Browning Supersport

Down the years Browning has produced plenty of clay guns, and their current range is comprehensive. So whether you fancy a Cynergy, Ultra XS, Prestige or even a pretty side-plated Heritage Sporter there is plenty of choice to suit all needs. So why add another to the mix?  Well, the ethos of the Supersport is that it is a no compromise clay gun; it would certainly perform well enough if it was taken game shooting! Aesthetically speaking it has no game shooting pretensions unlike other guns in the range such as the Prestige that can serve equally well on either.  Its target market - if you will excuse the pun - is the serious competition shooter looking for a solid reliable gun that will enable him to perform at his best.  Have they succeeded? Let’s have a look…..

If It Ain’t Broke….

The 525 action is the same one that evolved over decades from the classic John Moses Browning designed Superposed/B25. We could once again go over the technical ins and outs of it but that would rather be like explaining how a wheel works, so long has this design been in existence. Suffice it to say that it is extremely robust courtesy of its full width hinge pins and locking bolts with reliability that is seldom bettered. It is also one of the few mass produced actions that requires a considerable amount of finishing by hand which certainly adds to its appeal. 

The hammers fall using a recoil-operated system as do most guns on the market today, whilst the trigger feels positive enough with a wide comfortable blade finished in gold. Though those not keen on that style can always choose one of the two others that are included in the box. Barrel selector and safety are combined in the usual manner on the top tang. Everything about the gun feels well put together and positive in operation from the safety catch to the top lever; everything is black and white in use, with no shades of grey. The scroll engraving is nicely done with some excellent detail work especially on the forend metalwork and around the top lever. The overall result being very pleasing to the eye and one eminently suitable for a competition gun. Game scenes on the side of a sporter look positively odd in my opinion.

Not so Dirty Thirties

Strangely for an out and out competition gun the Supersport is only available with 28 or 30”; however that is where the bad news ends. The chrome-lined, 18.7mm bored ‘Invector Plus’ monobloc tubes sport long forcing cones, these attributes combining to minimise recoil and throw consistent patterns. The patterns are further optimised thanks to the extended, titanium, Briley chokes supplied, which when fed a diet of Gamebore Black Gold’s dealt with every challenge posed by the layout at Wylye valley. The 3.39 lb barrels (inc Brileys) was reasonably light. Further weight saving is down to the thin, middle ribs helping to keep the gun feeling very pointable in use, weight at the front end is kept to a minimum whilst the middle rib is solid from the forend back which again helps the gun to feel balanced.  The top rib is vented and unusually for a gun of this type just 7mm wide and 5mm deep with a white bead foresight and mid rib brass bead to allow shooters to line up a perfect figure of eight sight picture. Finishing is as you might expect done to a high standard with no signs of rivelling on the lustrous surface of the barrels.

Wood You?...

From an aesthetic point of view the woodwork looks excellent as befits the gun’s Grade V equivalent status, being finely figured and with a deep yet rich colour with two nicely formed ‘teardrops’ just to the rear of the action . My only grumble which is a minor one is that it has a semi oil finish, whereas I prefer the more traditional oiled look even on a clay gun. The semi glossy finish is probably the more practical option and will most likely help to prolong the appearance of the wood over years of sustained heavy use but to my eye it looks a little artificial. Though that should not be confused with the mirror-like finishes of polyurethane covered stocks fitted to budget guns in years gone by.

Between the hands it certainly seems to fit well out of the box, with a chunky beavertail forend that gives plenty of purchase and seems to follow the recent vogue once again towards larger woodwork forward of the pin. One other minor grumble here is that the chequering felt a little sharp to the touch, I always wear gloves when shooting but some who tried it thought it could be a little uncomfortable over prolonged use, until it had worn down a little.

The chequering on the butt felt more comfortable; ensuring a good purchase on the medium radius grip. Stock dimensions are well thought out for a sporter with drops of 35mm and 55mm at comb and heel respectively ensuring a predictably sportersque view up the barrels. Whilst the length of pull at 14 ¾ inches to the adjustable trigger unit will suit most. A further 1/8” of adjustment both fore and aft is also available from the trigger so with a minimum of work it should be a gun that most can shoot well straight off the rack. A solid plastic plate finishes it off in place of a recoil pad, though the gun seems to absorb recoil readily enough in its current form though those that habitually suffer from recoil could easily get this upgraded. A final comment on the stock should go to the inlaid brass oval which although traditionally a feature of game guns does not look out of place on a premium design such as this. 

Just How Super?

In use, the component parts of the Supersport gel nicely to produce a very convincing performance. Handling is quick yet steady and it was in my opinion one of the softest shooting Brownings I had shouldered for some time. The narrow rib which I initially thought might feel a little strange on a clay gun felt perfectly natural and target acquisition was satisfactory. Others who tried it had had the same opinion with one industry insider declaring; ‘I think they may have got it bang on with this one’. Dusted clays abounded as the Browning made its way round the course and it’s a gun that rewards you with confidence, it feels as solid as it looks and it doesn’t take long before it feels like an old friend. 

Priced competitively this is a gun that should win market share for Browning! A marque that has in recent years gained a reputation as a good place for clayshooters to start their career before moving onto something else. With the Supersport there is now little reason to move on and I would not be surprised to see some of these guns in amongst the winners at some of this year’s major events. Overall I enjoyed the experience a great deal and would not hesitate to recommend it as a gun for the serious clay shot! But what about a 32” inch version as well?

WE RECKON:
A serious competition gun with a top flight pedigree and the looks to match. Easy to shoot and friendly on the shoulder. A reliable sporter that mechanically is as bullet-proof as a Challenger tank

PRICE:
£3,500