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Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 444 Location: WI

i bought the new Sweet 16 A5 as a Christmas present for myself last year. Liked it for preserve pheasants and used it on a tower shoot. I took it out one time this season for grouse/woodcock and found that what it all comes down to is I'm a double gun guy.

It's made well, the wood is pretty, lots of factory chokes available, it's very lightweight, and it handles well. I wouldn't give up a vintage A5 to get a new one, but I wouldn't hesitate to own both if autoloaders were my thing.

nj gap,

It is very hard to beat a double gun with DT in the Grouse woods, the A5 is a great Pheasant gun however!

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Joined: 24 Mar 2016 Posts: 72 Location: Louisiana

I love doubles also. I just have to really concentrate on my fundementals to shoot them ok. The hump backs just feel natural to me. I concentrate on the bird not the gun if that makes sense.

Joined: 04 Oct 2015 Posts: 280 Location: Clemson

I have several swt 16's from the 1950's and I like everything about these guns. I have handled and shot a friends "new swt 16" and it is light and shoots perfectly fine. The new gun does not compare to the old guns in looks or quality in my opinion. IF I was going to spend between $1200-$1400, I would be looking for a sweet sixteen from 1953-1961, and would not consider the new gun. I like old guns, old dogs, and old friends...

Joined: 26 Apr 2016 Posts: 369 Location: Vermont

Shot these yesterday at a beaver pond with the A5 and Kent 5 Bismuth. They are going on the grill shortly. I have the new A5 and my original Auto 5 like them both . [URL=https://www.jpgbox.com/page/61535_600x400/]

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Guest

There's a whole lot to like about both the old and new ones.

Joined: 14 Feb 2017 Posts: 401

I have both. Sometimes I shoot the old one, sometimes I shoot the new one. Sometimes I shoot a side by side. Blessed to have multiple. Shoot whatever the mood or game dictates. Life is too shot to shoot just one shotgun.

Joined: 17 Jul 2019 Posts: 78 Location: Illinois

I had a chance to buy a regular A5 16 recently, and shot some skeet with it. I couldn't get used to the feel of the action cycling. So different than a double. I haven't shot the new ones yet though. I imagine they are much smoother.

Member Joined: 09 Jan 2013 Posts: 2168 Location: Florida

I several of the old ones and a new one and like them both also . I shoot both equally well too.

Member Joined: 30 Nov 2011 Posts: 1696 Location: Minnesota

Joined: 04 Oct 2015 Posts: 280 Location: Clemson

Sweetand not16, 3 reasons: 1953 starts the speed load feature, rust blued, reddish wood. I own a 1952 that is an excellent gun, but no speed load. I also own a 1965 and the blond wood and the receiver finish is okay but not as desirable TO ME. I just think thoses years are the"sweet spot" for sweet 16s. Maybe '62 and '63 as well...

Joined: 21 Mar 2019 Posts: 523 Location: Texas

Beagleman: You could always add speed load. Nice feature.