The W- mdl 12 thread got me thinking of a favorite of mine, the Browning Double auto shotgun. A semi auto with no magazine, so a shorter oal. A unique left side loading port that picks up the 2nd round & chambers it as needed. Nicknamed the gun that's never empty. You NEVER have to worry about it holding more than 2 rounds (for migratory birds) A bbl that could not be easier to remove for cleaning. An owners manual that says DO NOT go beyond bbl removal for cleaning & no oil req'd for normal operation, that's right up my alley. After 40 +/- years I couldn't help but do a "little" clean-n-oil. Not full blooded JMB, it was designed by his son, it does have Browning DNA & was made in Belgium. Talk among yourselves.

I've never seen one..... So,,,, PICTURES PLEASE!!!!!!!!

Sorry, you are asking the wrong guy. If interested google it pics will come up, maybe another fan, with the know how, will post some pics. It was far from their biggest seller, but unique, and I've never come across another hunter or clay shooter using one. Production ran for maybe 25 years & ? #'s. I've had 2 in the last 10 years or so, for not a whole lot of $ (app 350) for a Belgian Browning. So many of the A-5's were made, they are much easier to find at better prices. There are usually a few on G.B.

My old man was a bird hunting nut. Always kept at least 3 dogs.
He was always looking for the perfect bird gun. He got a Brn
double 12 auto and used it for several years on Grouse. Was
dependable gun, never remember any jams, ect. My brother
still has it. Dad was also trap shooter and used his trap loads
for grouse. For pheasants he used hi brass #6s. The gun handled
both with no problems. Quit using it when he went into his period
of being Country Gentleman and got Brn 20g O/U. Me and bro
continued to use the D12 auto, still shooting fine.

This it?

My BIL has always kept 1 or 2 and they shoot ok but I have always been afraid of sticking a finger or thumb in the too many holes in the receiver. Larry

Sorry. None here. A proper two shot shotgun should have two barrels.

That is why ice cream comes in more than 1 flavor. I've thought of getting my finger mashed, but it hasn't happened yet. There are plenty of ways to mash a finger, or worse, with other guns also if you don't know how to handle them correctly. I've got big love and respect for dbl bbl.'s, the big + with them FOR ME is being able to have 2 different chokes & loads for your first shot. In a fast paced scenario like a dove hunt, they are MUCH faster to keep loaded than any other gun I've found. Being light, well balanced, fast handling, easy to carry, they are nice for grouse or woodcock. Being a BB and NOT UGLY may not improve performance, but I LIKE IT. YMMV. Yes RJJ that is it, thanks for posting.

I've always thought the Double Auto was the answer to a question no one ever asked.

__________________
Bill Bates

I'll qualify my other post by saying I'm left handed.

I shot a Double auto many, many years ago. I guess the stock did not fit me as it knocked the ever-living snot out of me. I thought it was strange as I was shooting an A-5 and never had problems with the recoil. I never could cotton up to one after that.

Wasn't the Browning B-80 a update of the Double Auto? I think it loaded from the left side as well.

Never had one, nor read up on it so I'll pass on that question.

Prob more popular out side of the US where capacity is a factor........or CA....or MD.........or DC......or MA...but I digress.

I believe it had a floating piston design similar to an M1 Carbine. It has heavy felt recoil. The frames were available in different colors.

They came in several different models although all were essentially the same design, and in multiple frame colors as was mentioned before. They were all 12 gauge although there was one version, my favorite, which was called a Twentyweight. It was a 12 gauge but was lighter and was supposed to give a 20 gauge feel to 12 gauge performance. Good guns for quail and made one of my most memorable shots ever on a duck with one. Still have several somewhere. . . .

Jeff
SWCA #1457

The dbl auto has a recoil operated system , not a gas piston, so recoil energy is used to cycle the action. I don't know where the heavy felt recoil claims are coming from except possibly a poor stock fit. The 2 I have owned felt on par with a Rem 1100 & less felt recoil than a Beneli inertia system, which are my go to's now. If you are fortunate enough to find ANY and I mean ANY shotgun that fits you so well that it prints where you are looking, buy it fast & treasure it, regardless of the action type/gauge whatever. Mine was a 1946? Browning 16 ga A-5, made the first year Browning was up & running in Belgium following WWll. A pre sweet16, & just happened to fit me (short lop) perfectly. IDK if someone previously had the stock shortened or what, but I'm still kicking myself for letting that one go.

No great love for it although it has often intrigued me. A great collectible I'd think.

Uncommon out in the shooting world for sure. Collectable? I don't think to any great degree as there always seem to be several on GB, but prices are all over from +/- 350$- well over a grand. Finding the features like a particular model/ bbl/ vent rib or not/ length/color/condition can be challenging. They definitely were not the easiest/cheapest to build, with a bolt from a solid steel bilet, to hand fitting of parts by craftsmen who knew their stuff. Belgian Browning were not famous for making junk. To build one today would be cost prohibitive. I never thought they were ugly (or thought about them at all), but until you have a semi without the magazine nut, you can appreciate the better looks without having one. IMO buying such a shotgun for 350$ is a bargain for what you are getting.