Sweet Sixteen Good Enough To Learn From?

kellzey · **Joined:** Tue Dec 31, 2002 6:47 pm **Posts:** 4

I just inherited my great grandfather's 1929 Belgian-made Browning Sweet Sixteen. My neighbor has offered to take me to the local gun club to learn to shoot trap and skeet. Will the sixteen be a good starter gun until I can learn whether or not I like the sport and before I invest money in a new gun? I've purchased some 16-gauge Winchester Super-X 1oz load size-8 game loads. That's about all I could get my hands on? Will that work? Thanks! Karl

dks · **Joined:** Sat Aug 31, 2002 7:28 am **Posts:** 389

i would not think any 73 year old gu would stand up to the constant shooting of a skeet field.. Its not how well you shoot , its how much noise your gun makes

Sporting Clays Girl · **Joined:** Sun Aug 11, 2002 3:13 pm **Posts:** 276

holy shizzzznickel 1929! wow maybe you should borrow someone's gun and keep good care of that one. might be worth something Fantastic!! Browning, The Best there is because second best is well...second best.

MarlandS · **Joined:** Sat Mar 30, 2002 3:53 pm **Posts:** 8661

Have that gun checked for correct chamber size the older guns were 2 9/16 inch .

kellzey · **Joined:** Tue Dec 31, 2002 6:47 pm **Posts:** 4

I see 2 3/4 IN stamped into the barrel, so I should be fine. Karl

MTRoss · **Joined:** Wed Jan 01, 2003 12:49 pm **Posts:** 97

I shoot my Sweet Sixteen every year and it performes flawlessly. My Auto-5 Light in 12 ga was made in the '30s and it is my trap gun (32" full choke barrel). Use it well. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START

--><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=";)"> Mike Ross Life Member, NAHC Member, National Rifle Association Member, Meeker Co. Historical Society

Rick618 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 01, 2003 8:05 pm

The gun shouldn't have any problems holding up, they are made to last, one of the reasons that you still see them around. However, it would be a good idea to have a gunsmith give it a once over to check the springs, seals, sears, etc for any excessive wear. Better to find out ahead of time rather than in the middle of a round. THE problem is the one that you have already encountered. Lack of shells. 16ga are available in but limited both in quantity and selection and are generally more expensive than either 12 or 20. So, the extra cost of shells will be something you want to consider. If you have the interest, reloading is a great hobby and can help cut the cost of the shells considerably. One of the site sponsors Cheaper Than Dirt should have some deals on shells. <a href="http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/specials.html?AID=5811357&PID=35119">www.cheaperthandirt.com/s...&PID=35119</a> There is a fine line between a hobby and insanity.

kellzey · **Joined:** Tue Dec 31, 2002 6:47 pm **Posts:** 4

Wally World seems to have a few choices in 16-gauge ammunition and they run about $4+ per box. I went to a spam store and they wanted $11.99 for the same box of shells! Sheez!

kellzey · **Joined:** Tue Dec 31, 2002 6:47 pm **Posts:** 4

Did my first trap shoot outing today. I hit my first two birds on the wobble and averaged about 50%. I also did 50% on two rounds of the 5-stand. I felt pretty good since this was the first time I had ever really shot a gun before. Okay, I shot the sixteen gauge once 20 years ago when I was 12 years old!

Sweet Sixteen Good Enough To Learn From?

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