Auto 5 Magnum 20
I acquired a 1971 Browning Auto 5 Magnum Twenty from a friend and measured the barrel. It appears to be 24 inches and that it has been cut down. The front bead is different from my other A5's. It was originally a modified choke vent rib barrel. It feels good , although I have not shot it. Swings easy. What affect will the shortening do to it's pattern and is it now greatly diminished in value? Can I tell by removing the barrel what the original length was? Thanks.
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Measure the inside diameter at the Muzzle and compare with other 20 Gage Brownings also compare to bore size 6 inches back from the muzzle if you have tool to do this and see how much different if the barrel has been cut it will be larger at the muzzle then one not cut /not as much choke. 0 -
if it was cut any more that about 2", it is now a cylinder bore=no choke at all. if so, you could have removable chokes installed (invector/win choke/ accuchoke/et all). cost would be about $50 + what ever choke tubes you wanted. 0 -
Installing screw in chokes as MIKE WHISKEY suggests is certainly an option if you're going to use it for pheasant hunting or something comparable. However, if you're going to quail hunt the 24 inch cylinder barrel may be about perfect. I have one, about the same vintage as yours, and bought a barrel very much like the one you describe and it works great for quail and probably would be fine for dove too. You might keep the barrel you have as is and look for another original full length Browning barrel; probably $300 or so. You asked about impact to value, probably not much impact if you're selling to quail hunters although they usually prefer the 2 3/4 non magnum version. . .quite a bit of impact if selling to a collector. Great gun; enjoy. 0 -
Thanks everyone for the responses to my questions. For my use it would be quail and dove, and it is a beautiful gun in great condition. 0 -
On a side note, the Mag 20 is the only Auto 5 series that allows the friction rings to be positioned to allow shooting 2 3/4 light field loads up to the 3" artillery. This versitality generally makes it my number one choice on most hunting trips. I checked my owners manual and it only lists the modified choke on a 26" barrel. 0 -
You could always buy another barrel for it too. 0
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