Browning Light 12 - any good?
- Thread starter rick_reno
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With that huge humpback, no rib and a polychoke? No.
With a modern rib, modern chokes, and a less drastic geometry, but the prince-of-wales stock and the same checkering design? Yes.
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=020B&cat_id=011&type_id=368
It's gas-operated, self-compensating for light or heavy loads, and it doesn't dance a jig every time you pull the trigger.
If you want a long-recoil gun, Franchi still makes them, but again, with more user-friendly geometry, and a rib.
http://www.franchiusa.com/firearms/48al.php
orphanedcowboy
Member
I like to dance a jig, besides I prefer mine to go boom each time I pull the trigger.
You can still find them, and they will outlast any modern gun you can buy new.
You can still find them, and they will outlast any modern gun you can buy new.
kentucky_smith
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My 1911s, Bhps and my Glocks all dance a jig when I shoot them, maybe I should get rid of them and get one of them waltzing revolvers.
orphanedcowboy
Member
And it is a shame too!
rbernie
Contributing Member
I have both Auto5s and 48ALs. I like both very much, but they are different beasts.
The Auto5 has features that I like, such as the post-war Speed Load capability and oversize cross-bolt safety, that the 48AL does not have. On the other hand, the 48AL is slightly easier to strip, is lighter and trimmer due to its aluminum receiver, and can be bought (at least in the smaller gauges) for far less than a comparable Auto5. The 48AL also has some features that are kinda goofy, like operating the shell release latches off the barrel and not off the bolt (meaning that you can't empty the magazine by cycling the action), and having the bolt release on the left side of the receiver.
In the end, some folk don't like the long-recoil action - ArmedBear, you are clearly one of 'em.
I don't find the shooting experience of the long recoil action to be markedly different from that of my other autoloaders (Winchesters and Remingtons, mostly), but I do feel that the Auto5 has a far greater longevity than other gas-loaders. It's funny how many gas-loaders I pick up these days that simply don't 'balance right' compared to a long-recoil design. Some do, but many feel overly thick and front-heavy in the off hand (not in the barrel) when compared to a Light12 with a longish non-vent rib barrel....
I'm with you there, as well.
Lots of shotguns suck, and suckiness is overrepresented in semiautos. The Auto 5 just isn't the only one that doesn't.
(Yes, some Browning gas guns tend to be some of the worst offenders in the "muzzle-heavy slug" category, though I haven't tried a Silver yet -- the similar SX3 does feel quite good. Fortunately, there's life beyond Browning. It's all sunshine and rainbows out here, I promise.
And Browning probably shouldn't have dumped the Auto 5 until they had something else that was at least its equal in the handling department.)
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I have my grandad's light twelve in the save. Great gun. its fitted with a vented recoil pad that makes the only bad thing about taking it into the field the weight.
Unfortunately it isn't a safe queen. It has been a working gun since the day it was purchased in 53. The stock has some wear to it. The finish is worn in a few places. But load it up and pull the trigger it will still go bang every time.
I tore it down last year for a good deep cleaning. I doubt it had ever been taken down further than removing the barrel for cleaning.
Great guns. Not as preferred to use as the newer LIGHTER guns currently produced. But who cares. 66 years of use and can still knock just about any bird out of the air.
Unfortunately it isn't a safe queen. It has been a working gun since the day it was purchased in 53. The stock has some wear to it. The finish is worn in a few places. But load it up and pull the trigger it will still go bang every time.
I tore it down last year for a good deep cleaning. I doubt it had ever been taken down further than removing the barrel for cleaning.
Great guns. Not as preferred to use as the newer LIGHTER guns currently produced. But who cares. 66 years of use and can still knock just about any bird out of the air.
xmanpike
Member
I have one that was my great grandfathers and I believe was made in 1931 FN factory in Belgium prior to the Nazi's bombing it. It has original barrel, stock, and forearm. Recently replaced the friction rings and hunted it last weekend for dove in Uvalde, TX Shot my limit Saturday despite torrential pouring of rain. Great gun.
Need Ages for Browning Light 12's
I have just inherited my fathers Belgium Browning Light 12 (#68G35388) and a Japanese Light 12 (#3G3662) and need an age for insurance purposes.
If I understand the aging process correctly, the Belgium is a 1968 Model and the Japanese is a 1963 model but just need confirmation from the experts.
Thank you.
Tod
I have just inherited my fathers Belgium Browning Light 12 (#68G35388) and a Japanese Light 12 (#3G3662) and need an age for insurance purposes.
If I understand the aging process correctly, the Belgium is a 1968 Model and the Japanese is a 1963 model but just need confirmation from the experts.
Thank you.
Tod
orphanedcowboy
Member
HaZnavy said:
They are both Belgium guns, if the 3G gun has a Japanese barrel, someone added it.
This gun was actually made in 1963 based on the 3G serial. If the 3G gun has a Japanese barrel, someone added it.
The 68G gun is a 1968 model
They started with the #G/M/V style serial designations in March 1958.
Example:
Light 12
8G = 1958
9G = 1959
ect.
Standard 12
8M = 1958
9M = 1959
ect.
Magnum 12
8V = 1958
9V = 1959
ect.
and in 1968 they went to a 2 digit year code, 68, 69, ect until the end of Belgian production in 1976.
