Sweet Sixteen

**harleyrider** · October 19, 2018, 20:58

Thought I’d throw this link to a recent post I made in the FN forum since it’s also appropriate here.

http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showt...=Sweet+sixteen

HR

**VALMET** · October 28, 2018, 07:22

That is a fantastic A5- I hadn’t seen that thread. I have a 16 Ga A5 but it is a 1946-47 mfg so not technically a “sweet sixteen,” I don’t believe. It’s a Browning gun but actually mfg’d by Remington (it’s not a Model 11) since the FN factory wasn’t exactly cranking out lots of commercial guns immediately after the war.

My great grandfather bought it for my grandfather when he returned from Europe after the war. I still have the receipt. He bought a 16 Ga for my grandfather and a 20 Ga for his brother (that one is still in the family also). I had it professionally restored and use it occasionally on a dove hunt. Lovely old shotguns those A5s.

**imacoonass01** · October 28, 2018, 07:38

Have you shot it yet?

**andresere** · November 17, 2018, 15:26

Not an Auto 5, but I've got a 16 gauge Ithaca Model 37 Featherlight. I buy ammo whenever I find it. Very nice shooter.

grumpy1 · November 19, 2018, 21:52

I love carrying my JC Higgins/ High Standrd 16 gauge out in the field, makes me feeling like dads with me as it was his when he was a teenager.

There’s a couple places close by that carry 16 gauge most all the time at a decent price. The local Walmart has it and usually in January they put it on sale, that’s when I try to pick up some.

wasillashack · November 23, 2018, 20:42

My dad bought me a new Browning Sweet 16 for my 18th birthday, 54 years ago, still in about the same condition as the OP's A5, my favorite quail, dove and squirrel gun. It also made me a 16 gauge lover, I have a Winchester Model 12 in 16 gauge also.

**harleyrider** · December 14, 2018, 22:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by imacoonass01

Have you shot it yet?

Yessir! It shoots, ejects, & chambers the next round just as Mr. Browning intended. And it looks good doing it! 😍

HR

Eyeguy · December 14, 2018, 22:22

What make an A5 Auto a "sweet 16" technically? I have one that my Dad bought for me on my sixteenth in 1973. She was used when I got her and has a nice patina. Haven't looked recently but 16 was hard to find ammo for when I last looked.

**harleyrider** · December 14, 2018, 23:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eyeguy

What make an A5 Auto a "sweet 16" technically? I have one that my Dad bought for me on my sixteenth in 1973. She was used when I got her and has a nice patina. Haven't looked recently but 16 was hard to find ammo for when I last looked.

I think it was probably a marketing tool. But they are pretty sweet!

I never understood the prejudice against the 16 gauge (so called “in-between gauge”). Seems like the perfect universal gauge for a wide variety of game species, especially if you have only one shotgun.

HR

wasillashack · December 15, 2018, 20:32

I believe the Sweet 16's had gold plated triggers, a little engraving on the receiver and a vented rib(at last mine does). You are probably correct about the marketing tool aspect.
I haven't bought any 16 gauge ammunition for a while, but I am pretty sure it is still available,Google "16 gauge ammunition for sale" for sources. Good luck!!

grumpy1 · December 16, 2018, 04:16

16 gauge shells is available from several makers, most of it is geared towards upland game hunting as most of the shotguns that are chambered in 16 gauge were made before steel shot was mandatory and therefore aren’t meant to have steel shot used in them.

It seems like the “Sweet 16” was first available post WWII up until about 1980 or so. The only way I’ve been able to tell if one was a “Sweet 16” was t was marked so on the receiver.

October 19, 2018, 20:58	#1
harleyrider Curio & Relic Gold Contributor FALaholic #: 55746 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 2,186	Sweet Sixteen Thought I’d throw this link to a recent post I made in the FN forum since it’s also appropriate here. http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showt...=Sweet+sixteen HR __________________ What the HELL is he building in there?

October 28, 2018, 07:22	#2
VALMET Curio & Relic Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 1826 Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Richmond, Virginia Posts: 3,182	That is a fantastic A5- I hadn’t seen that thread. I have a 16 Ga A5 but it is a 1946-47 mfg so not technically a “sweet sixteen,” I don’t believe. It’s a Browning gun but actually mfg’d by Remington (it’s not a Model 11) since the FN factory wasn’t exactly cranking out lots of commercial guns immediately after the war. My great grandfather bought it for my grandfather when he returned from Europe after the war. I still have the receipt. He bought a 16 Ga for my grandfather and a 20 Ga for his brother (that one is still in the family also). I had it professionally restored and use it occasionally on a dove hunt. Lovely old shotguns those A5s. __________________ "That rifle on the wall of the labourer's cottage or working class flat is a symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." -George Orwell, 1940. "Dammit Smithers this is brain surgery, not rocket science. Now hand me that ice-cream scoop!” -C. Montgomery Burns

October 28, 2018, 07:38	#3
imacoonass01 Curio & Relic Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 80275 Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Vidor, TX Posts: 2,207	Have you shot it yet? __________________ “You may all go to hell and I will go to Texas.” - - Davy Crockett Last edited by imacoonass01; October 28, 2018 at 07:38. Reason: Misspelled word

November 17, 2018, 15:26	#4
andresere Master of Gunnery Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 6598 Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: La Grande, OR Posts: 1,863	Not an Auto 5, but I've got a 16 gauge Ithaca Model 37 Featherlight. I buy ammo whenever I find it. Very nice shooter. __________________ "what the world has always needed is more heretics and less authority." Louis L'Amour

November 23, 2018, 20:42	#6
wasillashack Registered FALaholic #: 43063 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: wasilla, ak Posts: 6	Sweet Sixteen My dad bought me a new Browning Sweet 16 for my 18th birthday, 54 years ago, still in about the same condition as the OP's A5, my favorite quail, dove and squirrel gun. It also made me a 16 gauge lover, I have a Winchester Model 12 in 16 gauge also.

November 19, 2018, 21:52	#5
grumpy1 Registered FALaholic #: 72190 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: ut Posts: 603	I love carrying my JC Higgins/ High Standrd 16 gauge out in the field, makes me feeling like dads with me as it was his when he was a teenager. There’s a couple places close by that carry 16 gauge most all the time at a decent price. The local Walmart has it and usually in January they put it on sale, that’s when I try to pick up some.

December 14, 2018, 22:22	#8
Eyeguy Registered Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 73288 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,473	What make an A5 Auto a "sweet 16" technically? I have one that my Dad bought for me on my sixteenth in 1973. She was used when I got her and has a nice patina. Haven't looked recently but 16 was hard to find ammo for when I last looked.

December 15, 2018, 20:32	#10
wasillashack Registered FALaholic #: 43063 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: wasilla, ak Posts: 6	I believe the Sweet 16's had gold plated triggers, a little engraving on the receiver and a vented rib(at last mine does). You are probably correct about the marketing tool aspect. I haven't bought any 16 gauge ammunition for a while, but I am pretty sure it is still available,Google "16 gauge ammunition for sale" for sources. Good luck!!

December 16, 2018, 04:16	#11
grumpy1 Registered FALaholic #: 72190 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: ut Posts: 603	16 gauge shells is available from several makers, most of it is geared towards upland game hunting as most of the shotguns that are chambered in 16 gauge were made before steel shot was mandatory and therefore aren’t meant to have steel shot used in them. It seems like the “Sweet 16” was first available post WWII up until about 1980 or so. The only way I’ve been able to tell if one was a “Sweet 16” was t was marked so on the receiver.

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