the other one. Any sweet in "good condition" is worth $500. You could probably get most of your money back just selling off the extra barrels.

Member Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 3438 Location: Illinois

Shoot the SS for a while and you will become an auto guy---

Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 30

Please check your messages, you have a new PM.

Sage1

Member Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 69 Location: SW MO

Five barrels in decent shape should bring $1000 on ebay. That is on the low side if they are clean belgium barrels they will bring between $200-$300 pretty easy. That is a steal if they are in good shape.

Member Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Posts: 781

I've bought decent (no rib) A5 barrels for $100 to $150, but I'm a careful (read as cheap) buyer. If they are ribbed the rior estimates are well within reach.

I's unlikely but if those barrels happen to be numbered to the gun dont break up the set.

Jeff

Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 124 Location: Kansas City

I'm going back and take a closer look tomorrow, the price is just to good to pass up. I have been thinking about getting back into pumps since the prices are so good, just can't afford sxs anymore. I'll just have to put off getting a M12 for a while and pick up the Browning.

Better yet, put it off and get a Model 37 Ithaca. OOPS! Time to find a beer and table to duck under again. Laughing

Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 124 Location: Kansas City

Well I went back to the gun shop today and the A5 with the extra barrels was gone. The other Sweet Sixteen was there and I ended up buying it. This gun was in better shape with nice wood and has the rounded pistol grip end. It has a plain 271/2" mod. barrel, I prefer a plain barrel for hunting less weight, easy to keep clean and I shoot just as good with a plain barrel.

Member Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Posts: 781

OK, which one of you guys called every gunshop in KC till you found that gun/barrels and bought it over the phone....fess up!

Changing barrels on an A5 has a significant impact on overall weight AND balance.

Per Browning specs from the '60's the weight difference between a plain and vent rib barrel on a 16 ga A5 is either 3 oz or 4 oz depending on barrel length.

In addition, a 28" barrel weighs 2 oz more than the same barrel in 26"

So, the difference between a plain 26" barrel and a vent rib 28" barrel is a whopping 6oz!

On my 16 ga A5's I think a 28" plain barrel is the cats pajamas.

Jeff

Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 124 Location: Kansas City

Jeff when I measured the barrel it looked to be 271/2 which I figured was metric, did they make them in metric or is my measurement off?

16gaugeguy I already have a 16ga 37 and a sweet 20ga 37, plus a Stevens 620 16ga, Citori 16ga and a Flues 16ga.. I've given up on sxs the prices go up faster then I can save, but maybe a M12 or 97 in the near future.

Matt: After CR Specialty and 2nd Amendment closed when Cabelas came to town there were few small gunshops left in KC. Did you get the A5 at American Arms in Grandview or The Gun Shop in Olathe?

Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 124 Location: Kansas City

I picked it up in a little shop in Gladstone the owner is more of a rifle and pistol guy and I don't go in there very often. I haven't been in the Olatha Gun Shop for a while I tend to drool to much. I need to stay out of there until my daughter finishes K-State of coarse my son will be starting college about the time she graduates. Think of all the 16ga doubles I could buy if I didn't have teenagers.

Member Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Posts: 781

Mattkcc,

The Belgian made barrels that Browning marketed as 28" long were made to a factory spec length of exactly 70 cm, which happens to be 27.559".
The "26 in" barrel was 65 cm or 25.591 in. Etc, etc etc.

Oddly enough Browning also made a 67 cm barrel that was not exported to the US market that worked out to 26.378 in. I wonder what they would of called it?

Jeff

Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 124 Location: Kansas City

Thanks Jeff now I need to start looking for a ic or skeet barrel the mod will be fine for Kansas Pheasant but in Missouri I need a more open choke.