browning auto 5

[moooose102]

my brother has a browning auto 5 made back when they used 2 & 9/16ths shells. 25 years ago, he had a gunsmith open the chamber up, so he could use 2 & 3/4 shells. so the"collector" value is pretty much gone anyway. now, he has decided that he would like to have a rib put on it. he talked to 2 gunsmiths, one said it could be done, that he has epoxied them on, and the other read him the riot act about "ruining" a pefectly good gun. well, if he cant hit much with it, it isnt much use to him. i thought that ribs were silver - soldered on. which is right, and is there a real reason this can not be done? it is old enough to be made in belguim.

 

[rbernie]

Ribs can be epoxied or silver-soldered on. Silver solder is the traditional way to add a rib.

The cost of adding a rib would likely be pretty dang close to the cost of buying a late-model Japanese barrel off Gunbroker or Auction Arms. Buying a Japanese barrel would also provide the benefit of removable chokes and steel shot capability. I have paid no more than $250 for a NIB Japanese barrel, and usually can find them for less than $200 if I'm willing to be patient. He can sell the old barrel if he needs to defray the cost of the new barrel.

I personally prefer the non-rib barrels both for their aesthetic and for their light weight.

 

[chris allen]

ribs

Poly -Rib uses a epoxy glue to fasten a aluminum rib on .I used to install a fair number of them at one time .It can be removed at some time if desired.
Chris