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Browning B25

Browning B25

This test gun is a rare thing – a C grade 30” barrelled, sideplated, over and under 28 bore from Browning. It is on the shelves at Reeves Guns at Royal Berkshire and the bottom line is £23K, but this not an ordinary gun. It is a bench-made Belgian B25 built at Herstal, rather than one of the excellent machine made guns emanating from the B.C.Miroku factory in Japan and marketed under the Browning name (such as the popular 525 and new and the new 725). This is a dedicated game gun but might also be used for informal clays when fun and style are the main objectives.

First impressions are very positive, it’s both lively and pointable. It’s pretty too, with excellent wood, game scene engraving, and a high standard of finish. It comes to the face and shoulder fast, weighing a fraction over 6 pounds. Rear hand purchase is facilitated with a classic Browning semi- pistol grip (quite frequently a feature on C grades). There is a typical Browning schnabel forwards. There is no lack
of control because of the good stock shapes and text- book balance. The action, though 20 bore in scale, is significantly lower than a 12, almost ideally proportioned in my opinion.

I Am Biased!

I love 28s; I have used a 30” Beretta EELL for years. It is one of my ‘keepers’ and a fantastic gun, and similarly specified to this. I used it for two seasons on game with Lyalvale 1oz loads.
I have also shot lots of clays with it, though, frankly, I prefer it for live quarry work (I have to admit, much as I may try, the score is usually the priority when breaking pitch disks – though I try to pretend to myself otherwise sometimes!). There is a lot to recommend the smaller gun for clays, nevertheless, when score is not the absolute priority and enjoying oneself.

I’m not the only 28 bore fan (indeed the gauge has a growing following and is no longer just a boy’s or lady’s gun). Andy Norris of Browning International, my partner in crime in this and many other tests noted: “I shoot a 28 bore myself, a Japanese made, Browning Light with 28” barrels which I have shot for four seasons now and frequently lend. Often those who borrow it buy one! The test gun, meantime, is one of my favourite Brownings. It’s not inexpensive, but it’s a gun for a sportsman who wants to shoot for the sheer joy of it and who has learnt his craft on 12s and 20s. It’s not a gun for someone trying to impress by shooting birds that are too high with too much gun. It’s something for a connoisseur. And the price for a similar B25 includes a full bespoke service.”

Barrels

Andy can build you the gun of your dreams in 16 months with prices for plainer grades beginning at £12,000 – not expensive by modern standards for custom built, hand-made, guns. I liked this particular gun a lot. Let’s put it under the microscope and see if it holds up, though. We’ll begin with the barrels which are proper demi-bloc (the over and under equivalent of chopper lump) and chambered for 2 3/4” (70mm) cartridges. There’s no mainstream 30” 28 bore yet as far as I am aware. The barrels have solid joining ribs and a lovely, tapered, 6-4mm sighting rib. I liked this narrow rib, it is well suited to a game gun and helps to keep barrel weight down (why not make it solid though?). The top surface was beautifully finished as well and a traditional metal bead is at the muzzles. Chokes are fixed at 1/4 and 3/4 - ideal. Both internal and external finish of the barrels was excellent.

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Metal and Woodwork

The action of the test gun is classic Superposed with a full width hinge pin and normal Browning bolting. It is a 20 bore scale action (Browning only make 12 and 20, and it is, in this case of strengthened rifle pattern - which Browning also use on their 16 bore shotgun). The single trigger mechanism is of the inertia type, and a selector is placed on top of the conventional thumb operated top strap safety. The selector’s action was positive – I have always preferred the Browning pattern which is less fiddly than some. Trigger pulls were good, better than on some guns of this type. The plain steel trigger was another positive, and the shape of the trigger blade itself was both functional and elegant.

The only thing on the action that did not especially appeal was the game and scroll engraving which was competent. My preference, however, would have been for scroll alone (I only like game scenes when they truly qualify as art). The coin finished sideplates are hand engraved with mallard on one side and pheasants on the other in this case, and I don’t want to damn with faint praise, it is well done. The fit of the side plates to the action body and stock was very good. Indeed, all the metal and woodwork was well presented.

The stock is made from Turkish walnut which shows a little figure. It measures 14 1/2” from the middle of the trigger to the middle of the thinnish, ventilated, rubber recoil pad. This is a little short (but you may order what you want). The semi-pistol grip was nicely shaped, as was the comb. Drop measurements are 1 3/8” at the front of the comb and about 2 1/4” at heel from memory (typical Browning - but, again, you can order what you want). There is a bit of cast for a right hander. The forend is a well proportioned and comfortable schnabel type. Both butt and forend are oil finished.

Shooting Impressions

I’ll keep this simple. This was a great gun to shoot - as good as my own 28 bore. Andy and I
both shot it on the Skeet range at Fennes in Essex and we were both whacking everything that they had to offer with big smiles on our faces.

Andy had managed to purloin some 1 ounce Winchester ammo which is superb in 28 bore. My own 21g Lyalvales worked superbly too and were a little softer on the shoulder (though recoil in either case was no issue). We moved to the sporting where the C2S still performed well on everything we pointed it at including high tower birds. This is not a cheap gun, but it is a very good handmade one, or you could choose a good Japanese made gun for much less. In either case you will be extremely pleased, so cut your cloth according to your means…

PRICE: £23,000

  • Browning B25 - image {image:count}

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  • Browning B25 - image {image:count}

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  • Browning B25 - image {image:count}

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  • Browning B25 - image {image:count}

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  • Browning B25 - image {image:count}

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  • Browning B25 - image {image:count}

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  • Browning B25 - image {image:count}

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  • Browning B25 - image {image:count}

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gun
features

  • Model: Browning B25 (C2S)
  • Type : Side-plated over-under
  • Bore: 28
  • Barrels: 30”
  • Chamber: 2 ¾”
  • Rib: 6-4mm taper
  • Chokes: Fixed ¼ - ¾
  • Weight: 6 pounds approx.
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