A5 16gauge

My A5 16 gauge was made in 1955 I believe. It came with a modified choke. Great wood and in mint condition. I hunt most of the time with a Benelli UL but I love that 16 gauge.
 
Goosemaster said:
You never leave an old browning at home . 👎
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I only bring it when I'm hunting with it. I can't shoot steel shot in it and a lot of the public land I hunt requires non toxic shot but I finally bought a case of Bismuth for it, so I can hunt with it more often.
 
Mosby said:
I only bring it when I'm hunting with it. I can't shoot steel shot in it and a lot of the public land I hunt requires non toxic shot but I finally bought a case of Bismuth for it, so I can hunt with it more often.
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You can get a lead waver.
 
Goosemaster said:
The sweet 16 made in the 50s are way better than the modern ones.
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I have both and at my age, the new sweet sixteen fit me better and lot lighter to carry all day in the field. I did have some jams but I found that it likes 11/8 oz and 1oz shells. No issues since using those loads. The old model is a work horse solid, dependable and better looking but I only use it if I will be blocking for some one. I usually hunt behind my dogs with no more than 4 hunters. Prefer it that way.
 
Hunthemup said:
I have both and at my age, the new sweet sixteen fit me better and lot lighter to carry all day in the field. I did have some jams but I found that it likes 11/8 oz and 1oz shells. No issues since using those loads. The old model is a work horse solid, dependable and better looking but I only use it if I will be blocking for some one. I usually hunt behind my dogs with no more than 4 hunters. Prefer it that way.
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No.The old ones are better guns.
 
I like both new and old but ultimately prefer those I shoot well. Some guns have a certain "feel" that I can't explain but I know it when I pick a gun up. As I get older, the weight of the gun has become more of an important consideration and that's why my last two gun purchases were new guns I bought based on weight. A Benelli 12 UL and a CZ O/U 20 gauge. Lightweight shotguns are easier for me to carry all day when I'm hunting large sections....so it isn't always about looks or patina.

All that said, the nicest shotgun I own is my Belgian made Browning 16 gauge A5 made in 1955. It is a work of art and magic wand all wrapped together. I would never consider trading it for a new 16 gauge A5. They are not comparable to me in terms of wood, craftsmanship, quality or feel....at least compared to the one I own. I smile every time I pull that gun out of its case.
 
I have an old Belgium and a new sweet 16 as well. I believe the old ones are more solid and probably better crafted but this new shoots smooth and is so light compared to the old one it's hard to go back to carrying the old one all day. The other benefit I've seen so far is I hunted 5 days of single digits and teens and never had one cycling issue. No matter how clean I keep my old model it still throws a fit in really cold weather sometimes. But something about the old guns in your hand just feels better, maybe the wood or the old real steel, I don't know, but it does.
 
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Mosby said:
I like both new and old but ultimately prefer those I shoot well. Some guns have a certain "feel" that I can't explain but I know it when I pick a gun up. As I get older, the weight of the gun has become more of an important consideration and that's why my last two gun purchases were new guns I bought based on weight. A Benelli 12 UL and a CZ O/U 20 gauge. Lightweight shotguns are easier for me to carry all day when I'm hunting large sections....so it isn't always about looks or patina.

All that said, the nicest shotgun I own is my Belgian made Browning 16 gauge A5 made in 1955. It is a work of art and magic wand all wrapped together. I would never consider trading it for a new 16 gauge A5. They are not comparable to me in terms of wood, craftsmanship, quality or feel....at least compared to the one I own. I smile every time I pull that gun out of its case.
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Yeah I own 2 brownings made in the 50s,great guns.
 
Hunthemup said:
I have both and at my age, the new sweet sixteen fit me better and lot lighter to carry all day in the field. I did have some jams but I found that it likes 11/8 oz and 1oz shells. No issues since using those loads. The old model is a work horse solid, dependable and better looking but I only use it if I will be blocking for some one. I usually hunt behind my dogs with no more than 4 hunters. Prefer it that way.
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Did you add any shims to change the stock length or cast?
 
Mosby said:
I like both new and old but ultimately prefer those I shoot well. Some guns have a certain "feel" that I can't explain but I know it when I pick a gun up. As I get older, the weight of the gun has become more of an important consideration and that's why my last two gun purchases were new guns I bought based on weight. A Benelli 12 UL and a CZ O/U 20 gauge. Lightweight shotguns are easier for me to carry all day when I'm hunting large sections....so it isn't always about looks or patina.

All that said, the nicest shotgun I own is my Belgian made Browning 16 gauge A5 made in 1955. It is a work of art and magic wand all wrapped together. I would never consider trading it for a new 16 gauge A5. They are not comparable to me in terms of wood, craftsmanship, quality or feel....at least compared to the one I own. I smile every time I pull that gun out of its case.
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That’s how I feel about my 1969 Light 12 and my son’s 1954-55 Light 12. Just works of art. But I’ll hunt more with my modern sweet 16. Only due to weight. But I’m looking forward to going on a hunt with my son where we both use our light 12s to get some birds.
 
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