Browning Gold Shotguns
 

I use a 1187 for duck, and skeet, and pheasents. I use my old 870 for turkey. But 2 years ago, got me a Browning Gold slug gun. I was delighted when I recieved it. It has taken 6 or 8 deer in two years. And I have been using it exclusivley in firearms season since it shoots so well. But recently have seen alot of post people saying they hear people being dissatisfied. Now since it is a slug gun, I only have put 100-150 sabots down the barrel, since they are so expensive. And being a deer only gun, I would never uncover any problems like with estate skeet loads, or with 2 3/4 upland game loads. And we all know a slug has more than enought umph to eject a shell. I would like to hear a description of problems you have encountered. I recently was going to buy a 28" shotgun barrel for it for another duck gun when I take people with me, but if everybody is encountering issues, I might pass. It appears to be the smoothest action I have ever seen. And the gas operation has no o rings to fall apart, and makes the recoil of 3" slugs alot more mind than my 870 slug gun. And the quick load feature would be nice for ducks. Many times I could have used that with my 1187.

Any help would be appreciated.

RE: Browning Gold Shotguns
 

The Gold can have problems just like any other semi auto. From my own experince with over 15 different semi auto makes and models owned between my buddies and myself. The Brownings have been better than any other brand/model. In fact with three different Golds not one has had a single jam. The oldest being about 8 years old. My 3 1/2" model has cycled 7/8oz HV loads on the rare occasion I've tried them. Mine is used for waterfowl mainly here in Michigan. It's seen rain, ice, mud and worst of all beach sand. They get mostly good reviews on the other sites as well. I would put the 28" barrel and use it your self for waterfowl. Make the others use that 11-87.

RE: Browning Gold Shotguns
 

Wow, Worc, with all the talk on gun forum, about them having problems, you would figure more would chime in with specific problems. I was expecting at least 10 posts.

I am beginning to think, alot of these fellas never had a Gold but overheard their friend, who overheard the guy at the gas station, that you need to pay 900-1200 for a reliable shotgun. I may be wrong.

I might go ahead and pick up the barrel and make my own decision. If anyone is going to find its weak point, its me in the cheasapeake bay with salt water, 20 degrees, 2ft waves, and water everywhere.

RE: Browning Gold Shotguns
 

I will have to agree with you. Like I said any gun brand/model can have and will have problems from time to time. The Browning Gold seems to have a less percentage than most. All I can say is that the three Gold's in my group have been great. We have had a few other make/models that have been 100% reliable also. I will admit none of them have seen anywhere near the number rounds fired as the Gold's. Some of the earlier Gold's did have some problems that have been long corrected.
I'm serious about getting that 28" tube and having someone else use the 11-87.

RE: Browning Gold Shotguns
 

Well, I probably will. The 11-87, has not been a bad gun. Its had lots of ammo put thru it. I just learn to carry an extra o-ring in my pouch.

I do have a bulge at the end of my barrel with my 11-87. I mean, I have shot hundreds of rounds of steelshot but thru a modified choke. I may have fired 10 rounds thru with a full once to try it. And every time I shoot heavy shot or turkey shot its thru a extended extra full turkey choke. I am not sure it this bulge is normal. You can't see so much as feel it when its hot or running a oil rage up the barrel.

RE: Browning Gold Shotguns
 

BC my experiences with other Browning Autoloading Shotguns other then A5's have pretty much soured me on buying any new Browning Shotgun. I haven't heard many if any complaints concerning the Gold though ..very competitive market at the price Brownings sell for.

RE: Browning Gold Shotguns
 

Well, I don't blame ya oldelk. I would be pretty salty myself. And I would bet you really did have and experience these issues. But you know as well as I alot of people talk and have no experience with what they are saying. Gun and ammo myths spread like wildfire, and the damage they cause are almost unrepairable even if a company does the right thing and corrects an issue.

RE: Browning Gold Shotguns
 

i bought a gold hunter 12 ga the second year they were out. i love my gold, her name is sweetie! she does a good job at the turkey shoots, is a great bird gun, and a great trap,skeet gun. i reload and make some pretty soft loads with hodgdon clays, and it has never bit a shell or jammed EVER!!!! this one will be handed down to my son,can never see parting with her!

RE: Browning Gold Shotguns
 

my dad has a 12 guage gold and loves it. he has also shot my 11-87 and says he prefures his gold over the rem. and i really can't tell you if i like it because i have maybe only ever put a dozen rounds though it. however i can tell you i like the feel of it. maybe one dad when we are shooting trap good ol' dad will let me use the gold.......maybe ;)

RE: Browning Gold Shotguns
 

I bought the Gold 3 1/2 the first year it was out. I loved the wood and lines. In the upland fields it was just what it's name claims "Gold". In the swamps of the Mississippi for duck hunting- Jammed constantly. I keep my firearms perfectly clean- so much so my wife thinks I'm addicted to nitro solvent. The problem of the Gold jamming wasn't due to neglect. I may have bought a lemon that doesn't represent the entire line.
Two weeks after the duck hunting disaster I traded the Gold in for a Benelli M1 Field and never looked back. The Benelli has never jammed in 2 1/2 years. I have had M1 in the muddiest and wettest swamps, snow, rain and the dusty heat of the SD pheasant opener last year. I still like Brownings but I personally recommend Benelli's.

-Mathewsconquest2

RE: Browning Gold Shotguns
 

mathews, I bet you buy the most expensive of everything don't ya:D, from bows, to shotguns, to rifles. I wouldn't doubt it if you had a weatherby accumark in your closet with a swarski sitting on top.

RE: Browning Gold Shotguns
 

Now BC ..they aren't exactly giving away Golds either...

