Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/769056
S P O R T I N G C L A S S I C S • 97 S he was sweet, she was 16, and she never got kissed. At least, not by me! Mind you, it wasn't for lack of trying. Back in the '60s, she was the dream girl for many a Southern gentleman, and I was one of those who were smitten. I'm sure that most of you are familiar with Browning's Sweet Sixteen of that era. It was one variation of their famous A5 "humpback." Despite its unusual profile, it was attractive in its own quirky way. The fact that it was industrial-strength, sweet shooting, and completely reliable didn't hurt its appeal at all. It reminded me of a fresh- faced, rosy-cheeked Kansas farm girl whose pigtails just made her sort of homespun sexy. I wanted a Sweet Sixteen desperately, but alas, the closest that I came was an occasional tryst with one that was possessed by a hunting buddy. I simply couldn't afford a new one in those days, and it seemed that the folks who owned one never parted with them. They were just passed along from father to son, and then to grandsons ad infinitum, and almost never appeared on the second- hand market. Actually, it hasn't been long ago that I gave considerable thought to purchasing a Sweet Sixteen on the used market just for nostalgia's sake. The ballistically well-balanced 16-gauge shell that it was paired with might very well be the best all-around upland gauge of all, and it was incredibly popular in the South at that time. With its normal "ounce-or-so" of shot, the 16 is nearly perfect for everything from from snipe to woodcock to pheasant, and it'll do a fair-to-middlin' job on waterfowl, too. I'm happy to report that my unrequited love from my youth has been more than satiated, because Browning recently announced that it was reintroducing the Sweet Sixteen. Of course, I thought that it was a grand idea and resolved to look one over at the first opportunity. L ast week I had the good fortune to do just that and more. I spent most of the week at a "writers' retreat" shotguns by robert matthews Browning's new sweet sixteen is sweeter than ever. in Seneca, South Dakota, at R&R Pheasant Hunting's fabulous facility. The shindig was sponsored by Browning and Winchester, and they brought some of their new A5 Sweet Sixteens for us to field test. When I first heard about the new gun, I assumed it would be a reproduction of its popular predecessor. I have to admit that when I first saw the new iteration, I was a little disappointed. It's not a reproduction at all. The only things it shares with its predecessor are its gauge, its name, and a humpbacked receiver that is vaguely reminiscent of the older gun. Otherwise, it's all new. Sometimes first glances are deceiving, though. The moment I picked it up I knew I was going to like it. Rafe Nielson, communications manager for Browning, was standing beside me and saw my eyes light up. "You like that, don'tcha?" was his quick response. "Yes I do!" was my emphatic reply. At 5 pounds, 13 ounces, it's a wand compared to the older version, which