doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Any 3.5 inch chambered vintage 12ga guns?

I assume these must have been built in some number, because I have come across a bunch of 3.5 inch bismuth shells in #4 launching a 1 5/8 oz. payload.

Who routinely manufactured a 3.5 inch 12 ga.? Do any of you own one?

Regards,
GG

have seen some recent plastic pump guns...but there are no sxs's that i know of...

I have a Browning Citori in 3 1/2" 12 gauge. Not vintage but at least classic

Heavy goose loads.
Makes a 12 into a 10.
Not for the recoil sensitive, or the delicate firearm.

Mossberg pioneered the concept with the model 835, 25 years+ ago.
Overbored barrel, recoil pad on stock, porting, etc.

Benelli followed suit with the SBE l.
And ouila' a star was born.


Never saw a 12 bore was PROOFED for that load.

There were some deeper chambered 12's early on when wads and wadding were being extended to cushion payloads.
But they weren't for those shells!

A friend had a 3-1/2� Citori and it was a beast. I have a 3-1/2� Beretta 686 Onyx and it is too light for those loads.

1988.

You can blame Mossberg and Federal.

I had the pleasure of sharing a duck blind with a guy who had a first year version.

It would not eject shells.

This was somehow my fault because I'm the 'gun guy'.

We drove each shell out of his 'gun' with a rod for two days.

I will buy every one you can get for 1.50 each.
I need the shot.

Hello Clapper Zapper:
Thanks for the offer. I watched these sit dusty on a sporting good store's shelf here in Montana for two years, and had a couple conversations with the manager about whether he'd ever seen a vintage 3.5 inch gun. Nope.
After a good paycheck I offered to buy all they had well below retail. I've been gutting the shells and moving the shot into various 16 and 20 ga. hulls to exercise my Parkers and M21's afield ever since.
Regards,
GG

Beretta built the 626 Onyx in 3.5 for a short time.

Didn�t federal partner with browning for the first 3-1/2� 12�s? I�ve got a first year BPS a friend bought new that year. Heavy as hell, but kills like the devil.