Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

Turkey Guns & Shooting => Turkey Guns => Topic started by: lowoctane on May 09, 2019, 08:13:23 AM

Title: Project: long dreamed of Humpback Browning
Post by: lowoctane on May 09, 2019, 08:13:23 AM
My mentor and I used to talk about the ultimate turkey gun frequently and him being a Browning enthusiast it was a foregone conclusion that it would be a 3" mag humpback with a few alterations. So, in his honor and memory, I've started down that road. Was able to find and purchase a round knob Belgium 3" magnum for a fair price and have already had a barrel cut and threaded by William at Sumtoy and through that process learned that there are two types of thin wall choke tubes, so I chose the one that he recommended. He also made me a choke tube that I requested to shoot my favorite loads, Winchester LB 3"x6's. I am very anxious to see how this combo works! Will have the receiver drilled and tapped for some kind of low power scope or red dot as that's my preferred sighting system. Still unsure about the metal treatment. So many options! The stock and forearm have the typical sheen that I will lightly sand to a flat finish as I'm a wood enthusiast by heart. All in all, I am extremely excited to be able to finally put this together in his honor! He was an amazing hunter, mentor, friend, father in law, and Christian Brother!!!  :camohat:
Title: Re: Project: long dreamed of Humpback Browning
Post by: LaLongbeard on May 09, 2019, 09:28:12 AM
Love the old Browning's my Granpa has one when I was a kid.
Everything sounds good but are you really putting a scope on it? Can't imagine a classic Browning with a scope screwed to it, but to each his own I guess
Title: Re: Project: long dreamed of Humpback Browning
Post by: lowoctane on May 09, 2019, 09:38:06 AM
That's right, to each his own...
Title: Re: Project: long dreamed of Humpback Browning
Post by: Ben1100mag on May 09, 2019, 01:10:06 PM
A buffing with a green scotch brite pad will take the shine off the stock.
Title: Re: Project: long dreamed of Humpback Browning
Post by: lowoctane on May 09, 2019, 01:19:02 PM
Quote from: Ben1100mag on May 09, 2019, 01:10:06 PM
A buffing with a green scotch brite pad will take the shine off the stock.

Forgot about scotch-brite! We used to use them on engine bearings during assembly. Thanks! :camohat:
Title: Re: Project: long dreamed of Humpback Browning
Post by: GD1656 on May 09, 2019, 08:19:19 PM
I bought a Humpback 3" mag 12 ga in 1972 for hunting the everglades.It has a 32 " full choke bbl. Old timers told me that was the gun to have.I put it on layaway and made payments till it was mine. I killed a few deer and turkeys with it then bought a 26" jap bbl for it for duck hunting with steel shot. Went to a SBE and now a Affinity 20 for turkeys,but nothing is built like a A5.Just dont have your shoulder against the tree when you send a 3" load down the barrel---they kill on one end and wound on the other.
Title: Re: Project: long dreamed of Humpback Browning
Post by: lowoctane on May 09, 2019, 10:26:09 PM
Thanks for sharing! I killed my first turkey with a shiny '52 vintage 2.75" A5, dressed in GI camo. What memories with that gun! There's nothing like hearing the steel sing when you let the bolt go on an empty chamber! Can not wait to finish this gun!   
                                                                        :camohat:
Title: Re: Project: long dreamed of Humpback Browning
Post by: GD1656 on May 10, 2019, 11:33:35 AM
Be sure to post pics when you finish it or any time ! I loved to show off the speed feed with mine while duck hunting
Title: Re: Project: long dreamed of Humpback Browning
Post by: lowoctane on May 11, 2019, 07:16:05 AM
 :morning:

Yes sir!  :camohat:
Title: Re: Project: long dreamed of Humpback Browning
Post by: lowoctane on May 18, 2019, 07:59:05 AM
An update: my trusted gunsmith says that there's not enough metal on the receiver to drill and tap for optics, so I ordered a B-Square saddle style mount. Also have a rib barrel that I'm looking into to use the rib for a small red dot. Going to shoot the Sumtoy barrel/choke today with Win LB 3"x6's to see what it'll do... :camohat:
Title: Re: Project: long dreamed of Humpback Browning
Post by: Bowguy on May 18, 2019, 08:15:40 PM
Quote from: LaLongbeard on May 09, 2019, 09:28:12 AM
Love the old Browning's my Granpa has one when I was a kid.
Everything sounds good but are you really putting a scope on it? Can't imagine a classic Browning with a scope screwed to it, but to each his own I guess
I was thinking exact same thing. I have a Belgium browning and I'd change nothing.
Title: Re: Project: long dreamed of Humpback Browning
Post by: jryser on May 18, 2019, 09:57:52 PM
I combined classic Auto 5 (1962 Sweet 16 here) with the Aimpoint S1. Killed a find Iowa bird with the combo!!
https://youtu.be/vu2a5fxqiMc


