16 gauge Browning O/U sickness

portsider44 · Post by **portsider44** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 10:11 am

I can't explain it, but I really want one of these. I talked myself out of it last year & endned up buying a HK Silver Lion 12 ga O/U, which I really like. The HK was my first O/U after being Rem 1100/1187 man for some time.

GUn will mainly be used for quail/pheasant. So if you have a 16 gauage tell me how you like it.

QCBirddogs · Post by **QCBirddogs** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 10:43 am

Post,

I dont own one but have shot them on occasion. The only trouble is finding ammo unless you plan to reload.

I have been having good luck with the 28 this year. It has all the velocity of the 20, but there again the ammo is not readily available.

Phil
REO

Gregory · Post by **Gregory** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 11:04 am

Portsider.
I don't have a 16 browning over and under . The one I have is 12 English stocked that I like a lot. So if your question is whether you will be happy with a Browning shot gun,the answer I'm sure will be a yes...
I have a german made sxs that I hunt with on occasion and while I don't like it as much as i do my 12's. I do however plan to dedicate the 16 to strictly hunting grouse. And as far as amo go? yes, you may have a hard time finding amo for it if you find yourself in some out of the way place. What I do is to order a flat (10 boxes) from my favorite sporting goods dealer for less than $ 50.00 and I'm ready to go.Remington makes very good shells for the 16 and the cases can be reloaded. Go for it.

Best,Greg.

Decoy · Post by **Decoy** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 12:37 pm

Hard topic -- I love all the gauges and each one has many diff applications. I have browning O/U in 12 and 28. Dont have a 16 yet but i think they would be a great grouse and dove guage. Maybe a little much for pointed quail -- as phill said the 28 makes a great quail companion (i took a few grouse with it this year too)

portsider44 · Post by **portsider44** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 4:15 pm

I know the ammo can be tricky to get in some places but our Academy store carries it, plus I may just reload them anyways.

dognut · Post by **dognut** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 10:36 am

The 16 gauge i feel is the best bird gun. my dad and granddad have carried one for 23 and 47 years and they wont change at all. the problem is not many places to buy 16 shells, so make sure you take some shells with you when you go hunting. when i was in Germany alot of them carry the 16 and i was told that many carry it all over europe.

SteveB · Post by **SteveB** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 10:55 am

I don't have a 16 ga. double but I do have an old model 37 pump in 16 gauge that I love. You'll be surprised how much factory ammo there is out there. The 16's and 28's are really making a comeback and the ammo manufacturers are taking advantage.
Steve

Quailhunter · Post by **Quailhunter** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 11:39 am

But if you are going to go with an O/U in 16 ga. then why not go with a nicer gun. Go with the B Rizzini or even a FAIR. Either way you are getting more gun for the money IMO.

Peter

ward myers · Post by **ward myers** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 6:48 pm

walmart here carries 16 & 28 gauge
but there like 7.50 a box

portsider44 · Post by **portsider44** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 8:29 am

Quailhunter wrote:But if you are going to go with an O/U in 16 ga. then why not go with a nicer gun. Go with the B Rizzini or even a FAIR. Either way you are getting more gun for the money IMO.

Peter

I really haven't handle either of the two but from what I have seen the B Rizzini 16ga are all fixed chokes & a little pricer then the Brownings.

Thanks for the input, I got more options then I thought.

Quailhunter · Post by **Quailhunter** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 9:49 am

The B Rizzini 16 only comes in fixed chokes and they are pricier but they are worth the money in my opinion. If you want screw in chokes and a gun that is a little bit cheaper go with the FAIR Rizzini. They are built on a true 16 guage frame and are great guns as well. I am sure that the Browning is a well built gun. I prefer the feel of the B Rizzini personally and can get past the choke tube issue as I rarely change the tubes in any of my guns that have them.

AK Hunter · Post by **AK Hunter** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 2:48 pm

Get the Browning 16- you won't regret it.

I grew up listening to my dad lament the fact that 16 ga. ammo was so hard to find that he got rid of his and bought a 12. He was never satisfied. It just didn't handle the same.

Of course, I just thought he was a dinosuar. Why would any real hunter not shoot a 12? My 1100 was a real bird killer.

When I was ready to buy my first double, I wanted someting light and fast, just like they bragged about in the magazines. The 12's all felt too heavy. I bought a Citori 20. Good little gun- light to carry and comes up quick. But it was too light. Good for those close quick shots, but I just didn't get the same follow through on crossing targets. The 3" shells didn't pattern well but the lighter loads just didn't seem to kill pheasants well at longer ranges.

When Browning first made the Citori 16, I bought a Lightning with 28" barrels. This gun was exactly what I had been looking for. Dad was right. Much easier to carry than the 12, but seemed to kill just as well.