This info is directly out of the Shirley and Vanderlinden book, Browning Auto 5 Shotguns, The Belgian FN Production.
rbernie
Contributing Member
The Browning web site also has this information, if you need to demonstrate it.
http://www.browning.com/customerservice/dategun/detail.asp?id=13
http://www.browning.com/customerservice/dategun/detail.asp?id=13
Browning Light Twelve Question
Orphaned Cowboy. I'm hoping a Tarrant County neighbor can help me identify the year a shotgun was made and what it may be worth (ballpark). Browning Light Twelve - Belgium made. Serial # 37677. It is in immaculate shape. The shotgun belonged to my girl-type-friend's father who passed away last fall. I would like to buy the shotgun from her but want to know what I'm stepping off into.
Thanks, tuffy d.
Orphaned Cowboy. I'm hoping a Tarrant County neighbor can help me identify the year a shotgun was made and what it may be worth (ballpark). Browning Light Twelve - Belgium made. Serial # 37677. It is in immaculate shape. The shotgun belonged to my girl-type-friend's father who passed away last fall. I would like to buy the shotgun from her but want to know what I'm stepping off into.
Thanks, tuffy d.
orphanedcowboy
Member
If that is all of the serial # it was made in the last half of 1912. Are there any other letters or digits? Are the screws serial numbered to match? What about the barrel? Wood? Pictures would be a huge help in given a ballpark figure/value.
I sent you a PM with my cell phone number, give me a shout and I will take a look at it for you.
NoAlibi
Member
Is it just me?
Even though my eyes and reflexes have been meandering in a southerly direction over the last decade, I occasionally still manage a respectable score on the skeet field and in the game fields.
However, I have never been able to shoot the Humpback with any consistency at all. For some reason when I shoot low gun (international skeet and in the field) and mount the gun to my shoulder my eye seems to focus on the back of the hump and before I get back on track the target/bird is no longer presenting a reasonable shot.
Is this just a mental block for me or do other shooters experience the same thing?
Even though my eyes and reflexes have been meandering in a southerly direction over the last decade, I occasionally still manage a respectable score on the skeet field and in the game fields.
However, I have never been able to shoot the Humpback with any consistency at all. For some reason when I shoot low gun (international skeet and in the field) and mount the gun to my shoulder my eye seems to focus on the back of the hump and before I get back on track the target/bird is no longer presenting a reasonable shot.
Is this just a mental block for me or do other shooters experience the same thing?
andrewstorm
member
I had a light 12 and it was a caddy of a gun,only dont try to shooot buckhammer remingtons,more like hunter hammer!
rbernie
Contributing Member
I've never had this issue. I also keep both eyes open when mounting the shotgun, and that helps keep me focused on the target.
NoAlibi
Member
No can do. I wear contacts with a mono-vision prescription. This allows me to see relatively near and far without wearing bi-focal glasses or expensive bi-focal contacts that didn't work for me. Most folks can adapt to this prescription, but not everyone. My right eye, my master eye, is set at a focal distance to see the front sight of my pistol the clearest and almost equally clear, the rib and both beads on my shotguns. My left eye is set for distance.
If I keep both eyes open and I shift my focus to the target my left eye takes over resulting in shooting behind a left-to-right crossing target and ahead of a right-to-left crossing target.
The downside to this is that the clay target is never really clear when I see it with my master eye, but I've learned to live with it and it doesn't appear to cause me a problem discerning leads. However, for pistol work with open sights it is a great benefit because it just about forces you, at least me, to maintain a focus on the front sight.
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rbernie
Contributing Member
I am set for monovision via surgery, but I had my left eye set for close up and my right eye set up for distance.
NoAlibi
Member
Sure hope you're a lefty!
I almost never notice the rather large difference (There is a limit the number of diopters for it to work.) in focal distances - it's just that automatic and I never cease to be amazed at the function of the human brain. Notwithstanding the current political climate!
I might mention one other downside. I'm a former Marine pilot (C-123, C-130 and U-10A) as well as a current General Aviation pilot. I've noticed that when depth perception is really critical, especially on landing, that there has been a problem with the alternating focus (I am not aware of it while it's happening, but the results are obvious.) as my eyes pick out certain reference points. Not a hazard with most tricycle gear airplanes where you are mostly looking over the nose, but in some tailwheel airplanes that require a real high nose attitude you are forced to look on either side for reference it becomes a critical problem. It is solvable - I have special prescription bifocals I put on over my contacts when I'm in landing mode. You might find some parallels like this in some of the specialized things that you do.
I wish you a successful outcome on your surgery. BTW, if you haven't been warned about aspirin and other drugs that affect platelet aggregation you should have a talk with your surgeon - very important in eye surgery if you want to minimize floaters!
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In 1971 my dad and grandfather each bought a brand new Belgium made Light 12. My dad hunted with his the rest of his life but its still in good shape. My grandfather took his hunting a few times and just didn't like it so it stayed wrapped up for years until I got it and it is almost perfect. Since I got my grandfather's my dad bought my brother one made in the late 60s some years back. I love them and love to shoot them. We have all 3 of them in a safe but honestly don't shoot them that much anymore.
I have a Browning Light 12 that my Grandfather purchased new in 1953. This gun has not missed a single duck, pheasant or deer hunting season since it was purchased. Say what you will, but I have seen a lot of newer semi shotguns turn into single shots in a muddy goose field, and more than one SBE go belly up in a duck blind, but am hard pressed to remember my A5 failing to go bang and cycle... YMMV.
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