Anyone ever converted a Browning Gold to a HD shotty?

[orphanedcowboy]

I have one with a bad barrel and I am thinking of lopping it off at 20" and seeing how it patterns. The barrel isn't salvageable as far as I can see, at least not safely. The kid who had it before me shot a lot of large lettered steel shot thru the factory tube, I got it out but the threads are loose and the outside dimension of the barrel is .007” larger than any of my other Invector plus barrels.

The reason I chose 20" is because the rib support at 18" is actually less than 18", and there is one setting perfectly at 20"

 

[Virginian]

If the job is done properly it should give a nice open cylinder pattern. Have you tried any different tubes? It could be the threads are just slightly worn. 0.007" isn't much variation in today's tolerance climate. What tube was in it? I slung an awful lot of maximum load 2, 1, B, and T shot downrange thru an Improved Modified tube in a Browning with no ill effects at all. I would have used the Full tube, and did quite a bit of patterning with it, but the IM worked a hair better.

 

[orphanedcowboy]

I tried 7 or 8 different tubes and each one of them was very loose, even when seated there was movement although slightly. I measured 14 different barrel od's and this barrel is larger, and also the rib is turning loose at the choke tube. Regardless I am cutting it, I refuse to take a chance. I have it chucked in the lathe and will cut it when I get home from work and face it off square.

I don't know if I want a tritium or plain fiber optic front site. Once I drill and tap the front bead hole, I will parkerize the barrel and then teflon coat the entire gun and parts. I have stripped everything with 220 garnet to prep it all.

 

[rbernie]

Sounds like a fun project.

 

[Girodin]

You should document the project with pics. I think it would be interesting to see.

 

[RugerMcMarlin]

I'm probably wrong but I think that model is a gas automatic, with an overbored barrel, takes some pretty tricky tuning to make a shot gun shoot3 1/2 "down to trap loads. all inclusive. drastic change in barrel length, I think will cause a drastic change in useable pressure, and I frankly don't know how the overbore would figure in. I think it would further kill pressure. Like I said I'm probably wrong. but I don't think it would cycle.

 

[Dave McCracken]

I know that on 1100s, barrel length has to be over 21" or reliability is compromised.

Still, this sounds like a good project.....

 

[orphanedcowboy]

Well, if the 20" barrel would kill it, it is too late. I lopped it and faced it when I hit the door this morning. Barrel mic'd out at .740" on the money, I have no intention of shooting slugs thru it and if I wanted it is meaty enough for just about any type of choke tube I would want

Besides there are a number of gas operated guns using 18" barrels and 20" barrels, Mossberg 930 for starters, but the FNH SLP comes to mind and it uses the same gas piston:

FN Self-Loading Police Shotgun (SLP)

Gauge: 12 Gauge with 3” chamber

- Operation: Active Valve Gas System

- Barrel Length: 18”

- Overall Length: 38.75”

- Height: 7.9”

- Width: 2.4”

- Length of Pull: 14”

- Weight: 7.7 lbs. empty

- Ammunition Capacity: 6+1 with 2-3/4” shells or 5+1 with 3" shells

- Choke: Standard Invector™ improved cylinder and Standard Invector™ modified interchangeable choke tube included

This gun will be Teflon coated, and it is easy to modify the gas ports if need be, and this is also a o-ring less very early mid-90's version barrel, they are temperamental anyhow unless you know what your doing. I already have the synthetic stocks, and enough parts to tinker with it until it does work like I think it should. I currently have $250 in the project, should wind up after Teflon coating at $400 including a new FOB.

I will snap some pictures of the barrel and forend together for reference.

 

[orphanedcowboy]

Where I am now, will update along the way

 

[mnrivrat]

It should work OK. The point of 21" is very valid for the 1100 and has to do with not only the amount of gas available but the duration .

The metered gas piston system in yours should take care of one of the two, and it is likely to be OK for duration - just no way to 100% gauantee that. Shoot it and find out for us.

 

[orphanedcowboy]

I have plenty of Gold's, SX series, a couple of SLP's, so if it doesn't work I can use the parts someday, if they should ever wear out.

Here is what I began with:

 

[RugerMcMarlin]

If your gold takes invector tubes like the FN SLP, then its not overbored. OBs take invector plus. That just leaves port size determination. Ok you talked me into it, might work.

Its been years but I also discovered bbl length issues trying to make a pin gun W/ WIN 1400.

 

[RaceM]

Nice job on facing off the tube. It's great having proper tools, ain't it? That oughtta be real pretty when you're done.