Shotgun Forum banner

16 gauge O/U manufacturers

15K views 38 replies 24 participants last post by  df  
#1 ·
Who all makes a 16 gauge O/U? I've seen:

DeHaan (any reviews on these???)
Browning (not currently, but some NIBs and used ones floating around).
FAIR
Merkel

Any others that are currently making them?

Edit (since reviving this thread):

Fausti (under their own name and Barrett)
B Rizzini
Frianchi Instinct
 
#2 ·
De Haan is not a manufacturer, but an importer. They import Huglu shotguns. CZ is a much bigger importer for Huglu, and they would also carry the 16 ga O/U's. Nice guns, btw.

The Brownings have a reputation for having FTF's in the bottom barrel.

FAIR and Merkel also make nice guns; Merkel's would be of a higher quality (IMHO), and certainly cost more.
 
#3 ·
BPGuy said:
The Brownings have a reputation for having FTF's in the bottom barrel.
I'll certainly not dispute that, But I'd like to try to qualify it some, as I've seen a number (a large...several) of Citori field guns (which the occasional runs of 16ga guns are) have the trouble with the second barrel or sometimes the lower barrel firing...failing to reset trigger for the second barrel...however it is put....it is a far from unknown problem.

Of the number that were fixed locally by a quite good gun mechanic fellow that runs a shop here....He told me that he thinks it's a minor design flaw in the inertia weight/barrel selector design...."it seems to capture itself" is his description ....a problem he fixes in about ten minutes ...
But he states that he finds the problem is across the entire line of Citori field guns regardless of gauge, and while it does occur in the target guns, it is much less frequent......
Of the ones I know he has fixed, the initial problem often happens around the 1500-2200 round count, but after his fix, myself and several friends that have had it done often have gone on to the 10,000 round count without a recurrence.
Another several owners have sent the gun back to Browning with the problem being fixed, but entailing a six to ten week round trip.....some guns had still been under warranty and the work was done free, while others out of warranty were charged for the work ....apparently the time of turnaround bore no relation to in warranty or no ...

My gun (a 20ga Lightning) had the exact same problem at about 2000 rounds and was fixed by the mechanic of which I speak, overnight for $20 two years and 3000 rounds ago.......Bottom line for me is, I'd not avoid Browning 16ga guns nor any Citori for that matter due to the second barrel or other FTF problem like the bottom barrel FTF or a failure to select the second barrel....IMO their SST and its' inertia block are notoriously failure/problem prone....while evidently being rather/just as easily fixed....nearly permanently.....Art
 
#9 ·
Galazan makes a 16 in his namesake line
Peter Hofer
Philip Ollendorf
Hartman and Weiss
Verney Carron
 
#10 ·
I have 28" Grade VI Citoris in 16, 28, and .410; a 28" Grade III in .410; a 28" Grade I in 20 gauge; and previously a 28" Special Sporting Clays Edition. I have never had a problem with any of them over the tens of thousands of rounds I have fired at birds and clays. My 28" 16 gauge isn't what you would think of as "svelte" but I really enjoy shooting it for doves, pigeons, and pheasant tower shoots and mop-ups.
 
#11 ·
I have shot a Grade III 16 gauge 26" Citori Lightning since 1988, mostly on quail and pheasant, and sporting clay fun shoots. Have never encountered a FTF problem, with probably 4-5K rounds through it at this point.
I also own a Grade IV 12 gauge White Lightning, but it has less than 1K rounds through it.
The 16 gauge was a limited issue available through Guns Unlimited at the time. It was furnished with standard Invector chokes. I use Briley extended tubes in LM (under) and IM (over) 90% of the time for upland gunning.
A few years back, Scheel's had a run of them made for exclusive distribution through their stores.
Great quail gun and as effective on pheasant as most 12 gauge with heavier loads. My hunting has been over a brace of exceptional Brittanies over the years, so most shots are less than 30-35 yards.
It carries light and I like the balance.
 
#12 ·
I shoot Beretta, Caesar Guerini and Browning, but have to say Browning makes the best and most durable O/U shotguns of the bunch. Sorry, just my honest 2 cents.