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Project: long dreamed of Humpback Browning
Post by: lowoctane on May 19, 2019, 04:31:24 PM
Quote from: jryser on May 18, 2019, 09:57:52 PM
I combined classic Auto 5 (1962 Sweet 16 here) with the Aimpoint S1. Killed a find Iowa bird with the combo!!
https://youtu.be/vu2a5fxqiMc


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sweet!!! :camohat:
Title: Project: long dreamed of Humpback Browning
Post by: lowoctane on May 20, 2019, 07:01:59 AM
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190520/9160de61f9b4453182db4e660def8971.jpg)
Approximately 30 yds using SumToy's choke. It has multiple wad stoppers so the second shot produced the hole as I didn't clean the tube. Win LB 3"x6's, 1.75 oz.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Project: long dreamed of Humpback Browning
Post by: eggshell on May 20, 2019, 07:22:18 AM
One word of advice. I have an older O/U that I had choke tubes put in and it  had to have thin walled tubes. I decided to take it turkey hunting last year just
the fun of using my old field gun with 2.75" shells ( used Remington 4x6 turkey loads) . I did kill a nice gobbler with it. What I found out is the thin walled tubes didn't handle the high pressure loads
well. I broke my full choke tube, it literally unwound. So keep an eye on them and maybe have an extra. The one that broke was several years old, maybe they have addressed
the issue. I have carlson's in mine. I also have a browning auto loader classic with the rounded hump I bought in the 90s. It has been my main turkey killer and has put it's share
in the dirt and never failed me. I love it.
Title: Re: Project: long dreamed of Humpback Browning
Post by: lowoctane on May 20, 2019, 07:37:11 AM
Quote from: eggshell on May 20, 2019, 07:22:18 AM
One word of advice. I have an older O/U that I had choke tubes put in and it  had to have thin walled tubes. I decided to take it turkey hunting last year just
the fun of using my old field gun with 2.75" shells ( used Remington 4x6 turkey loads) . I did kill a nice gobbler with it. What I found out is the thin walled tubes didn't handle the high pressure loads
well. I broke my full choke tube, it literally unwound. So keep an eye on them and maybe have an extra. The one that broke was several years old, maybe they have addressed
the issue. I have carlson's in mine. I also have a browning auto loader classic with the rounded hump I bought in the 90s. It has been my main turkey killer and has put it's share
in the dirt and never failed me. I love it.
Thanks. I'll keep an eye on him! :camohat:
Title: Re: Project: long dreamed of Humpback Browning
Post by: Dublgrumpy on August 05, 2019, 11:33:07 PM
Am new to this site & enjoy the reading. Can't help but comment on the A-5. No better shotgun ever made. One thing about em though that has mangled many a set of fingers is that autoload feature. The bolt remaining open on the last shot can make a place for a thumb while the other hand inserts a shell to the magazine. Probably some of you on here remember what comes next. That steel that rings out loud when you push the button on an emty chamber also tells a fellow it can act as a hammer????
Title: Re: Project: long dreamed of Humpback Browning
Post by: SumToy on August 06, 2019, 09:14:34 AM
Quote from: eggshell on May 20, 2019, 07:22:18 AM
One word of advice. I have an older O/U that I had choke tubes put in and it  had to have thin walled tubes. I decided to take it turkey hunting last year just
the fun of using my old field gun with 2.75" shells ( used Remington 4x6 turkey loads) . I did kill a nice gobbler with it. What I found out is the thin walled tubes didn't handle the high pressure loads
well. I broke my full choke tube, it literally unwound. So keep an eye on them and maybe have an extra. The one that broke was several years old, maybe they have addressed
the issue. I have carlson's in mine. I also have a browning auto loader classic with the rounded hump I bought in the 90s. It has been my main turkey killer and has put it's share
in the dirt and never failed me. I love it.


They make 2 tru chokes.   One is standard (.795) the other is thin wall (.775).  I will not even build the  .775 because what you just said But the .795 is good.
Title: Re: Project: long dreamed of Humpback Browning
Post by: Old Timer on August 06, 2019, 02:15:57 PM
Wheres the pic, lets see this browning! :drool: