16ga.com ~ View topic - New Sweet 16

Joined: 02 Jul 2006 Posts: 55 Location: Northern Nevada

I've bee seriously thinking about purchasing a new Browning Sweet 16 when they are available for chukar hunting here in Nevada and the West, as well as other upland game. I was planning on getting a 26" barrel, if for nothing else than it's 2" shorter and I guess I like shorter guns because they are quicker handling (or so it seems). However, my local gun shop has a new 28" Sweet 16 that has very nice wood, so I'm thinking about getting it. It seems most here are looking for the 26" barreled gun - why is that? What are the reasons you'd rather have the 26" gun instead of the 28" version (or vise versa)? Thanks!

If you like the wood on the 28" and it swings well for you, go for it.

That way when they release a 24" straight stock upland you can buy that too!

Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 1460 Location: Eagle, Nebraska

I bought the 28" , have a 26" ordered, probably sell the 28" (going dove hunting in Texas after xmas, needed one now, well not needed, but wanted)

If they made a 22 or 24" barrel I would be all over it.

Maybe I keep the 28" have barrel cut to 24, who knows.

Guest

There's a fine line between fast and too fast. I went with the 28" because I've been on the wrong side that line more than once. The 28" is plenty fast enough for me, and if the longer barrel gives me even an imaginary edge I'll take it. It's under 5 lbs. 14 oz., and that's REALLY light for me. Too early to know for sure, but I don't think the old 26" rule for an upland repeater is going to necessarily hold true for the A5 SW16. Not for me anyway. That said, if I hunted strictly in the brush I might have went with the 26" barrel. Probably not though. I've been burned too often by shorter and faster.

I have an older a-5 with 24 inch and I/C choke that I love for skeet. previous owner loved it for rabbits.

Member Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 1257 Location: Nebraska

Guest

Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 1460 Location: Eagle, Nebraska

Put an original 22" browning barrel on my old Belgian sweet 16, I like it.

Member Joined: 09 Jan 2013 Posts: 2168 Location: Florida

I would think (hope ) that Browning will have extra barrels from sale sometime in the near future .

Member Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Posts: 989 Location: Las Vegas

Member Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 425 Location: Maine

I'm actually curious if there's any magazine cap and buttstock weights that will fit, so I can shoot clays. I'll be getting 28" Smile

Joined: 01 Oct 2007 Posts: 962 Location: Minnesota

I likely will buy one but want to handle it first.
I personally prefer 26" barrels on semi auto shotguns.

Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Posts: 53

My 28" A5 Sweet 16 is under 6 lbs and it is not nose-heavy at all. I don't see a downside to the long barrel on an all-around gun.

Unless you are exclusively shooting forest grouse or woodcock, the 28" should be fine.

If they come out with an oil finish version with a straight stock, I'll be happy to get a shorter barrel on a second gun. For now, I'll shoot the 28" gun with no regrets for my choice.

Unless your using it only in close cover the 28 is the way to go. The longer sighting plane helps me with longer shots. Just my opinion and I could be wrong.

Joined: 16 Feb 2007 Posts: 181 Location: Great White North

My initial plan was to buy a 26", but once I realized the gun will be pretty much a clay shooter and maybe seeing the field once a year, I went with the 28". Should make it a mighty fine 5-stand gun.