Shearwater Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 Hi all, one of the lads has just bought a used Browning 525 and I noticed on the barrels the markings are: 2 3/4" AND 3" the "and" is in capitals which to a layman like myself means importance, but why has it got both sizes stamped why not just 3" ? Just puzzling me and since we can't go play thought I would ask to fountain of all knowledge PW Stay safe lads Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob85 Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 19 minutes ago, Shearwater said: Hi all, one of the lads has just bought a used Browning 525 and I noticed on the barrels the markings are: 2 3/4" AND 3" the "and" is in capitals which to a layman like myself means importance, but why has it got both sizes stamped why not just 3" ? Just puzzling me and since we can't go play thought I would ask to fountain of all knowledge PW Stay safe lads Can't be 100% but i would guess it's a 3" chamber, meaning it can shoot 2 3/4" cartridges too and it's proofed for both Quote Link to post Share on other sites
steve s×s Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 6 minutes ago, Rob85 said: Can't be 100% but i would guess it's a 3" chamber, meaning it can shoot 2 3/4" cartridges too and it's proofed for both Yep it does what it says on the box (barrel) 🙂 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
strimmer_13 Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 Is it to do with steel shot proofing? So it's 3'' steel proof? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
arjimlad Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 The steel proofing will be marked with a fleur de lys. Not every 3" gun is steel proofed. My Browning 525 has the same chamber length markings as the gun you mention, and the fleur de lys, but obviously check for the fleur de lys on the steel side of things. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shearwater Posted January 5 Author Share Posted January 5 28 minutes ago, arjimlad said: The steel proofing will be marked with a fleur de lys. Not every 3" gun is steel proofed. My Browning 525 has the same chamber length markings as the gun you mention, and the fleur de lys, but obviously check for the fleur de lys on the steel side of things. It has the fleur de lys for steel but may I ask how old is your gun, this one has letters MT after the serial number so guess that's 2006, right? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
arjimlad Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 @Shearwater Mine has the MT serial number too which is indeed 2006 according to https://www.browning.com/support/date-your-firearm/superposed-shotgun.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dangerous Brian Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 (edited) I was wondering the same (just too chicken to ask) as it says the same 2 3/4" and 3" marking on my Daughter's GTS. Not sure about HP steel proof but found the mark below on it. Is that the fleur de lys thingy? Edited January 5 by Dangerous Brian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Centrepin Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 2 minutes ago, Dangerous Brian said: I was wondering the same (just too chicken to ask) as it says the same on my Daughter's GTS. Not sure about HP steel proof but found the mark below on it. Is that the fleur de lys thingy? Yes these are the fleur-de-lis thingy for steel proofed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dangerous Brian Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 Perfect. Thanks Centrepin! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shearwater Posted January 5 Author Share Posted January 5 1 hour ago, Dangerous Brian said: Perfect. Thanks Centrepin! Don't be chicken to ask on this forum because I'm sure everyone will agree if your educated your safer with a gun and ammo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Moblies Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 Often wondered the same I have a Browning Gold Sporting Clays SA and that says 2 3/4 and 3” on the barrel but wondered about the action Quote Link to post Share on other sites
enfieldspares Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 (edited) The dual cartridge marking is odd nowadays but not at all so odd in the past. Commercial market Webley revolvers would be marked on the barrel as .450/.455 on the MarK VI and on the earlier Webley WG would be marked .455/.476. I recall American made .22 Rimfire rifles stamped by their maker as ".22 Short, Long and Long Rifle" and so on. But on a shotgun it does seem a bit "stating the blooming obvious" to mark it not only 3" but also 2 3/4". Edited January 9 by enfieldspares Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gunman Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 Chambers are slightly tapered toward the cones . The deeper the chamber the wider it is at the breech . As a result you can experience problems with extraction if using 2&1/2" lightweight cases . The makings of 2&3/4" / 3" is a way of saying dont use shorter shells . A story I heard about Ruger when complaints about extraction and ejection problems with their Red Label guns , was that " these are American guns made for 3" American shells . If you are using that short European **** you have to expect problems .True or not it has a grain of reality . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.