Sweet 16 - SOLID RIB???

J

JimG

Well-known member
I saw one in a shop today. Metal looks good, except for the forend cap that looked like it had channel locks applied to it
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. but it also needs new wood desperately. Looks like around 2-3" was hacked off and beat up pretty good. Tag was $400. I think it's a MOD, had ** on the barrel??? With some new wood and a forend cap it would be a nice shooter for our stocked pheasants. Sound like an ok price? Some quick research online shows that I should be able to find some new wood for $325ish, so now we're getting up there in price, but I see what all original ones go for....... I just don't recall ever seeing one with a solid rib though, either a VR or no rib, so it's kind of unique. I am suspicious of the nice metal with the crap wood, could be a reblue. There was a 16ga model 12 on the rack as well, also with really nice metal but the stock looked like it had several layers of polyurethane globbed onto it.

What do you Browning aficionados think?

Jim
 
Copied here for you, too....The solid rib is not quite as common, and I do have one bbl that is a solid rib. It was more common in the earlier A5s, before the vent rib became as popular or standard...you either had no rib or ribbed (which was solid). It's not a bad price for a sweet, but it will take some work, from what you say. However, if appearances aren't important, you could have a wood extension grafted on and just refinish what you have for considerably less. Generally, the Solid rib bbl feels better on the standard sixteen, while the no-rib/plain feels better on a Sweet...to me. It's a balance/weight thing, I guess. Anyhoo, if you want it, I can't tell you to pass it up, cuz I don't think any sweet is a bad deal, within reason. I'm redoing wood for one right now and searching for a plain bbl for another...along with a plain 2 9/16" chambered A5 16ga bbl for my older 16 right now. I've got a few projects going revolving around A5s, constantly.
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First repeater I ever had was a sweet sixteen with a solid rib. Biggest problem was that it was chambered for 2 9/16" shells and you couldn't find those in Murfreesboro NC in the 60's and it would fire but jam with 2 3/4 " shells. The gun had been liberated during WWII and Dad had bought from a former GI and given it to me. Fortunately we found a Browning collector who wanted the gun and were able to get the investment back. My younger brother has a 12 ga. with a solid rib and it is a very pretty gun.

Can't imagine the gun you described has any choke at all left if it has had several inches sawed off the barrell. That might be fine for ducks over decoys or flushing quail. Basically what you have described is a "shooter" not a collector's piece. To that end you might be better served with a better (newer) gun.

Thanks for the post,
Harry
 
First repeater I ever had was a sweet sixteen with a solid rib. Biggest problem was that it was chambered for 2 9/16" shells and you couldn't find those in Murfreesboro NC in the 60's and it would fire but jam with 2 3/4 " shells. The gun had been liberated during WWII and Dad had bought from a former GI and given it to me. Fortunately we found a Browning collector who wanted the gun and were able to get the investment back. My younger brother has a 12 ga. with a solid rib and it is a very pretty gun.

Can't imagine the gun you described has any choke at all left if it has had several inches sawed off the barrell. That might be fine for ducks over decoys or flushing quail. Basically what you have described is a "shooter" not a collector's piece. To that end you might be better served with a better (newer) gun.

Thanks for the post,
Harry
Click to expand...


hacked off stock, not barrel from my read.

T
 
I'm not really really into Brownings, but I am into 16s. Does it actually say "Sweet 16" or "Sweet Sixteen" on the receiver? The "sweet" is lighter than a standard 16. I'm thinking sweet's would have been VR or PB, no solid ribs.

If the metal looks too good to be true, esp based on the wood, be very suspicious of a reblue. If you just want something to shoot, this gun might work for you, but it definitely doesn't sound to me like the price is low enough to justify spending a bunch of money to make it look good. Have you priced mag caps? They might scare you - I'm not sure what they are going for. You could easily have $400 in the wood and cap.

From your description, it isn't really a bargain any way I look at it, but my standards on used guns are pretty tight - I look for a good gun and a good price - no projects unless they are super cheap and I have a lead on good deals for the parts/labor.

As for A5 16s w/ solid ribs, they are definitely available. You may find a nice one tomorrow, or you may look for a while - that's the fun - just like hunting.

For more and better info on 16ga Brownings and other 16's check out www.16ga.com That's the other board I frequent.

Good luck whatever you decide!

NR
 
Stock was cut down, not the barrel.

Says Sweet Sixteen on the receiver

Says 2-3/4" on the barrel

Has the crossbolt safety

I'm gonna guess that it is a reblue. 50yo gun with metal this nice wouldn't have this wood on it or the buggered forend cap.

I'll have to think about this some, as we lost an income on Friday, so I kinda have to conserve the bucks for a bit. With some new wood on it though, it would be a nice mate to my VR IC gun that my dad bought new in the 60's.
 
My Bad,
you seem to be right as to the way the post was written Tod. Would hate to try to find a replacement stock for a sixteen ga. Browning, Sweet Sixteen or standard one for that matter. Regardless, the gun is at best a "shooter" and you can get a much more servicable gun for that kind of money that can be used right away. As much as some folks like pissing matches, i'm really not trying to start one Tod.
JMO,
Harry
 
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