Browning B25 barrels

[JBS]

Can anyone tell me if the Browning B25 barrels are interchangeable? I’ve got a C3 that’s 30in choked 5/8 and 7/8, it’s shoots really well at its current choke although originally started life at 3/4 and full.

I’m thinking of buying a second set of barrels or a full gun for the barrels alone but in 28in with 1/4 and 1/2 or thereabouts so I can shoot steel as I have for the past few years. I want to keep the guns original barrels choked as they are for game days 

The doner gun would be a lower grade a1

[PeterHenry]

I shouldn't think so - aren't b25's hand made guns?

Not even the later b325 / 425 / 525 have interchabablebarrels.

[archi]

I don’t think they are readily interchangeable.

only thing you could do is speak to someone in the trade who works on these and converts A1 into customs as they might be able to advise what can be done.

i presume it may be possible with a fair bit of work

Edited July 1, 2023 by archi

[Fargo]

Ask James Gibbs in Bath.

Woukd cost a lot to sort out .

Use steel 4’s with 3/4 choke zero issue before x 1000’s 

[JBS]

Looks like I might go down the Teague route! I just don’t want to ruin the way it shoots!! 

[Westley]

Even the 725' s are not interchangeable.  In fact the 725 with 2 sets of barrels includes 2 separate forends.

[tweedledee]

On 01/07/2023 at 14:48, JBS said:

Looks like I might go down the Teague route! I just don’t want to ruin the way it shoots!! 

Surely that wil ruin it's originality?

[Scully]

Why can’t you just use standard steel and then you could leave the gun as original? 

[JBS]

14 hours ago, tweedledee said:

Surely that wil ruin it's originality?

Yes that’s the problem but I think we’re only going to see it more and more and will eventually make the gun more saleable 

13 hours ago, Scully said:

Why can’t you just use standard steel and then you could leave the gun as original? 

It’s choked 5/8 and 7/8, maximum for standard steel through that gun would be half and besides it patterns tight with lead, I don’t think it would shoot very well with steel at that choke even if it were recommended. 

[Scully]

1 hour ago, JBS said:

Yes that’s the problem but I think we’re only going to see it more and more and will eventually make the gun more saleable 

It’s choked 5/8 and 7/8, maximum for standard steel through that gun would be half and besides it patterns tight with lead, I don’t think it would shoot very well with steel at that choke even if it were recommended. 

Up to you of course, but you can use standard steel through any choke. 

[Gunman]

Having had quite a bit of experience with B25s , custom upgrading , building new barrels , making multi barrel sets , so the answer is ,interchangeable  no .   Some may fit other guns some wont .Same as any "hand made " production gun . It may be that the barrels from one gun can be  fitted to another with only minor work  .Its not just the fit of the barrel into the action , its the connecting of the forend ,best if there are separate forends with the B25  ,the cocking linkage  and the bites .Fitting barrels B25s is more complicated than other O/U's or many side by sides 

[JBS]

6 hours ago, Gunman said:

Having had quite a bit of experience with B25s , custom upgrading , building new barrels , making multi barrel sets , so the answer is ,interchangeable  no .   Some may fit other guns some wont .Same as any "hand made " production gun . It may be that the barrels from one gun can be  fitted to another with only minor work  .Its not just the fit of the barrel into the action , its the connecting of the forend ,best if there are separate forends with the B25  ,the cocking linkage  and the bites .Fitting barrels B25s is more complicated than other O/U's or many side by sides 

Great, this is what I needed know, thanks! I was planning two forends as they obviously come off with the barrels and don’t want to have to remove the forend each time 

 

9 hours ago, Scully said:

Up to you of course, but you can use standard steel through any choke. 

But only through a steel proofed barrel? This gun is 1970 and isn’t steel proofed. I use gamebore bio or eley eco and neither recommend tighter than half 

Edited July 4, 2023 by JBS

[Scully]

9 hours ago, JBS said:

 

 

But only through a steel proofed barrel? This gun is 1970 and isn’t steel proofed. I use gamebore bio or eley eco and neither recommend tighter than half 

No, through any choke in any nitro proofed gun. 

I’ve put HP steel through an old Browning 2000, choked at 3/4, and a couple of my old Winchester 101’s have had HP steel through them; they’re perfectly capable, and a bloke on here has had one proofed for HP steel. Passed no problem. 
Teague recommend nothing tighter than half through even HP proofed barrels, ( but their insurers appear to be running things at that company ) so the question has to be asked…’why bother steel proofing your gun?’ 
My nephew bought a new Browning Crown, the barrels of which carried a bright orange sticker stating ‘lead only’. 
He submitted it for HP steel proofing,  thereby proving he needn’t have done. 
With one exception all my guns are at least 40 years old, none of which are steel proofed. Amongst them are two classic trap guns, choked full/full, and full/xtra full. When lead goes I’ll be using steel through them. 

[JBS]

16 hours ago, Scully said:

No, through any choke in any nitro proofed gun. 

I’ve put HP steel through an old Browning 2000, choked at 3/4, and a couple of my old Winchester 101’s have had HP steel through them; they’re perfectly capable, and a bloke on here has had one proofed for HP steel. Passed no problem. 
Teague recommend nothing tighter than half through even HP proofed barrels, ( but their insurers appear to be running things at that company ) so the question has to be asked…’why bother steel proofing your gun?’ 
My nephew bought a new Browning Crown, the barrels of which carried a bright orange sticker stating ‘lead only’. 
He submitted it for HP steel proofing,  thereby proving he needn’t have done. 
With one exception all my guns are at least 40 years old, none of which are steel proofed. Amongst them are two classic trap guns, choked full/full, and full/xtra full. When lead goes I’ll be using steel through them. 

