Patrick L
08-08-2016, 07:04 AM
Awhile back I posted about the Beretta Silver pigeon 20 ga I got as a 50th birthday present to myself. Since that was actually my second present (a Remington 572 .22 pump was the first, back in February at my actual birthday) I really figured I was done. I typically buy a gun every 2-3 years, so 2 in one year was like Christmas. But I certainly figured, I'm done for awhile now!
Anyhow, I wander into a favorite LGS last week, and there is one of my bucket list guns; a Belgian Sweet 16 A5 with a vent rib barrel!! And at a price far lower than I've ever seen one. I agonized for days. After all, I had just gotten the $2K Beretta two months ago. Child #1 is starting law school this fall, and #2 will be in college before I know it. It was finally my loving wife who said "If you have the money, and its a good deal, and its something you really want, you should just go buy it and stop worrying so much."
Is she a keeper or what? (The wife.)
I've only had time to take two quick pics
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb157/patrickl_01/A5%20Sweet%2016/20160805_134507.jpg (http://s204.photobucket.com/user/patrickl_01/media/A5%20Sweet%2016/20160805_134507.jpg.html)
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb157/patrickl_01/A5%20Sweet%2016/20160805_134522.jpg (http://s204.photobucket.com/user/patrickl_01/media/A5%20Sweet%2016/20160805_134522.jpg.html)
I've never seen ribbed guns in this condition going for less than $1400-1500. In fact, I figured I'd never own one because I'd never pay that for one, as much as I like them.
The price was $699:shock:, and my good buddy who owns the shop says, "OK, for you $650:shock::shock::shock:."
Part of the reason the price was so low was that the gun had been drilled and tapped for a side scope mount. But, it was so well done I didn't even notice it until it was pointed out. The plug screws were nicely fitted, and they sort of disappeared into the engraving. They don't affect the guns shootability, and frankly I'd rather buy a gun with a few plugged holes than not buy a perfect one because I couldn't afford it. I think I did quite well.
Today I shot two rounds of skeet with it, broke 24 and 22. The 26 inch barrel is marked Modified (**) but the breaks were nice and even. I think I'll shoot a pattern or two to check. I might possibly have it opened to IC, which would suit all of my intended uses perfectly. Then again, I might just leave it alone, depending on what the patterning board tells me.
One last thing; a buddy forwarded a link to a shotgunsports.com site that listed 16 ga A5 serial numbers. I'm not sure, but I believe the 6S prefix means the gun was made in 1966. Is this correct??? If so, that's cool since that's my birthyear!
I hope growing old continues to work out like this!
Anyhow, I wander into a favorite LGS last week, and there is one of my bucket list guns; a Belgian Sweet 16 A5 with a vent rib barrel!! And at a price far lower than I've ever seen one. I agonized for days. After all, I had just gotten the $2K Beretta two months ago. Child #1 is starting law school this fall, and #2 will be in college before I know it. It was finally my loving wife who said "If you have the money, and its a good deal, and its something you really want, you should just go buy it and stop worrying so much."
Is she a keeper or what? (The wife.)
I've only had time to take two quick pics
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb157/patrickl_01/A5%20Sweet%2016/20160805_134507.jpg (http://s204.photobucket.com/user/patrickl_01/media/A5%20Sweet%2016/20160805_134507.jpg.html)
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb157/patrickl_01/A5%20Sweet%2016/20160805_134522.jpg (http://s204.photobucket.com/user/patrickl_01/media/A5%20Sweet%2016/20160805_134522.jpg.html)
I've never seen ribbed guns in this condition going for less than $1400-1500. In fact, I figured I'd never own one because I'd never pay that for one, as much as I like them.
The price was $699:shock:, and my good buddy who owns the shop says, "OK, for you $650:shock::shock::shock:."
Part of the reason the price was so low was that the gun had been drilled and tapped for a side scope mount. But, it was so well done I didn't even notice it until it was pointed out. The plug screws were nicely fitted, and they sort of disappeared into the engraving. They don't affect the guns shootability, and frankly I'd rather buy a gun with a few plugged holes than not buy a perfect one because I couldn't afford it. I think I did quite well.
Today I shot two rounds of skeet with it, broke 24 and 22. The 26 inch barrel is marked Modified (**) but the breaks were nice and even. I think I'll shoot a pattern or two to check. I might possibly have it opened to IC, which would suit all of my intended uses perfectly. Then again, I might just leave it alone, depending on what the patterning board tells me.
One last thing; a buddy forwarded a link to a shotgunsports.com site that listed 16 ga A5 serial numbers. I'm not sure, but I believe the 6S prefix means the gun was made in 1966. Is this correct??? If so, that's cool since that's my birthyear!
I hope growing old continues to work out like this!