Any Browning / Stevens Experts about.

[zerochance]

Recently acquired a Western Field 'Ranger' 30 12 gauge. It is a Stevens 520 rebranded for sale through Sears. And the Stevens 520 is one of the old shotguns used by the military as a 'Trench Gun' I've wanted one of these for some time, but the 'real deal' one's are well out of my price range. I don't really care about it being a genuine trench gun as I intended to modernize the gun a bit anyway and doing so to an original would be, well, wrong.

Here is my question. I know this gun is built on a patent from Browning. What I am wondering is if anyone knows if a synthetic stock designed to fit either the Browning A5 or BPS shotgun follows the same general 'fit' as this Stevens shotgun will need? I don't mind if I have to do a little fitting or adjusting, but if the angle is all wrong or some such I won't be able to do much.

 

[rcmodel]

No, it wouldn't even be close.

rc

 

[toiville2feathers]

I'm not an expert on this browning patent by any means, but I've been around two of them ( a western field and a J.C. Higgins) my whole life and I will share my experience with you. So here goes.
1. This gun must have been one of the worst trench guns ever. The two I have are very susceptable to jamming, if they get ever so little dirt in the action they give you trouble. The bolt breech lock up mechanisims are somewhat similar to an Ithaca model 37. There are some pieces in their that are activated by inertia and have to be super clean and super smooth to work correctly. I fact each part in that action is marked with the same 4 digits. I can't remember if it was the serial # or the work order it was built on. All the pieces are hand fitted resulting in all parts having the same ID #. So check that out.
2. The tang for the rear stock is pretty long, so I suspect that to have a synthetic stock that would/or could be modified to fit is going to fairly difficult to do. Most original stocks are cracked in the pistol grip area because the long tang weakens the stock. Maybe Houge or Ramline makes what you need.
Good Luck, and that action is pretty basic and not hard to figure out.

 

[Fred Fuller]

I intended to modernize the gun a bit anyway and doing so to an original would be, well, wrong.

Not to mention expensive, given the prices for original genuine trench guns these days...

IIRC it was the 520-30 "one hump" version that was used as a trench gun. The older 520 had a "double hump" receiver reminiscent of the BAR. I don't have my copy of Canfield's book at hand, but here's an exerpt - http://www.brucecanfield.com/uscombatshotguns.html

Again IIRC, Jack First had replacement stocks for the 520-30 at one time, if you need one... http://www.jackfirstgun.com/.

 

[Hunterdad]

I've got a takedown model that I keep in the back of my jeep in a paintball gun case. Great gun.

As far as stocks, numerich had some wood replacement stocks, but that's it.