16ga.com ~ View topic

Guest

Charlie, I'd be careful believing anything from Randy Wakeman. Not exactly a shotgun guru.

Joined: 18 Jun 2014 Posts: 312 Location: Western Wisconsin

I'm in full agreement with Dave; just reading Wakeman's most recent review/rant on the new sweet sixteen calls his credibility into question for me when he beginnings talking about constriction and choke designations. According tho Randy, .011 is way off for modified in a 16ga... I can't wait for the new sweet! I talked to a guy at our Scheels who handled one at the SHOT show; he also has one on preorder through the store. Still looking forward to this gun a lot despite Wakeman's opinion.

Joined: 28 Aug 2014 Posts: 924 Location: Eastern Tennessee

Please remember I worked in politics in one of my past lives for about a decade. I learned that nearly everyone has personal biases and investors that influence their positions. Be it reporters, scientists, teachers, unionists, lawyers, or government officials. Sadly, honesty is a element of truth, and truth is determined by our beliefs and perspectives.

I'm sure we could find reviews talking about how bad M31, m12, or M21 are if built today. I personally dislike M37 and Mossy 500, does that make them bad, no, and Randy is no different. I value his effort to give an opinion on products, if you read his comments on the 12 gauge version I think you would not be surprised by his disdain for the factory chokes sold by Browning under the DS destination. This is a non issue for me as I typically replace all my choke with after markets anyway.

The trigger pull issue was also addressed in his 12 gauge review. I've not really ever had an issue with any triggers so I will be curious to see for myself. He also hates all middle beads on barrels so I only laughed at that.

Look at his positive comments - light weight and super well balanced. Long term good elements!

"lightweight and super well-balanced" are two words of the pundits representing an evaluation apart from the world and conditions where the guns will often be used.
Add in the inevitable lures of any "new" gun and one finds Mr. Wakeman's revews and opinions well worth their cost.

While that imitation sweet 16 offers nothing of interest to me, I might consider one just for the possibility of DS chokes....and I hate choke tubes.
Be nice to swat a 'cock with a worthless choke tube.

Joined: 28 Aug 2014 Posts: 924 Location: Eastern Tennessee

The only take aways I had from his 'part one' was that the trigger might be heavy, the balance is likely good, and the advertised weight is pretty close to correct.

Guest

I'll pay attention to Black Belt's review. Smile

Joined: 18 Jun 2014 Posts: 312 Location: Western Wisconsin

I completely understand and agree that all of us have opinions. My concern with Mr. Wakeman's "review" is that he is accepted as an expert by many who read his opinions as being some sort of hard and fast facts. It has become increasingly obvious throughout the years that Randy is a tool of the companies that advertise on his website (just like Charlie called it in his post). I rather consider the impressions on someone like Larry Brown who is, self admittedly, not an auto guy but will give opinions that are substantiated in fact. It's too bad Browning wasted one of these new guns on Randy is read of sending it to a dealer so someone who would appreciate it could give it a try.

Any gun review is akin to political polls: BS.

Dale

Joined: 28 Aug 2014 Posts: 924 Location: Eastern Tennessee

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=433088&p=3625815#p3625815

Poor Randy, suffering from a closet case of 16 gauge love. His link included a video and part 2 of his review.

For those not computer skilled part 2 additions:

Speed load is better than 12 ga model
Seems well made
Pad seems to handle recoil well
More on good balance of gun with nice video on it
Better understanding of Randy's belief on trigger pull (roughly 6 pounds on gun)
Continued explanation of his issue with chokes
His continued issue with factory limits on ammunition options

Member Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 129 Location: Alabama

I've seen enough of his 'reviews' that contained as many inaccuracies as a Hollywood shootout, to pretty much consider he's at least 50% wrong, 100% of the time. It does leave one to wonder if he got into this gig by writing and shooting about it, instead of shooting and later writing about it.

Joined: 18 Jun 2014 Posts: 312 Location: Western Wisconsin

I agree completely, ALMODUX. A grain of salt is required with any review but his tend to be driven by whoever is paying for space on his website. Randy should have stuck to,doing card tricks in Vegas lounges...

Joined: 28 Aug 2014 Posts: 924 Location: Eastern Tennessee

Just of note, there is a roughly 2 page write up on the gun in this month's pheasants forever magazine.

Guest

Great! Just got my issue.

Like most articles review doesn't really say much IMO.

Guest

It sure doesn't.