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mckinley
PostPosted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 5:42 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Posts: 21
Location: MI

can anyone tell me how to distinguish the difference between a Browning Sweet 16ga and a regular 16ga barrel? I have one but do not know which it is for. It will fit on both receivers. thanks
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hoashooter
PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 1:30 pm  Reply with quote
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Joined: 08 Nov 2005
Posts: 3436
Location: Illinois

Heck I'll show my ignorance.I'm not really sure about the recievers even being different other than Sweet 16 on the reciever-no clue Embarassed Question
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clayflingythingy
PostPosted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 7:59 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 311

I believe the barrel ring on the Sweet 16 has holes drilled in it. The receiver has internal cuts to lighten the receiver. Both of these statements are based on my (perhaps faulty) memory.
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offhand35
PostPosted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 4:46 pm  Reply with quote
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Joined: 04 Feb 2005
Posts: 191
Location: Western Connecticut

The Sweet 16 was introduced in 1937. The serial # alone will not tell you if your gun is a Sweet 16 or a standard model.
There are 4 distinguishing characteristics [5 if you count the actual weight which was rated at 6 3/4 #. Note that with a VR or matte rib bbl this will be higher..though the Sw16 ribs are narrower than on std models.]:
1. gold plated trigger and safety
2. 3 holes bored in the barrel ring.
3. additional milling of material from the receiver
4. additional milling away of wood from the buttstock under the butt plate.

Reference: "BROWNING AUTO-5 SHOTGUNS, THE BELGIAN FN PRODUCTION", by H.M. Shirley Jr., Anthony Vanderlinden, pg. 153

I hope this helps you out!
One of my 65mm Auto-5 's has a mismatched Sweet 16 IC bbl on it. I have not fired this one yet, I wonder if the recoil is slightly greater due to the lighter wt.....
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offhand35
PostPosted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 4:52 pm  Reply with quote
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Joined: 04 Feb 2005
Posts: 191
Location: Western Connecticut

Aha! More info.....
And this is why there can be confusion or questions.....

"'Sweet Sixteen' was not engraved on the left side of the receiver until 1948 and 1949 production, but remained to the end of FN production."

again, ref. Shirley/Vanderlinden, pg 154.
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mckinley
PostPosted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 5:30 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Posts: 21
Location: MI

Thanks for all of your help. I called Browning today and spoke to a historian on this subject. He stated that a true sweet 16 barrel will have 3 holes drilled in the barrel lug as mentioned above. That is the only difference. This was done for the weight issue(lighter). He also told me that the 16ga barrels are interchangeable between the 2 receivers and will function properly. So....if you are looking fro a true Sweet 16...check the barrel also....thanks for your input
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