Tell ya' what, if you can find a 16 gauge Browning 525, buy it immediately!!
 
#14 ·
Shot skeet this tuesday evening with a guy who experienced ftf twice in one round with a fairly new browning 20 ga. xs skeet. I also experienced it a couple times over several years with a 20 ga. citori superlight I used to own. Disconcerting when it happens but overall not a big issue.
If I wanted a 16 ga. o/u I'd likely buy a Rizzini first, the Browning second, and then maybe one of the guns from Turkey, if I couldn't get the other two for some reason.
 
#15 ·
Ended up getting a 16 gauge FAIR Jubilee Prestige Tartaruga Gold with 28" barrels. So far I love it though I can't comment on it's reliability yet. I weighed it and it's 6.4 lbs. Beautiful wood. Excellent fit and finish all around. I have Briley skeet and LM chokes on the way.

I've shot it on clays at my house and I'm very pleased

Image


Image
 
#18 ·
I purchased a 16 ga DeHaan from a gentleman over on the 16ga website a couple of years ago. It was like new condition and a good shooting gun. Fixed IC/Mod chokes, but Briley could fix that if it becomes an issue. I like mine.

Image


16 ga DeHaan O-2
 
#19 ·
Riflemeister said:
I purchased a 16 ga DeHaan from a gentleman over on the 16ga website a couple of years ago. It was like new condition and a good shooting gun. Fixed IC/Mod chokes, but Briley could fix that if it becomes an issue. I like mine.

Image


16 ga DeHaan O-2
Looks great! Wish dehaan was still selling guns. I've only heard good things
 
#22 ·
I'm looking for a 16 gauge over/under. I am a Browning fan, but most Browning 16 gauges are overweight for an upland gun. I am not fond of the idea of going to an aluminum receiver to keep the gun under 6.5 pounds.
The FAIR 16 gauge Jubilee Prestige posted earlier in this thread looks like a possible candidate for me. I need to handle one to see how it points for me.
Still looking at this point.
 
#23 ·
saskbooknut said:
I'm looking for a 16 gauge over/under. I am a Browning fan, but most Browning 16 gauges are overweight for an upland gun. I am not fond of the idea of going to an aluminum receiver to keep the gun under 6.5 pounds.
The FAIR 16 gauge Jubilee Prestige posted earlier in this thread looks like a possible candidate for me. I need to handle one to see how it points for me.
Still looking at this point.
That was my problem too--Browning just wasn't for me (I own four Brownings but not a fan of their O/U) but I was unable to handle any other manufacturers. I can tell you this--my FAIR Jubilee I got fits me exactly like my Beretta 686's. Handling one of those (which are everywhere) might give you a good idea (though every gun can be slightly different).

It does feel slightly more weight forward. The fit and finish is on par with the Berettas

Also mine weighs 6.4 lbs on the digital bathroom scale with steel receiver (my 20 686 weighs 6.2 and my 12 weight 7.4 on the same scale).
 
#26 ·
Browning had a special production run this year for the model Citori Feather Superlight in 16 gauge. Unfortunately, the limited production run has already ended, but some dealers still have a few available. I was able to get one last week. It has 28 inch barrels and weighs 6.4 pounds. Very nice gun looking and handling gun. I wanted a 16 gauge as light as my 686s and Citori 20 gauges. I am not concerned about the aluminum receiver. I have the Citori Lighting Feather in 20 gauge with an aluminum receiver that I bought used some 20 years ago and have had no issues with it. Guns with aluminum receivers are intended for hunting use and not high volume target shooting. The 16 gauge I just got will not even be used for high volume dove shooting. Only for pheasants and very limited skeet shooting once a year to warm up for hunting season. Also, since I have several other O/Us I use for hunting, this gun will not see any hard use. Used that way I see no reason why an aluminum receiver gun will not outlast its owner.
As to the FTF issue, as I said I have the 20 gauge Citori and a Citori Sporting Clays model in 12 gauge. Never had a FTF issue with either of them.