Project: long dreamed of Humpback Browning

[lowoctane]

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!!! 

[LaLongbeard]

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

[lowoctane]

That's right, to each his own...

[Ben1100mag]

A buffing with a green scotch brite pad will take the shine off the stock.

[lowoctane]

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!

[GD1656]

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.

[lowoctane]

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!   
                                                                       

[GD1656]

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

[lowoctane]

 

Yes sir! 

[lowoctane]

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...

[Bowguy]

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.

[jryser]

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


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[lowoctane]

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!!!

[lowoctane]

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.


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[eggshell]

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.