CaptC Posted April 24, 2018 Report Share Posted April 24, 2018 I have been lucky to have found a genuine "sleeper" - Browning 20 bore Sporter circa 2001 with x 6 invector chokes, case etc - My question is, on the top barrel there is stamped " 2 3/4" and 3" Browning S.A "- Why both please? The stock is highly figured and I started refurbishing it (Red Kite oil) today Any thoughts appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted April 24, 2018 Report Share Posted April 24, 2018 I have a miroku 20 bore stamped exactly the same . I too wondered why . harnser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted April 24, 2018 Report Share Posted April 24, 2018 Because it has 3inch chambers and so can fire both 3inch and 2 3/4 inch cartridges! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptC Posted April 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2018 Thank you panoma 1. My thoughts were that perhaps the barrels were chambered differently - I note that some of the chokes are for steel shot but there are no markings (that I can see) on the gun saying it takes steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted April 24, 2018 Report Share Posted April 24, 2018 Browning don't stamp their barrels as Steel Proof, but from memory, if you get the guns handbook (maybe downloadable on line?) it will tell you whether the gun is suitable for use with commercially available HP steel cartridges! If it is, It will also tell you which factory (invector) choke constrictions are suitable for use with steel shot.....some are marked "steel" and some are not! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptC Posted April 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2018 Thank again - I did some research and the gun is suitable for steel shot and you are quite correct as some of the chokes are marked for steel. The only difficulty is that the RFD where I bought the gun thinks that its a grey import as there are no markings on the gun except the 2 3/4" and 3" markings on the top barrel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted April 24, 2018 Report Share Posted April 24, 2018 hello, sounds like a nice gunl you found to buy Paul, let us know how you get on shooting with it, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptC Posted April 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2018 PM'd you Gordon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted April 24, 2018 Report Share Posted April 24, 2018 4 hours ago, panoma1 said: Because it has 3inch chambers and so can fire both 3inch and 2 3/4 inch cartridges! Yes true . But surely all 3inch guns can shoot 2 3/4 and shorter shells . I have never seen a 3inch gun stamped this way . Harnser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptC Posted April 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2018 Thank you Harnser I have never seen two chamber sizes stamped on the barrels either. As you say, a gun stamped for 3" can shoot any cartridge below that length. The gun has no other markings except the proof marks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted April 25, 2018 Report Share Posted April 25, 2018 11 hours ago, Harnser said: Yes true . But surely all 3inch guns can shoot 2 3/4 and shorter shells . I have never seen a 3inch gun stamped this way . Harnser Yes also true, but if you look at a few modern imported guns, you will find many have this sort of cartridge length suitability on the barrel...for instance s/a with, for use with 2 3/4", 3" and 3 1/2" cartridges! The OP asked a question...I answered it!....if I'm wrong I'm sure someone will correct me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keeper96 Posted April 29, 2018 Report Share Posted April 29, 2018 My browning gold hunter has the same markings, marked as 3.5, 3 and 2.75 all on the barrel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptC Posted April 29, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2018 Thank you keeper96 - The numbers are only on the top barrel on mine. Still awaiting Browning to help me with which actual model it is - rumour has it from the gun trade that it is a "grey import" as the engraving(s) do no match any others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted May 1, 2018 Report Share Posted May 1, 2018 What proof marks does it carry? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptC Posted May 1, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2018 Hello The proof marks are quite hard to see - The top one is circular with x 6 segments with the letter "I" in the centre, the next one down is a circle with "SP" in the centre topped by three horns next is NP and lastly the figure 3 - which tell me it is made in Japan (thank you Google) Still awaiting a reply from Browning to tell me exactly which model it might be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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