So for you shotgunners out there, I thought I'd throw up a picture of a pair of one of my favorite smoothbores. Designed by Val Browning, son of John M Browning, the Double Automatics are a really interesting firearm. In the photo below the top is a 1956 Standard Double Auto with a milled steel receiver. With a 26.5" IC barrel this is a fine 7.5 lb. skeet gun and general use field gun. Below it is a 1966 Twentyweight Double Auto Alloy receiver and a field toting 6.1lb weight.(around the weight of a 20ga. shotgun, hence it's name) There was also a Twelvette alloy model (not pictured) who's weight fell right in between the before mentioned models.
For those not familiar with the design, it has many interesting and 'before their time' features. It was Val's attempt to better the double guns of the day with lower cost and more features. You can remove the barrel in 2-3 seconds and replace it just as quickly. It is a TWO shot semi-auto with a left side of receiver loading port. First round in the gate goes immediately into the chamber. Second round is added through the port and sits there till the first is ejected. Loading is very rapid, far quicker than a break open over-under. There is not a traditional magazine tube, nor the imbalance caused by it or it's swing weight. A very fast lock time and really nice trigger break. The alloy guns were available in four colors, Grey, Black, Brown and Green. They were made from 1955 to 1971.
For those not familiar with the design, it has many interesting and 'before their time' features. It was Val's attempt to better the double guns of the day with lower cost and more features. You can remove the barrel in 2-3 seconds and replace it just as quickly. It is a TWO shot semi-auto with a left side of receiver loading port. First round in the gate goes immediately into the chamber. Second round is added through the port and sits there till the first is ejected. Loading is very rapid, far quicker than a break open over-under. There is not a traditional magazine tube, nor the imbalance caused by it or it's swing weight. A very fast lock time and really nice trigger break. The alloy guns were available in four colors, Grey, Black, Brown and Green. They were made from 1955 to 1971.
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