doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Browning A5 Sweet Sixteen

I haven't noticed that anyone mentioned that the Belgium A-5s are more- well thought of than the Japanese A-5s. I have heard this mentioned on different occassions. Something else to keep in mind when buying one. I believe the two side by side in identical condition- more people will pick the Belgiums and they will bring a little more money, too.

That's a good point, Jimmy, and absolutely right. I don't know if this is more about quality, age or just snobbery, but most A-5 lovers, myself included, focus on the Belgian guns. Maybe others can shed light on this fact. TT

Dig,
40 lbs for a Dbl 12 is a steal! There are many collectors of that gun too!

It is a fun and unusual gun. Always wanted one when I was a kid.

Jerry
PS I have a plain very early 16 that shoots just fine. Choke a little tight, but can really reach out an touch those high flying doves.

Jap vrs Belgian, I've had both apart many times. The Japanese guns are very well made, no negatives in workmanship at all.

I've weighed a few and found them to weigh more and the 12's do feel more sluggish in the hand.

One source of this is the foreend which is much bigger around, which reduced the breakage issue a bit. The Belgian forend is much more svelt and seems to make the gun feel lighter in the lead hand.

Many of the Jap guns were made with the square knob stocks which I do not care for and of course the really pretty FN buttplate was gone too.

Regarding cycling, if it won't cycle and the rings are set up right it may just need a cleaning. Even an A5 needs to get cleaned once every 50 years or so if you want it to cycle light loads

The breech block spring which goes into the stock gan be full of gummed up oil, as the owners tended to over oil the actions. Most of the ones I've opened up have a ton of gummy lube but were still cycling all but the lightest loads fine.

Jeff

One also has to make sure bbl is original to the gun. I have seen 2 3/4" marked bbls on older frames not modified for the longer shell. When I was doing some smithing a gentleman brought one in for me to look at, he had on "Trial" but wasn't ejecting. The bbl had been moved forward, shiny ring showing forward of receiver, but port unopened & no other mods done. I showed him what it was & what would need to be done to make it right & he decided to "Hunt" for another one. This one also had the safety in front of trigger guard.

Jeff,
I have a 16 ga A 5 made in 1938. Is it a Sweet 16? or just a 16 ga. It weighs 7 1/2 lbs and not marked Sweet 16

Stallones, Based on the weight it is not a Sweet.

They two most obvious indicators are a gold plated trigger and safety and the holes drilled in the barrel ring. After 48 they had the name engraved on the receiver and anyone who can read knows the difference.

2 piper, He got steered inthe right direction but here is another nugget....even with the rest of the mods made to the receiver a barrel originally made for 2 3/4" shells will not work on the early receiver. The distance between the barrel ring and barrel extension is different.

Jeff

What is the going rate for a 98% 50s SweetSixteen.

Mark

Mark they are going for about 1500-1700

When using truly light 12 gauge loads as we think of them today (1150 fps, 7/8 ounce), the friction ring should be at home in a drawer. If you don't like that idea, cut a ring in half which reduces the friction by half, and have the half size rings for two guns. You might want to bevel the edges a bit. It works very well with the loads I prefer.