RE: Browning Gold Shotguns
 

I got mine for a respectable 600 dollars, and my 1187 for 500 dollars. Not bad I think. Just pokin some fun.

Seriously however, it seems several well know well trusted semi's that were chambered in 3", have trouble when they went up to 3.5". Even the 870 3.5" has had some bad runs. I don't take my duck hunting seriously enough to invest in a 3.5". And if I did, I would go to a 10Ga. I guess like everything, bugs have to come out.

RE: Browning Gold Shotguns
 

BC,
I grew up with hand me downs so now that I have worked very hard to have a fairly good life....you bet I try to buy the best or at least better when it comes to my hobbies. The funny thing is that the Gold hunter I bought was $840 new (no rebate) and the Benelli new was $800. Two different places however.
I will never rip on Browning. I love there A-bolt, buckmark, BPS (I own the 10-gauge). I have two friends in my hunting group that I recommended to get Golds because they only upland hunt and wanted the 3 1/2 for dry land goose hunting. They didn't want to spend $1200 for a SBE.

No Weatherby's in the safe. Remington 700, Winchester 70 featherlight (won this year at the NRA banquet- never won anything prior) and a TC Omega. I don't have scopes on either the Winchester or Omega. I can't swing a Swarovski but I am seriously looking at there Kahles line. Bow is simple- 32" draw really limits the choices of bow maunufactures.

I know from past strings that BC is only kidding and I really enjoy reading his comments.
I'm not even close to wealthy but I hate rebuying any product. I would rather save for 5 years to buy something I really want (like my O/U) than buy something that I may have to rebuy in a short time.

I hope someday to be as wealthy as BC may think I am. I will work for that goal.

BUSH '04

-Mathewsconquest2

RE: Browning Gold Shotguns
 

If I did not have to rebuy things, what would i complain about?:D Then there would be no questions, no answer, no forums.

RE: Browning Gold Shotguns
 

Bigcountry

I have had my Gold for 3 years and have never had a problem. I use it with magnum duck and goose loads and can't speak to upland loads.

RE: Browning Gold Shotguns
 

BC your not one of them there Browning Zealots that drive around with the buckmark on the back window of their truck ?:D:D:D:D:D

RE: Browning Gold Shotguns
 

Actually a tattoo on my arm. If your going to bear, be a grizzly. Go all the way. So I am pretty committed. No, seriously, I don't have the tattoo on my arm, but two of my friends do. I don't believe in advertising for free for people. I have rode a harley for 12 years, and still refuse to put the emblems on my vehicles or thier garb around the house.

I do have the Easton Archery Deer skull on my arm however. Figured thats not really advertising.

The word browning brings back a whole lot of memories for me. Only shotgun, my grandfather or uncles shot. The A-5. Thats the reason I collect them. Now, I was dead set against the jap rifles as you know, until I bought a medallion mint for 480 dollars and its the best gun I got. So I was wrong. Now I got my Gold, and am very happy with it as a slug gun. But then I don't need an auto for deer. If it wasn't for the ease of loading, it wouldn't have any more appeal than a 11-87. Thats the only draw back of the berretta 390. I hate the loading. Its the little things.

RE: Browning Gold Shotguns
 

I'm going to have the wife sew the Sako 75 patch on my jacket :D:D

RE: Browning Gold Shotguns
 

Thats not commitment, get some ink. You know I made a rule for my life. Before I get married again. I have trust this person enough to have thier name tattoo'd on me. Guess I am going to be a single guy for a long time.

RE: Browning Gold Shotguns
 

I have to chime in here. [&o]
I bought a (very slightly used - 300 rounds through it- ) Browning Gold sporting clays early last spring, and I've tried everything, but it jams about 4 to 8 times out of every 50 rounds of sporting clays. A lot of folks, including Browning, say simply to clean and oil it. I'm offended at that, since I take great care of my firearms, and have tried the obvious.

I talked to another chap at the range today with a gold, who had similar problems, had tried everything, and eventually bit the bullet, and paid to have browning fix it (about $110 after shipping and repair cost.) I suppose it was not under warranty. According to him, Browning would not tell him what they did, but it works flawlessly now. He could not tell what they did, and I don't know how hard he pressed them to get an answer as to what they did. I'm considering sending mine off, since it is so aggravating to use, it is just no fun. I've tried every combination of factory load and reload, heavy loads, lite loads, piston changes, lubrication changes, etc. etc. The chap at the range today had even tried new springs, etc. All to no avail.

It seems that the general experience is: 1) either this gun works above average, or 2) it really is quite problematic.

I've been mainly shooting my Verona SX405 auto, since it NEVER jams. Thousands of rounds later through it, and it simply works and works and works. At $250, I should have bought 2! lol I'm kind of sorry I bought the Browning, but I wanted what I perceived to be a 'higher' quality shotgun. Oh well . . . . :(

RE: Browning Gold Shotguns
 

BC,
You ride a Harley and you say I'm the one who has to have the best of everything? I have a many friends who work for Harley here in Milwaukee. I have to give you credit, you have damn good taste when it comes to motorcycles. Did you come in last year for the 100 Anniversary?

-Mathewsconquest2

RE: Browning Gold Shotguns
 

Yea, "Holly, the Hog", is pretty cool. She's a Roadking. Nope, didn't make it out there. If I can't ride it out there, I don't go. I don't like trailering a bike. Trailer queen friends of mine went out there was pretty discouraged by the Ellton John mess.

You won't believe how many people comment on my bike. Every time I tell somebody I can't afford something, or make a comment like "must be nice to have that big ole camper", they fire back, about Holly on how they can't afford that.