Browning Semi-Auto Shotgun - The Firearms Forum

Poppypaul · 06-01-2012, 01:03 PM

My Friends:
A friend has a Browning semi-auto shotgun ser # A154xx, 16 gage, 2 3/4 inch shells that he is interested in selling to me. It appears to be in fair condition but has not been fired in some time.
Can anyone tell me the model of the gun and also what would be a fair offer I could make on it? I do not know much about shotguns but it seems that 16 gage is an odd gage. There does not appear to be much ammo on the shelf for this gage. Is this gage not desireable for some reason?

Hammerslagger · 06-01-2012, 01:30 PM

If it is a "Sweet 16" it is worth a lot more than a regular A5, in 16 gauge..

Can you post some pictures?

You are correct that 16 gauge is not popular in the USA. Here it is mostly 12 or 20.

Poppypaul · 06-01-2012, 01:52 PM

Hammer: I do not have photos since I do not have the gun. How can I tell if it is a sweet 16? Can the date of manufacture be determined from the serial number?

RJay · 06-01-2012, 05:25 PM

From 1949 on, it was marked " Sweet 16 " on the left side. 16 gauge is no longer a popular round and is getting harder to fine on the shelves. It can be ordered but the selection is limited. If you are buying it to shoot you may ( unless the price is right ) want to reconsider.

Poppypaul · 06-01-2012, 06:39 PM

Thanks. When I saw it I did not see a gold trigger. I read somewhere that if it is pre 1949 the sweets had a gold trigger. So I am presuming it is not a sweet 16. Based on that and the fact that it is an odd caliber and the fact that ammo is somewhat limited what would you guess would be a fair price assuming it is in fair condition and it functions?

soundguy · 06-01-2012, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJay

From 1949 on, it was marked " Sweet 16 " on the left side. 16 gauge is no longer a popular round and is getting harder to fine on the shelves. It can be ordered but the selection is limited. If you are buying it to shoot you may ( unless the price is right ) want to reconsider.

my walmart still sells 16ga shells.

you can find anything you want in 16ga online.. slugs, buck, shot.. etc...

i have both a 16 and a sweet 16. like them both better than a 12.. less shoulder tenderization. IMHO.. I like my light twenty even better.

soundguy

soundguy · 06-01-2012, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poppypaul

Thanks. When I saw it I did not see a gold trigger. I read somewhere that if it is pre 1949 the sweets had a gold trigger. So I am presuming it is not a sweet 16. Based on that and the fact that it is an odd caliber and the fact that ammo is somewhat limited what would you guess would be a fair price assuming it is in fair condition and it functions?

look on the gun itself to see if it is actually designated a sweet 16. if so it's worth a small premium.

as for value.... hiy ********* and gunsamerica / Auction arms..

i've bought auto 5 cloes from 100-200$ and real a5's from 150 - 400 depending on what they were and what condition.

i actually think my fav are 2 a5 'clones' store branded models..not wards or sears. but um.. western something maybee... ( westerfield? er.. something) I like them as much as my 12g a5's especially since they onlty cost 100-120$

good old double recoil shotguns.

I collect a few of the variants. rem 11/12 the widowmaker.. etc. even have an old FN model in an odd chambering..

for a while, the pawn shops and gun shows were unlaoding a5 and clones like crazy. I must have got a dozen of them a few years ago.. mostly paying cheap money around 100-120$ except for a couple nice nice belgium ones... might have a jap bb'ld one as well... can't remember..

06-01-2012, 01:03 PM	#1
Poppypaul V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: CT Posts: 100	Browning Semi-Auto Shotgun My Friends: A friend has a Browning semi-auto shotgun ser # A154xx, 16 gage, 2 3/4 inch shells that he is interested in selling to me. It appears to be in fair condition but has not been fired in some time. Can anyone tell me the model of the gun and also what would be a fair offer I could make on it? I do not know much about shotguns but it seems that 16 gage is an odd gage. There does not appear to be much ammo on the shelf for this gage. Is this gage not desireable for some reason? --> Last edited by Poppypaul; 06-01-2012 at 01:04 PM..

06-01-2012, 01:30 PM	#2
Hammerslagger Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,099	Re: Browning Semi-Auto Shotgun If it is a "Sweet 16" it is worth a lot more than a regular A5, in 16 gauge.. Can you post some pictures? You are correct that 16 gauge is not popular in the USA. Here it is mostly 12 or 20. Last edited by Hammerslagger; 06-01-2012 at 01:33 PM.. Reason: add words

06-01-2012, 01:52 PM	#3
Poppypaul V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: CT Posts: 100	Re: Browning Semi-Auto Shotgun Hammer: I do not have photos since I do not have the gun. How can I tell if it is a sweet 16? Can the date of manufacture be determined from the serial number?

06-01-2012, 05:25 PM	#4
RJay Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,487	Re: Browning Semi-Auto Shotgun From 1949 on, it was marked " Sweet 16 " on the left side. 16 gauge is no longer a popular round and is getting harder to fine on the shelves. It can be ordered but the selection is limited. If you are buying it to shoot you may ( unless the price is right ) want to reconsider. __________________ RonJames

06-01-2012, 06:39 PM	#5
Poppypaul V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: CT Posts: 100	Re: Browning Semi-Auto Shotgun Thanks. When I saw it I did not see a gold trigger. I read somewhere that if it is pre 1949 the sweets had a gold trigger. So I am presuming it is not a sweet 16. Based on that and the fact that it is an odd caliber and the fact that ammo is somewhat limited what would you guess would be a fair price assuming it is in fair condition and it functions?