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08-17-2020, 12:03 AM
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Browning Double Automatic
I like guns that are unique and maybe a bit off the wall.
Recently the Browning Double Auto has caught my attention.
Anyone here have experience with one of these?
I rarely shoot a 12 gauge gun anymore but thought it may be kind of fun to have one of these for sporting clays and an occasional hunt.
Any information would be appreciated.
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08-17-2020, 07:37 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chukar60
I like guns that are unique and maybe a bit off the wall.
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Go for it! That's the gun for you. My BIL had one and I shot it. It went bang when the trigger was pulled and would break targets. Larry
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08-17-2020, 07:58 AM
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I've had three of them. First two were of the light weight version and the present one is the steel version. They require very little maintenance, just a drop of oil on the recoil spring. A unique shotgun.
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08-17-2020, 09:05 AM
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Unique design by John Browning's son,
under appreciated.
Excellent quality and reliability.
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08-17-2020, 10:43 AM
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I would shoot an occasional round of sporting clays with it for fun and hunting practice, but i don't know if I would run the thousands of rounds annually most sporting clays shooters tend to shoot. Parts do wear(or break) and parts for these aren't as common as they once were. I sort of do that with my Auto 5s.
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08-17-2020, 10:54 AM
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As has been said, a truly unique shotgun. I've had half a dozen of them, still have three I think. Downside is that they are not recognized or appreciated by most folks today so hard to sell for what they should be worth in most places. The Twentyweight with aluminum receiver was supposed to given the shooter 12 gauge performance with 20 gauge weight. Would be a nice choice for chasing chukar in Idaho. Enjoy.
Jeff
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08-17-2020, 11:23 AM
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Very first shotgun I ever used. That was 50 years ago.
It was my grandfathers...now mine. I have a few more Double Autos..but Gramps is special; it never misses.
They are truly a sweet handling shotgun. Thousands of rounds through mine. Never a problem.
Good guns multiply in the safe...when nobody is watching..
Last edited by Breakaway500; 08-17-2020 at 11:49 AM.
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08-17-2020, 11:41 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 22hipower
As has been said, a truly unique shotgun. I've had half a dozen of them, still have three I think. Downside is that they are not recognized or appreciated by most folks today so hard to sell for what they should be worth in most places. The Twentyweight with aluminum receiver was supposed to given the shooter 12 gauge performance with 20 gauge weight. Would be a nice choice for chasing chukar in Idaho. Enjoy.
Jeff
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I have to find one first!!!
I want one with either imp cyl or mod choke. Would prefer an IC but I have yet to see one of those.
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08-17-2020, 11:57 AM
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I never really got the point of the design, but my uncle had one and swore by it. He was a Browning nut and I think the fact that a lot of people had never seen or even heard of one, made the design that much more appealing to him.
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08-17-2020, 12:04 PM
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Growing up in SoDak a friend of My Dads' had one. We went Pheasant hunting a lot of weekends as that was My dads passion. My dad would borrow it whenever He could and I would carry His A5, although I prefered My remington model 17 20 guage. Nice looking gun, but I needed the extra rounds.
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08-17-2020, 12:12 PM
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I have two, a Twelvette and a Twentyweight, probably my favorite semi-auto shotguns for upland hunting.
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08-17-2020, 12:15 PM
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My dad had one when I was young. We hunted ducks, and when a flock came in he would put two extra shells in his hand and I have seen him shoot a duck with the fourth shot. He had a poly choke on his, popular in the sixties, and it gun served him well. I think it was a Belgin Browning, had a gold trigger, I think.
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08-17-2020, 12:58 PM
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I saw this thread and immediately it reminded me of one of the (several) “great regrets” of my shooting life. I was acquainted with a gentleman who was an employee and a friend of Tony Hullman. When his job at the Speedway went away, Mr. Hullman personally gave him his Double Auto, as a parting gift. I saw the gun several times and always admired it. I thought about asking to buy it, but was hesitant. My acquaintance was not knowledgeable about handling and taking care of firearms, and he had no interest in hunting weapons. Unfortunately, before I could inquire about possibly purchasing the Browning, it was stolen and never seen again. For an Indiana boy, that was one Double Auto I would love to have owned. Hesitated - and lost.
I would not buy any Double Auto to shoot a lot, but it would certainly be a nice old shotgun to have standing by for special occasions.
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08-17-2020, 10:59 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by diyj98
I never really got the point of the design, but my uncle had one and swore by it. He was a Browning nut and I think the fact that a lot of people had never seen or even heard of one, made the design that much more appealing to him.
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What I have been told is that the design theory was to provide a Semi auto that handled and balanced like an O/U. Not having an elongated magazine tube and limiting capacity to two rounds it changed the balance and handling characteristics.
It was a great idea to somebody. I am guessing that the American market preferred a magazine gun that held 3-5 rounds over the two shooter with handling as a priority over capacity
If I have this wrong, someone please correct me. I am still learning what I can about the gun.
