It started with a conversation with a forum member that I was thinking about changing out my shotgun. I'd been running a Benelli M2 for fiver or six years and fancied a change. It's not that the Benelli wasn't good, to my mind it's the best semi shotgun in the world, bar none. But, I was thinking of going back to a pump. Perhaps a Super Nova, but nostalgia had me hankering for a Remy 870.
I had one at the time I had to have a four inch extension braised on to the barrel to make the 20" slug tube legal with then turn of the 1988 Ammendment (
ers!). But, I reckoned I'd have trouble finding the 2 3/4" frame that I'd want, not the modern 3.5".... And a pump needs far more attention to it to have it run so it matches a semi.... It can be done, but the time and effort on such a perishable skill is probably beyond me now and the other commitments that I have to fit in around shooting. Well, shooting fits in around them...So, the subject of an Auto 5 comes up. Obviously it's known to me and I did shoot a friends years ago that I didn't particularly enjoy. But, I was assured that chance are the bronze ring was fitted for light shells whilst standard were being shot. Perhaps. But, I didn't want to buy one. In a tradition of this member, he asked what I had to trade..... Mmmm, could get interesting....
See, he has several, including a couple of Section 1. So, he offers one to me and even adds that he has some Duracoat he's been wanting to try, so he'd even coat it! Deal done.
So I start to acquire other bits for it. Namely internals. Bronze washers, springs, action this, action that.... Another forum member then mentions an extended mag tube he knows of and seeks one out for me. A different forum member even facilitates the shipping and a forth member locates the synthetic stock! Now it hasn't taken very long to type this last paragraph, but, for one reason or another, it's taken close to 18 months to get it all sorted and together. So here it is....
A 1960 vintage Belgian made Browning Auto 5, 12ga, Section 1 semi shotgun. 28" barrel, Nordic Components mag tube and Champion synthetic stock. All of the springs and stuff are new and it's got it's name because it was a favourite of gangsters and this little Ma Bakers Dozen carries 13, 00 Buck cartridges!
