My dad has a 916A. It is not one of the best guns we've owned. The firing pin on it broke. The shells have jammed up inside the magazine tube, and fired shells have gotten stuck in the chamber. We take pretty good care of all of our guns, and this one never saw much serious use. It's not a bad looking gun, nor is it that uncomfortable to handle and fire..but it lacks a little in the quality department. They were S&W's first venture into shotguns I believe, so that might explain the "behind the learning curve" impression these guns give.