I own two Auto 5's in 16 gauge. One is a Browning Sweet Sixteen, and the other is an Auto 5 made by Remington in 1943 when they were making them for Browning due to the FN factory in Belgium being occupied by the German's during WWII. The other is a Remington 11-48. The 16 is so well balanced, the power of a 12 gauge and the handling of a 20 gauge. I have never understood why the 16 doesn't get re-introduced by one of the major manufacturers, & with a 3" chamber would be even better.
Dickinson is a nice shotgun as was the Kimber Turkish made true sidekick SxS. The kimber is no long made and you can hardly give them away. Unless Dickinson takes off, you will have the same issue. And as of yet they haven’t. Then perhaps there becomes a parts issue down the line.
Beretta has been around for 480 years and it doesn’t look like the are going away soon along with having a repair facility in the USA. Spend your money and take your chances. As of now, it’s not a fair bet, Berrtta vs Dickinson.
The Dickinson and the Kimber were made by the same company. The Kimber boxlock was basically the same gun with more embelishment. I'm not argueing that the Dickinson is a close match to the Beretta, just that Beretta doesn't import shotguns in my preferred configuration(SxS) and Dickinson does.
I had one of the gunsmiths from Krieghoff look at the insides of the Kimber and he acknowledged it was very well made. He then patterned it and again was impressed. If the Dickinson is made by the same people and they make and maintain it to the same standard it should be fine. My only reservation is that importers like this are often here today and gone tomorrow.
Had to have the triggers lightened on mine, not many smiths around that know much about the trigger plate action that Dickinson uses. I've heard the last few years the triggers have gotten better. Mine patterns great, actually a little tight in each choke tube for it's marking. The cylinder tube is actually .004-.005 constriction. Each tube up the line is correspondingly that much tight.
Probably misremembering, thought that Kimber had both a boxlock and a fancier sidelock. Them and the Dickinson were made by Akus in Turkey.
About 15 years ago Ithaca made a 16 for a short period of time. I picked one up from a friend that bought it new and had it about a year. It’s been my go to shotgun for the thick stuff ever since. It has a straight stock and a 24 inch barrel. I’ll never part with it. Weighs maybe 5 1/2 pounds.
About 15 years ago Ithaca made a 16 for a short period of time. I picked one up from a friend that bought it new and had it about a year. It’s been my go to shotgun for the thick stuff ever since. It has a straight stock and a 24 inch barrel. I’ll never part with it. Weighs maybe 5 1/2 pounds.
I'd love to see a photo of that.
_______________________________________________________ An 8 dollar driveway boy living in a T-111 shack
I have a 1953, Belgium Sweet Sixteen, solid rib, Cyclone (the best of the time and classy looking on a vintage gun) adjustable choke if he is interested. Also have a factory letter with the gun. Very clean and nice looking gun. Shoot me a PM if interested.
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Remington Model 11 is the poorman’s version of the Browning A5. Only thing missing is the magazine cutoff and they sell for less than half of the Browning. A Remington Model 31 can also be found in 16 ga and is a great pump shotgun for considerably less than a Win M-12. Browning has made the Citori O/U’s for a number of years and a used one occasionally shows up for a good price.
I have 2 16ga. shotguns. Ones a single shot that my dad got back in the 40's. It really does kick like a mule! LOL! The second is a Stevens model 30 pump action take down. I really screwed up when I sold my very early Remington 870 ADL Deluxe 16ga.! One I'd definitely like to get back. I know it's a pump, but there's a couple model 30's on gunbroker for around $200.
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My youngest son and I participated in an informal clay bird shoot yesterday at a friends house to bring the New Year in with a BANG. He was using an Auto 5 with modified vent rib and I with a Model 12, both in 16 ga. We cleaned the clocks of several of the folks in attendance, one shooting a dedicated trap under barrel Browning. The looks on there faces when the purple shells ejected and their amazement of the range of someone who understands its capability.
The old Ithaca NID or Flues in 16 are nice handling shotguns and nearly always worth the money. Or, a fella could just do it once and do it right and pick up an easy to find German double in 16 from between the wars and be done with it. The only smoothbores I own are 16's and all of them are German but for my old 1913 Ithaca Flues.
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My Dickinson 16 SxS has become my most used shotgun. No, it doesn't match my Beretta O/U for quality, but it ain't junk either. Not all Turk guns are the same, there are several makers building guns to importers specs. You get whatever the importer asked for.
The Turks can and do make some very good shotguns. Even my very cheap Armson 12ga autolader is a well made and reliable gun. I bought it used "like new" for $125.00 plus shipping. It takes Beretta choke tubes and will shoot any 2 3/4" and 3" shell without modification. They also make good doubles...decent handling and nicely fitted. Turkey has a long history in gun making.
Back to 16s...I love the bore and have nine guns in 16ga; it comes with being a masochist, liking pokes in my eyes, dogs biting my ankles, IRS audits, and finding 16 ga ammo in a pinch.
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