Hey, hey, I just traded a 91 Big Bear for a new in box 12 ga Browning Gold Hunter, DU edition, and $300. Been wanting a turkey gun for a while, and got a good one.

Question is - this one has the 3 1/2" chamber on it. Browning says that it is 'unsafe' to use the barrels that are chambered for 2 3/4 or 3". They don't say that the barrels won't fit, just that they are 'unsafe'. Is this really unsafe, or is that just the lawyers at Browning worrying about some silly twit trying to cram a 3 1/2" shell into a 2 3/4" chamber?

I'd love to get a sporting clays barrel, but they're only 2 3/4" chamber...

 

Good gun! I have a Gold 10 and a Gold Hunter 12 gauge 3".

If I understand your question, you are saying that Browning says not to shoot 2 3/4" shells in your 3 1/2" chamber?

I have a good friend that has a 3 1/2" Gold Hunter, it works great. Browing does say not to shoot 2 3/4" shells in it because they will jam. However, my friend does it all the time with good success. Sometimes they do jam, but for shooting trap it is no big deal. Just don't go hunting with those light 2 3/4" shells.

Let me know if this helps.

 

What Browning says I shouldn't do is try to put a barrel chambered for 2 3/4" shells on this gun. They have a few barrels I'd at least like to think about, but don't want to blow $300-400 only to find out they just don't fit. OTOH, it may just be nervous lawyers. Browning doesn't say that the shorter chamber barrels won't fit the Hunter, they just say that it's 'unsafe'.

Actually, you can shoot 2 3/4" shells reliably in the 3.5" Hunter with the 3.5" chambered barrel - if you change to the lightweight piston. I think you want the skeet piston, around $50.

Have been firing light game loads, and they seem to feed okay. I thought, not much kick, until... I took it out last weekend with some 3.5" 2oz turkey loads - good lord, they are brutal! That is going to take some getting used to. I took the gun and 5 shells to the range on my farm, and brought back three shells. Yeowch!

It does sit nicely on my Cat's gun rack.

 

Thanks for the knowledge! I have no idea about the barrel then... I do know that Browning barrels are spendy. I want a slug one for my gun but it is like $350. I can buy two Mossberg pumps at that price!