johncrow Posted December 5, 2017 Report Share Posted December 5, 2017 Hi everyone,I have a Browning Twelvette and am looking for someone who knows what the modification was that Browning offered in the original manual to enable it to fire shorter cartridges.It states in the Browning manual on Randy Wakemans site that it can fire 55mm cartridges but this is possibly a misprint and meant to be 65mm if anyone has any info please let me know.I have been in contact with Browning but they have no info so it is over to great and good of pigeon watch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matone Posted December 5, 2017 Report Share Posted December 5, 2017 FN did at one time produce some short ,aluminium cased cartridges ,they may have been 55mm,! Had some years ago but they all went ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalahari Posted December 5, 2017 Report Share Posted December 5, 2017 I haven't seen them for a long time but you could get 2" 12bore at one time which would be about 50 - 55 mm. David. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted December 5, 2017 Report Share Posted December 5, 2017 Still available. Some are 2.2" (c55mm). Father used to load a genuine 2" with a crimp closure - cracking little cartridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fronty61 Posted December 6, 2017 Report Share Posted December 6, 2017 Here in darkest Dorset, we have a mine of useless information, so here I go..my Twelvette shoots 65 mm ammo with a 2 mm thick pad stuck vertically just inside the rear face of the load port , to take up the shorter length of ammo ? Means I don`t have to single-load shorter ammo, or just single load. I can still use 70 mm no problem. I understand Browning offered special order guns, or a thicker ` push plate`..sorry, need to study exploded diagram from Sarco site for part names. However, no actual demand for low power ammo ( in America ???) so they binned his, carried on making the only shotgun I wouldn`t be without ! Please remember though, light weight on Twelvettes meant thinner barrels, so PLEASE don`t use heavy ammo if you can avoid it, or buy one with internal marking ! Also, check forearm and stock neck for cracks..can be repaired, but factor in the cost when buying. I have a spare new Brownell or Sarco fore end blank ( not sure which ) imported before the import aggro started, if anyone has a real need, I could help ? Also, they use light steel loads in USA where appropriate, but only through half choke or wider, and they try a crack test first !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theshootist Posted December 6, 2017 Report Share Posted December 6, 2017 Great info! How low will the does the advice on lighter loads also apply to the double auto? If so how low a charge can I go and still have it cycle? I find even 28 grams a bit jarring! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fronty61 Posted December 6, 2017 Report Share Posted December 6, 2017 I can cycle 24 grm with confidence, Hull comp X 28 works fine , just single load as it s 65 mm, really quick to load and eject with minimal recoil pain. Check your gun fit and mount, but I cheat, use 70 mm traditional game ammo from any maker at 28/30 grm, plus a pachmayr decellerator pad helps my mount and soaks up most things without hassle..at 75 I need all the help I can get to keep shooting ! I wont give up easy, like most folks on here ! My gun mounts better with a longer l.o.p. Remember, these guns don`t use gas to cycle, so load weight of recoil shouldn`t vary much ? Eley Impax also good for game, or Hull superfast 29 grm, good for clays/pigeons have a bit more sting, where the recoil pad comes in handy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johncrow Posted December 6, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2017 Thanks for all the info lots of which I did not know.Chris @stevepages.com spoke to Browning America for me and they advised getting in touch with some of larger gun shops in the states, which is ok for info but very difficult to purchase from them.Fronty 61 is spot on when he says theyoffered "a thicker push plate" this was an adaption that I believe could be ordered as an after market item.This is the part I am trying to find or get the tech drawings for so I can have it made .All this is just an interesting hobby for me as I have recently retired an purchased a twelvette,great gun, facinating development by Val Browning so if any has any more info on this gun or where I can find the part I am looking for please contact me by the way my twelvette will fire 70 and 67.5 mm 21grm loads but not 65mm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fronty61 Posted December 6, 2017 Report Share Posted December 6, 2017 Just checked my Twelvette..the mod someone has made seems to be a small rectangle of plastic or nylon sheet, 2 mm thick, cut to fit and stuck ? on the push plate, anyone could do it, and easily accessible, no strip down needed ( tweezers might be handy ), could even experiment with something like double sided tape, cut to size, stripped one side only. It would hold density long enough for a few trial shots ? Love these guns, just wish we has a few more around my part of the south coast ( Poole) to make a support group. My gun gives me walkup game, ground and flying, at 35/45 yards, more if I was a better shot, shoot clays all day up to 50 yards ( no birds to *****), and such an easy carry. The engineering is all based on good practice, and each gun was hand made !!! made as a light, single barrelled competitor to SxS of the day..Mr. Browning obviously came from a different, and wonderful planet ! Just stick to ammo appropriate to the day, and sorted gun fit sorts the recoil !!! Johncrow is spot on with his call on 67/70 ammo length, modify only to use multiple 65 mm ammo. Maybe check the patent drawings ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johncrow Posted December 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2017 Thanks for the info Fronty61 I will have to