Browning Light Twelve

[midkansmithfan]

A local live auction is offering one from 1967 with a 27" barrel.
It's in excellent condition and I'm interested in it but I'm a little wary of the barrel length. Would 27" have been a standard offering? All help will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Don

 

[m1gunner]

Yes that was one of the lengths. Probably measures 26 1/2 or a touch more.

I have a A5 from 1958 and it had a solid rib barrel that length on it when I got it.

Is the stock uncut (no sissy pad) and the front handguard NOT cracked at the back, bottom portion?

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I bought a Light 12 in 1953. Used it for years on ducks & geese. Mine had a Cutts Compensator on it & the barrel measured 30" with choke in place. Good gun.

 

[majbgd]

Light 12

I saw one at Shydas in Lebanon, PA not sure of the barrel length but it was long.

 

[midkansmithfan]

m1
Thank you for the information. The gun is unaltered and the wood is all sound. 26 1/2" is for sure closer to true than the published information in the auction catalog. BTW the barrel has a ventilated rib and the gun is really slick looking. Think I'll go for it.
Dick and maj: Thank you guys also for the replies
Regards,
Don

 

[therevjay]

With todays shotgun shells Bbl. length (whithin reason) is importent only in how it makes the gun feel to you. At least thats been my experiance. My 12ga with 26" Bbl. seems to reach out and touch ducks just as well as the one with 30". Better actualy, the 30" seems awkward.

 

[oldman45]

My favorite shotgun is a Browning A5 made in September 1953. It will outshoot any of the newer guns.

If I got the chance to buy another Begium made A5, I would sure do it.

 

[jframe]

My dad hunted pheasant for YEARS with a Browning A5 Light Twelve. No ventilated rib with a 28 inch barrel. I don't hunt, but this gun is priceless to me. He bought it new in about 1954 or so, in Detroit, and hunted upstate a lot with it. It is absolutely flawless, with only a slight wearing of the gold plating on the trigger to testify to any use at all. He is a retired tool and die maker, so pretty much EVERYTHING he owns is flawless. I'd say grab that Browning while you can; don't think you'll regret it.

 

[midkansmithfan]

Bought it and am really glad I did. Thanks to all who responded.
It looks real good in the gun room and I'm looking forward to this Fall

 

[msinc]

One thing to remember whaen measuring barrels on a pump or auto, the barrel measurement is taken from the muzzle to the very back of the breech, where the cartridge head sits. Not muzzle to front of receiver. Just check and make sure it has a choke in it and some idiot didn't saw it off and you should be good to go. Every Light 12 I ever saw had a modified choke but they certainly could have had anything.