It wont get shot too much. I shoot about 10 rounds of clays a year, usually with a 20 ga. I cannot recall the last time I headed afield with a 12 ga. I will get some low power loads for it and try a couple short quail hunts with it.
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08-18-2020, 10:16 PM
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The ones I shot seemed to recoil heavily.
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08-19-2020, 11:53 AM
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Every time I take mine out of the safe (not often ) I have to reteach myself how to operate it . Not an instinctual gun for me.
In fact when closing the bolt after clearing it I always feel like I'm gonna lose a finger.
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08-19-2020, 04:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chukar60
What I have been told is that the design theory was to provide a Semi auto that handled and balanced like an O/U. Not having an elongated magazine tube and limiting capacity to two rounds it changed the balance and handling characteristics.
It was a great idea to somebody. I am guessing that the American market preferred a magazine gun that held 3-5 rounds over the two shooter with handling as a priority over capacity
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That's exactly what the idea was behind it,,and the name .
But you're right, the USA market, always armed for a fire-fight when hunting rabbits, wanted more capacity and that has never changed since then. It's only gotten worse.
If you feel handi-capped in the field using a SxS or O/U or a Singleshot,,then you won't get the idea of the Double Auto.
Clay Games limit you to 2 rounds in the gun generally (maybe some run&gun games allow more). But Trap, Skeet and SC's are 2 rounds. So if you like a semi auto and feel and handling of a nice O/U,,the DoubleAuto is there for you,,if you can find one.
Certainly different, somewhat of a novelty I guess, but we all like different things.
The Double Auto long since discontinued is sometimes hard to find parts for but Numrich seems to have a quite good supply of most.
Midwest Gun used to have them I believe but I see they don't list the DA anymore in their parts section. Maybe they sold what they had to Numrich.
If you think the A5 has a lot of parts inside,,the DoubleAuto is right there with it along with a pail full of extras.
Complicated mechanism when compared to a simple thing like an 1100.
Plus some parts are specific to gun features such as the breech bolt.
One for a plain bbl gun,,another for a bbl w/a rib on it.
Caliber specific parts as well of course.
But the guns seem to hold up well.
I suspect they don't get the Sporting Clays treatment of 1000's of rds a month. But most any decent build will live a long time with general use and care.
I hadn't seen one in for maint in decades to be honest.
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08-19-2020, 08:18 PM
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It has been a long time since I have seen one, and I have never fired one. But I have always known what they were. Unfortunately even if I found a nice example at a good price I probably wouldn't buy it as I no longer hunt or shoot clay birds other than informally. And even if I did, I already have several nice shotguns that are more than up to my needs.
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09-02-2020, 08:16 PM
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Funny thing, to me, anyway...
I just saw my first Browning Double Auto, SN 72xx.
It's a steel receiver example from 1954 and is not in the best shape. The furniture needs refinishing; the bluing isn't too terrible, though.
I found this thread because I, like the OP, like things that are a little unconventional and had to start investigating this unusual design.
Certainly something different!
-Bill
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09-03-2020, 03:53 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chukar60
I have to find one first!!!
I want one with either imp cyl or mod choke. Would prefer an IC but I have yet to see one of those.
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Not to worry, I have 3 or 4 and my kid is not interested in any of them. I'm sure that one is a Twelvette and one is a standard, the others, I would have to dig in the safe. Also have an extra bbl and a new stripped receiver, that may be the Twenty weight.
Was also diagnosed with lung cancer a few weeks ago and we all know the end of that particular movie. Tomorrow will be my first full week of chemo and radiology, with 5 more to go.
Anyway, I'll PM you when I figure out just what I have, it's been years. From what I've read, the standard is the rarest, because so few were made. Great for quail and dove and my Dad would keep a third shell in his left hand for a quick third shot.
I'll check the chokes also, but I'm pretty sure all are Mod and have never heard of, or seen a IC Double Auto.
No, they do not like much oil in the action, we always ran them on the dry side from experience.
Rob
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09-03-2020, 04:59 PM
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Those of you who, like me, had never heard of a Browning Double Auto, will like this:
Browning Double Auto: Val Browning's Finest
I hadn't heard of Val Browning either; and now I have! Thank you.
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09-03-2020, 05:31 PM
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mikerjf, thanks for the link. Very interesting read.
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09-03-2020, 07:05 PM
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For those who want to know more about the mechanism of the Browning double auto, there are several good YouTube videos. This one attached is the second of a two-part video on disassembly and reassembly, and shows the long recoil-operated mechanism.
Last edited by DWalt; 09-03-2020 at 07:55 PM.
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09-07-2020, 05:26 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2152hq
the USA market, always armed for a fire-fight when hunting rabbits, wanted more capacity and that has never changed since then. It's only gotten worse.
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And for VERY good reason,
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