try that.The reason I was trying to find the original part was to keep the gun as true as possible,In my part of the world,Devon, most clay grounds are fibre wad only, and an awful lot of fibre wad clay cartridges in 21/24grm are 65mm, Many of the lighter fibre game loads 28/30grm are also in 65mm cases, So I would really like to find the part to keep the gun original and because I am curiouse as to how Browning modified the gun, If all you had to do was lengthen the push plate why did not Browning make the gun like that giving a greater choice of ammunition,seems odd.My quest to find the part goes on if anyone has any useful information or contacts on the subject please contact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fronty61 Posted December 7, 2017 Report Share Posted December 7, 2017 My favourite clay load after much trial is Eley VIP clay ammo in 28 grm 8 shot, bought a stack last year ( 70 mm)..mine are plastic wad, o.k. at Purbeck where I mainly shoot, available in fibre wad at the time. I `ve asked a Double auto collector friend in Florida to check amongst his friends for info, or even the actual item. Quite a few old-school gun shops stored Browning bits from the 60s..happy to hook up if we can make this happen ? welcome to p.m. me any time if you want to speak or email further. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matone Posted December 30, 2017 Report Share Posted December 30, 2017 Found one of the FN short aluminium cased cartridges I mentioned in my earlier post! Left is a 65mm cased load and to the right is an Eley 2" forn comparison. Hth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johncrow Posted December 31, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 Thanks for the picture and info Matone .I am still hoping that someone out there has a gun with the modification installed or at least a picture of it so I can make a copy.These guns enjoy a great following in the USA and I am sure that somewhere there has to be a record of this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 31, 2017 Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 https://www.bevfitchett.us/firearms-assembly/j.html is this what you are looking for .if not it’s ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johncrow Posted January 1, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2018 Hi Swinton, I am afraid I cant get the web site to load on my computer if you have another address for this I would be very grateful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 1, 2018 Report Share Posted January 1, 2018 http://www.randywakeman.com/BrowningDoubleAutoValBrowningsFinest.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a303 Posted January 1, 2018 Report Share Posted January 1, 2018 I was using mine today, 28” ribbed barrel fixed half choke, silver actioned Twelevtte. Cracking guns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fronty61 Posted January 1, 2018 Report Share Posted January 1, 2018 Great to see these great little guns being enjoyed..my `66 Twelvette comes out for monthly clays, to sharpen me up , then easy carry for walkup game..keep clean and don`t over lube, and enjoy ! Worth very little over here means we have no reason to keep them in the safe ? Looking for a spare barrel, or any parts at all, anything considered to keep it going, by the way ! I heard there`s a top Double auto man in Scotland..do we know him ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johncrow Posted January 7, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2018 Hi Fronty61 Yes his name is Stuart Rankine at www.gun repairs.co.uk he owns several DA`s and is very knowledgable about them.Hope this is of some use, sorry for the delay in replying but my computer was on the blink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fronty61 Posted January 7, 2018 Report Share Posted January 7, 2018 Thanks for that, I ll follow up ! Can`t have too many friends... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klatuveradanikto Posted January 11, 2018 Report Share Posted January 11, 2018 Got a 50,s double automatic with 2 barrels both 28" vented ribs full and 3/4 choke cartridge size is critical as they are only made for 2 3/4. Totally stripped and cleaned mine to every part great old gun to use at the clay ground Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fronty61 Posted January 11, 2018 Report Share Posted January 11, 2018 Welcome to the club ! My 1966 Twelvette is a joy to use, gets interest any time I take it out, shoots way better than I do..I do use 65/67 mm ammo as first load, then follow with 70mm so it cycles as it should..no problems with that...enjoy ! Good to see you serviced it yourself..not rocket science , and very rewarding to do ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klatuveradanikto Posted January 11, 2018 Report Share Posted January 11, 2018 7 hours ago, fronty61 said: Welcome to the club ! My 1966 Twelvette is a joy to use, gets interest any time I take it out, shoots way better than I do..I do use 65/67 mm ammo as first load, then follow with 70mm so it cycles as it should..no problems with that...enjoy ! Good to see you serviced it yourself..not rocket science , and very rewarding to do ! Yes I believe in stripping every gun I own and understanding the workings also as I like classic guns you never know what lies beneath. As you said it gives you a lot of satisfaction knowing you've done it yourself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johncrow Posted January 13, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2018 Hi Folks The Browning Twelvette seems to have good following and it is a very good gun,but I still have not found anyone who knows or has seen the modification Browning mention in their original manual that would enable the gun to fire 55mm cartridges,so if there is someone who has seen it or knows where I can find the information about it please let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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