So you’re saying it’s just the manufacturer covering their backside and protecting themselves against worst case scenario? 

To be fair it does make sense but it’s scaring people off from using steel altogether which is a shame. An old boy was telling me last year he would give up shooting when lead goes and wouldn’t  risk shooting steel through his pride and joy! Not sure how much joy they will bring in the cabinet for the rest of his days 

[Scully]

20 hours ago, JBS said:

So you’re saying it’s just the manufacturer covering their backside and protecting themselves against worst case scenario? 

To be fair it does make sense but it’s scaring people off from using steel altogether which is a shame. An old boy was telling me last year he would give up shooting when lead goes and wouldn’t  risk shooting steel through his pride and joy! Not sure how much joy they will bring in the cabinet for the rest of his days 

That’s how I see it anyhow. 
There’s a lot of fear and scaremongering surrounding steel shot, which leads to all manner of confusion. 
Some RFD’s won’t even entertain accepting part ex’ if your gun isn’t steel shot proofed, on the grounds ‘no one wants them’, but will happily sell you one, thereby making them a liar! Those that will accept them will offer a pittance for your non steel shot proofed gun as a trade in, but you won’t get a discounted price on the purchase of one. 🤷‍♂️

One dealer told me that the steel proofed Teague chokes on a non steel proofed Miroku I was interested in would take care of that ‘particular problem’. Will it? According to Teague you shouldn’t use anything tighter than half choke for HP steel, but if that’s the case why pay for a new steel shot proofed gun or have one proofed for HP steel when current advice ( dependant on who you’re talking to ) is that you can shoot HP steel through your non steel proofed gun as long as you don’t go tighter than half, but standard steel through ANY choke in ANY nitro proofed gun? 
It’s no wonder folk are confused; it doesn’t help when manufacturers give conflicting advice and RFD’s take advantage of the ensuing confusion. 
It cost my nephew nigh on 600 quid to have his fixed choke ( 1/4 & 1/2 ) gun Teagued and proofed for HP steel. He had been informed by a RFD whose advice he sought, that he shouldn’t put steel through his ‘lead only’ barrels.
I told him he could put any steel through it as it was choked no tighter than half. 

For his own peace of mind he got the work done, which is fair enough, but he’s now where he was prior to having the work done; owning a gun which is capable of handling HP steel but because of Teagues advice through nothing tighter than half, which is exactly where he was before he stumped up 600 quid! 🤔

It would be laughable if it weren’t so annoying. 
As an aside, the barrels of even a brand new HP steel shot proofed gun will be scored if that wad fails. 

Edited July 6, 2023 by Scully

[Gordon R]

Quote

Some RFD’s won’t even entertain accepting part ex’ if your gun isn’t steel shot proofed, on the grounds ‘no one wants them’, but will happily sell you one, thereby making them a liar!

Gun shop in the north west ran that one past me a year or so ago. "No call for guns which aren't steel proofed", but the bulk of their stock hadn't been proofed for steel.

[Scully]

16 hours ago, Gordon R said:

Gun shop in the north west ran that one past me a year or so ago. "No call for guns which aren't steel proofed", but the bulk of their stock hadn't been proofed for steel.

Yep. Mate had an altercation with Malmo staff regarding this very issue. Their loss; a few of my mates used to spend a lot of money there. No longer. 
 

[Gordon R]

It wasn't Malmo - always found them excellent.

[Westley]

42 minutes ago, Gordon R said:

It wasn't Malmo - always found them excellent.

I would second that  !

I have just had an Email query answered by Management Staff........despite their being on holiday. 

[Scully]

1 hour ago, Gordon R said:

It wasn't Malmo - always found them excellent.

As have I mostly, but I haven’t tried trading a gun there since the lead shot ban proposal.
Several mates have ( specifically including guns bought from them ) but they say they won’t anymore. Two are ‘keepers whom have spent a small fortune there over the years. 🤷‍♂️

[Gordon R]

Scully - as you have pointed out many times, steel proof is like the emperor's new clothes. Some will sell you a gun (not steel proofed) and tell you it doesn't matter.

Come trade in time, it suddenly matters. It doesn't sit well with me. They are all in the business and have to make money, but some of the rubbish that pops out of their mouth - priceless.

A few years ago, a mate give up shooting and sold his Arrieta number 2 sidelock, to a gun shop just over the border in Yorkshire. The gun dealer offered peanuts, saying they were an unknown make. I did offer to buy the gun from Mike, as it was worth a chunk. Fast forward a few weeks, the same gun on sale at triple the price - from a "famous Spanish gun maker". 

Edited July 7, 2023 by Gordon R

[Scully]

3 hours ago, Gordon R said:

Scully - as you have pointed out many times, steel proof is like the emperor's new clothes. Some will sell you a gun (not steel proofed) and tell you it doesn't matter.

Come trade in time, it suddenly matters. It doesn't sit well with me. They are all in the business and have to make money, but some of the rubbish that pops out of their mouth - priceless.

A few years ago, a mate give up shooting and sold his Arrieta number 2 sidelock, to a gun shop just over the border in Yorkshire. The gun dealer offered peanuts, saying they were an unknown make. I did offer to buy the gun from Mike, as it was worth a chunk. Fast forward a few weeks, the same gun on sale at triple the price - from a "famous Spanish gun maker". 

I know how he feels. Have seen this before. 👍