I am considering the purchase of a Browning Silver Matte Hunter 20ga shotgun.

The local shop has a Silver Micro Midas 20ga and a 12ga Silver Hunter, and they look and feel pretty good, but I’m not a big fan of the large buck on the side.

I haven’t seen the new Matte version but from the photos on Browning’s website it looks nice.

My intent is to replace my Remington 870 20ga Youth model (former tractor gun) with the Browning. I have owned several 870’s and they are good guns, but want something with a bit softer recoil for occasional upland game hunting.

If you own a Browning Silver, how do you like it? What about it do you not like?

AKtinman,

I can not speak to the Browning Silver series, but I can comment based on its predecessor, the Browning Gold. I was weaned on a couple of Browning A5s, a Winchester Model 12, and an OLD 97. I love my Remington Wingmaster Magnum, but an arm injury inhibits my ability to work the slide for more than a couple of shots. I have a Browning Gold Sporting Clays and an old A5 that I use for hunting. There is a massive difference between the recoil operated A5 and the gas operated Gold. For me, the recoil in the Gold is negligible.

Go with either Silver and you will be happy!

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Judge control not gun control!

Thanks for the input, lrrifleman.

Nice to hear about the recoil difference between the A5 and the Gold.

I sold my Auto-5 Light 20 as the recoil wasn’t much different than the 870 20ga.

I’ll have another look at the Browning Silver and make up my mind.

I bought my two oldest sons Browning Gold Sporting Clays 12 gauges for graduation presents in 1998 & 1999. The only downside we ever experienced was the 2 3/4" chamber. At the time Beretta 391 Sporting Clays models were capable of 2 3/4" and 3" magnum shells. So the Gold lost favor.

Check the shell rating so you could take it Turkey and Waterfowl hunting as well as utility use.

The sons' Gold models have not been used heavily, maybe 400 rounds a year, but have held up fine (By comparison my 1996 Beretta 390 12 gauge and the wife's 1998 391 20 gauge each get 1000 to 3000 rounds a year of sporting clays ammo and also have held up fine)

Ivan

Thanks for the info!

I stopped by my dealer today and ordered a Silver, the new model for 2017 with the "Matte" finish.

This should fit my needs until I can no longer hunt, then it will make a nice gift to one of my grandsons