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Member Joined: 26 Aug 2004 Posts: 120 Location: FL

A friend of mine recently acquired a nice sweet 16 from his uncles estate.
It has a 26 in. vent rib barrel, cylinder choke. (***)
What would you use that barrel for?
Buckshot, slug or could you use it say for skeet or preserve quail where the shots would be close?
Just curious, but I would think the pattern would only be effective say out to 20 yards or so.
I told him to put up a pattern board and test it because I've always heard the browning fixed chokes were tighter than they said.

From http://www.faqfarm.com/Q/What_are_the_various_choke_markings_for_Browning_shotguns

The older brownings use an asterisk (*) or a set of them to determine the choke of the barrel. (one) * is Full, (Two) ** is Modified, and (three) *** is improved cylinder. This marking is usually located on the side of the barrel along the same line as the mfg's name.

Looks like it's IC which should be about perfect for an all-around upland gun.

Member Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Posts: 398 Location: S Fl

Sorry Drew, but that web site is full of it.
Browning marks are: * full, ** mod, **- IC, *** Cyl.

You should know better than to believe anything you read on the internet! Smile

Pete

Almost forgot: *- IM, **$ skeet.

Member Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Posts: 781

It's a perfect gun for all eastern upland game. It might be a little open for late season pheasants in S. Dakota or other far flushing western species. It will pound birds up to about 35 yards. After that the pattern will start ot open up a bit.

You can overcome that somewhat by avoiding cheap promo loads, they are filled with soft shot and shoot looser patterns as a result.

Jeff

Pete is correct, from ANOTHER site:

Here are the Browning choke markings: * =Full.*- = Imp. Mod.,** = Mod.,**- = Imp.Cly., **$ = Skeet and *** = Cly.

BUT the Sweet Sixteen was introduced in 37' and is it possible the choke marking was changed sometime thereafter?

Member Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 665 Location: Louisiana

Justchris: Now that you have all this information regrding choke constriction, let me respectfully suggest that you pattern that barrell to decide what it may be useful for. Choke markings are often at variance with actual barrel performance and various shell/wad combinations can affect patterns as well. A little 'homework' will likely be fun and rewarding.

Member Joined: 26 Aug 2004 Posts: 120 Location: FL

Thanks guys for the input, having a sweet 16 myself i had done my home work and knew that the *** markings meant it was a Cylinder choke.
I just wasn't familiar with it and was curious as to the general range.
That's why I suggested that he pattern it to find out for sure.
Jeff brought up a good point about the cheap promo loads, I'll pass that on to my friend.

Dove seasons only a couple of weeks away!