When I found out Browning was going to discontinue the 16 Citori, I bought another just to put away in the closet.

Everything seems to come full circle. My own son (who is now 20 years old) has teased me about my 16. Since he was about 13 he thought he was too manly to shoot anything "less" than a 12. Last fall I talked him into trading guns for a day while pheasant hunting. I hate to say it, but he shot it better than I.

Now he wanted one too. I told him too bad. They are not in the catalog any more. Boy was he surprised on his latest birthday when a new in the box Citori 16 came out of my closet with a large ribbon on it. A day he will long remember.

Now I find out Browning will be making another limited run of Citori 16's again this year in a number of configurations. I think I need another- maybe this time a Featherweight with the straight grip, or the Lightning Feather- its light, but should still swing well with 28" barrels!

12 Volt Man · Post by **12 Volt Man** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 2:57 pm

I too feel the need to add a 16 to the fold. I am leaning towards an old classic sxs like an LC Smith or a Parker.

Although CZ is releasing their double guns in 16 guage this summer. I see that as an option too.

portsider44 · Post by **portsider44** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 11:19 am

Well I ended up buying a pair of 16 ealrier this month. After losing 3 shotguns to a break in in Feb of this year. I bought a pair of Verona 16ga, from CDNN.

Since I lost both mine & my 14 yo sons primary hunting guns I needed 2. I couldn't afford to buy 2 brownings but the 2 Verona @ $649 each worked into my budget.

Really like the feel & fit of the guns. My sons is about 1/2 long for him & mine is about a 1/2 short for me. But an new recoil pad will get mine where it needs to be. As for my son hopefully he will grow a little over the summer.

Getting shells is limited but I bought 15 boxes & plan to start reloading after that. Found a 1oz load that I am going to try with Longshot that is 1300 fps @ 8400 psi. Providing it patterns for me should work nicely on Doves (aka gray rockets) and quail. Might use it for pheasant or might go to 1 1/8 oz not sure.

So for now I have 15 boxes of factory ammo to burn through & then I can start working on a load that performs well.

I figure this should help speed up the off season. While I didn't get the gun I really wanted, but seeing my son open up his box more than made up for it.

scotton · Post by **scotton** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 10:54 pm

I recently bought a Verona 16 gauge, and it's now my favorite gun for all field shooting other than waterfowl. It's a beech to get chokes for, but Verona is getting a new US importer due to issues with BC Outdoors, so hopefully that will change. The 16 is a great gauge.

Kurzhaar · Post by **Kurzhaar** » Wed May 31, 2006 2:45 pm

I bought a Browning White Lightening 16 in 2004 and love it!!! I was in the market for a 20, but the 16 tugged at my heart strings as it was the gauge I used in my first shotgun at 12 years old. I can find the ammunition I prefer and have worked with my local gunsmith to special order the rounds I want.

Jim

gundogguru · Post by **gundogguru** » Wed May 31, 2006 5:45 pm

I had and old Browning Sweet 16 and really miss it. As far as ammo goes just buy it by the case cabela's has plenty.

Post by **ezzy333** » Wed May 31, 2006 6:30 pm

16 guage is still popular in the south. Shouldn't be much problem getting it if you order by the case.

Ezzy

Post by **Ayres** » Wed May 31, 2006 9:17 pm

If I was shooting a 16 regularly, I'd be looking into reloading immediately. I'm already looking into reloading, shooting commonly had 20 ga. shells (but for the main purpose of making my own 3/4 oz. loads).

Kurzhaar · Post by **Kurzhaar** » Wed May 31, 2006 9:30 pm

I agree on the case quantities. Last fall I purchased two cases of Fiocchi Golden Pheasant loads. That will last me this year also. Much better having a supply of loas, regardless of gauge you shoot.

Jim

Kurzhaar · Post by **Kurzhaar** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 8:54 am

I decided to upgrade my Browning Citori White Lightning 16 gauge with a set of Briley extended choke tubes. I chose the silver tubes and they look SWEETTT!!!!!!

I took advantage of Briley's buy five get one free offer and bought IC, LM, M, IM, and two skeet tubes. I've started shooting a lot more skeet and wanted the extended tubes for easier changing.

Jim

Wagonmaster · Post by **Wagonmaster** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 9:05 am

I am the same. I have the Browning and love those Fiocchi Golden Pheasants. I have reloaded alot in the past, but why, now that there are really excellent factory shells available? You can't beat them in quality, and they always go off.

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16 gauge Browning O/U sickness

16 gauge Browning O/U sickness

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Browning White Lightning 16

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Upgrading Browning Citori 16 Gauge