16ga.com ~ View topic

Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 1537 Location: Western WA

Being that prices are running away faster than my budget, my visions of filling the gun safe with Blasers and Kolers have faded away. So I’m going all in with 16 ga for skeet and clays. I have a 12ga 725 with which I score well, but honestly, I hate shooting the darn thing. Feels like a telephone pole.

Given that there won’t likely be a 16 ga 825, it looks like it will be the 525 sporting or the Rizzini Comp 16 for me. Anyone here have opinions on the 16 ga 525 Sporting?

TIA
B.

The 525 is a great gun for clay sports. I have a 32 in barrel model. Very nice gun!

Joined: 09 Dec 2012 Posts: 941

are you looking at the one I posted a link to ?

I really like the 525 12 and 20 that I bought. Seeing the 16 is built on a slightly (ever so slightly) 20 gauge frame, it should be equally as good.

The 20 felt like a magic wand when I held it, I didn't need another gun, but it kept calling my name.

here is an old post here on the forum about 525 16's

http://www.16ga.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19641&sid=d0846f9308c4fa5b0687822eba748ad9

Joined: 09 Dec 2012 Posts: 941

If you get a Browning, I bought choke tubes from these folks

https://premiumselectsupplies.com/

I actually drove to Columbus to meet them and see who I was buying from (over 200 mile round trip). They were nice folks and have good prices.

I purchased some Midas Grade tubes for my Citori 16's and 12 ga guns

https://premiumselectsupplies.com/products/browning-midas-grade-extended-black-choke-tubes

Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 1537 Location: Western WA

DR I believe your post referenced a 525 Field model, the difference between it and the Sporter Model being somewhat unclear to me.

Thanks
B.

Joined: 09 Dec 2012 Posts: 941

Okay.

I was wondering if you were looking at the one I posted or have a handle on another one for sale that is not out on the web. (I like to see what is out there, so I have searches set up and can run through the guns I look at really quick)

I have not seen a 525 16ga Sporting for sale for a long time.

From what I now see after research, the sporting has a ventilated mid-rib and ported 30" or 32" barrels. Also there were not that many made. I have only seen about 2 or 3 of those surface in a couple years now that I can really differentiate between the models.

The other difference is price, at least $2000.00. Here is an old post about one that was for sale back in 2023.

Also below is a picture that I swiped from the web for one that sold sometime in the past. The GunsInternational listing doesn't have a date that I see.

http://www.16ga.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=24946&sid=5bd24a3895e1e17ffdd4e3b822bdc581

[URL=https://www.jpgbox.com/page/75043_600x400/]

[/URL]

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/shotguns/browning-shotguns---citori/browning-citori-525-sporting-16-ga-anib-.cfm?gun_id=101128982

From another post I found (corroborated by multiple posts across the web)

Joined: 09 Mar 2016 Posts: 790 Location: Mn.

I had a Rizzini Comp 16 with 30 in barrels. It shot good ,but I like 32 in barrels. If I ever find a Rizzini Comp 16 with 32 in barrels I will buy it quick if price is fair.

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 2180

Unfortunately, The Rizzini Comp 16 has been discontinued. That comes right from Rizzini USA, last week. I was ready to buy one new, but it looks like a used one now.

I am not a big fan of used anything, but we will see.

Joined: 09 Dec 2012 Posts: 941

There was a guy over on shotgun world that (last year) stated he had a 525 16 ga sporting with 30" barrels. I reached out to him to see if he still has it.

It seems like certain configurations of the 16's might be starting to dry up again, so it might be wise to get one while you can unless a person is will to wait until if and when another pops up and then you will be in competition with others who were waiting to get one.

That 525 I linked to might become tempting

Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 1537 Location: Western WA

DR, the nice GI 525 is sold.

B.

Joined: 09 Dec 2012 Posts: 941

Member Joined: 13 Jan 2008 Posts: 67 Location: Michigan

I have a very lightly used 32" 16 ga. 525 Sporting and just by coincidence, I recently delivered it to a great local restoration shop who is going to sell it for me on consignment. He is supposed to have it listed on Gunbroker tomorrow if anyone is interested. I've heard a number of different stories about these being rare and was told that Browning made these in a special run of 50 each in 30 and 32"

I don't shoot enough 16 ga. anymore to justify hanging on to this beauty besides the 4 others are always jealous.

Joined: 09 Dec 2012 Posts: 941