Need some info on Browning Broadway

13074 Views 26 Replies 17 Participants Last post by senior smoke, Feb 24, 2013

senior smoke

Discussion Starter · Feb 23, 2013

Hello:
Is there anyone out there that was trapshooting around the time Browning first introduced the Browning Broadway trap gun? I have the opportunity to possibly purchase a nib trap model.

I was told by a friend that when it first came out it was a very popular gun. He thought the original price was in the $300 to $400.00 range? This gun has 32 inch barrels and has nice dark wood.

When I mounted the gun, the wide rib was something that I might have to get use to. Any one ever shoot one of these guns? What can you tell me about this particular gun? What is this gun worth today, new in the box?
Thanks,
Steve Balistreri

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1 - 20 of 27 Posts

Jim Zee

· #2 · Feb 23, 2013

Good Morning Steve,

NIB $1500 -$1800 used $800 -$1200 I had my dads and could not shoot it well just like a lot of guns I have had. Just make sure no salt wood here and that would be on guns in the late 60s.I am sure you will be offered more accurate info coming shortely.

Jim

mark54

· #3 · Feb 23, 2013

I bought mine in 1963 for $365, & I still have it.

Mark 54 in Lititz, Pa.(our town just won "The Coolest Small Town in the USA") contest.

senior smoke

Discussion Starter · #4 · Feb 23, 2013

Thanks for the information. I do not have the serial # as I do not own the gun. The owner is asking $2,000.00.
Steve

OldGoat

· #5 · Feb 23, 2013

I recently passed on an "as new" 32" Browning Broadway @ $950 (no salt) because: the WIDE rib took too much "getting used to"; they are known to be kinda stout in the administration of recoil to the shooter; there are far better (current) designs (with available parts) - Browning XTs or Beretta 686/7. True, Broadways are sorta "cult classics" but you don't see many - if any - being used by competitors today. So the question is: what do you do with a 50 year old gun...shoot it an diminish the "value" or stick it in the safe and admire? The resale market it not that hot in the $2000 range. Find and buy a nice TM1. Best Regards, Ed

the old guy

· #6 · Feb 23, 2013

I have 4 of them. I bought my 1966 Diana Grade NIB in 73. I've tried Perazzi's, 3200's, Beretta SO5, SO4, etc. Everybody told me to stick with the Perazzi because when the springs break you can change them on the spot. I say buy a Browning. the springs don't break. I guess I've got 350,000 rounds in the DG. I owned a club in NJ and shot 1000/week or more for several years for the fun of it. Many 100 straights in ATA style, many, many 25 straights and a 50 in bunker trap. I replaced the firing pins and springs in 2008. I broke an extractor last year. Art replaced that and tightened the action for another 350,000. Buy it. You'll love it.

Paul Bobby

trapperwads

· #7 · Feb 23, 2013

One of Frank Littles first guns was a Browning O/U but not the Broadway model. With the scores he shot...reason enough to try and buy if you like the rib. ed nichols

southjblue

· #8 · Feb 23, 2013

Steve---If it's not salt wood,$2,000.00 is the right price for NIB---It is a collector if NIB----There are many better deals for near NIB in the $1,500.00
range----I have 2 and love to just have them----Anyone that says you can buy @ $950.00 is kind of low----I will buy any B-WAY in near new condition for $950.00 and make $$s---So if there are any out there for that $950.00 price,PM me and lets [email protected]

Onceabum

· #9 · Feb 23, 2013

My favorite over/under, actually my favorite gun ever made. I love the sound of the 32inch Broadway being closed. I have four of them and none are for sale.

senior smoke

Discussion Starter · #10 · Feb 23, 2013

You are all educating me on the Browning Broadway. This gun was produced prior to me shooting in 1970. I still don't really understand what salt wood is? Is Browning the only gun company that usedso call salt wood? How do you know if your gun was made of salt wood?

Paul:
I was unaware that the Broadway was available in higher grades. The only Browning's that I ever owned were Bt99s. Does Browning offer higher grades in all of their shotguns?
Steve

PatMiles

· #11 · Feb 23, 2013

SS,
Art's Gun & Sport Shop (www.artsgunshop.com) has a very informative article on the Browning salt wood problem. Read it! You don't want to even consider buying the BB until you can visually satisfy yourself that it isn't a salt gun. By visually I mean pull the stock and forearm off and see that there is no damage.

Pat

southjblue

· #12 · Feb 23, 2013

Steve---It would take many words to explain the Browning salt wood problem but just google Browning salt wood and you'll get the full explnation with the yrs to watch out for-------George

ljutic73

· #13 · Feb 23, 2013

I saw my first Browning Superposed in 1961 when a pal bought one after working on farms in our area for the summer. I seem to remember it costing around $300. I was very envious and told myself I'd own one some day. And in 1980 I purchased my ST-100 which I still shoot and will until I cash out. FYI, when I shot with Britt Robinson at the 1990 Montana State shoot in Great Falls, he was shooting his old Broadway for doubles because his K-80 O/U barrels were in the shop getting fixed.

Ron Burr

the old guy

· #14 · Feb 23, 2013

Browning, Fabrique Nationale, experimented with soaking the wood in brine in '66 - 70 so it would dry quicker. Normal natural drying time is about 7 years. the salt stayed in the wood and caused corrosion around the tangs of the actions. Not sure when O/U trap grades became popular, maybe early 50's but the earliest I've owned is '61. The BT's were made by Miroku in Japan. The FN's came in Grade 1, Pigeon(2), Pointer or Pheasant(3), Diana(4) and Midas(5). Around 1976 they came out with too many variations to be interesting. "P" models, B25, B26, B125, etc. Some were all Belgian parts, some were sub-contracted from who knows where. You can still get an FN Custom Shop gun but all "Brownings" are now made in Japan. My wife has instructions to bury me with my Diana Grade.

spitter

· #15 · Feb 23, 2013

The BROADWay is one heckuva Superposed... I own an S5 gun (1965, 12gauge)... I chose to put Briley Thinwalls into mine which made the gun more usable and I shoot it regularly... nice balance and reliability...

Saltwood as I recall, was a process developed in conjunction with Morton Salt where salt was introduced and the wood was covered to extract the moisture in an expedited manner, but as the moisture was extracted, those blanks at the bottom got saturated in brine...

I understood saltwood was pretty much limited to higher grades not too much in Grade 1, during the later 1960s...

respectfully offered,
Jay

mixer

· #16 · Feb 23, 2013

My 1970 Broadway was $540 new when I bought in 1970. Still shooting it today. Actually the only original parts are the receiver & forearm wood. Replaced the 30" barrels for a set of 32" and put a Fajen stock with a "Dead Mule" recoil reducer on it in '71 or '72. It's gone through a set of firing pins and maybe a set of coil springs but not sure of the spring thing.

Eric

bossbasl

· #17 · Feb 23, 2013

The first real trap gun I purchased new while still in college was a Grade I Broadway Trap. My reason for purchase was that at the time (1971) almost all doubles shooters (with the exception of a few M-12's) in the area were shooting a Browning Lightning Trap and Broadway Trap and the gun I selected had the most gorgeous wood I have ever seen on any Grade I Browning since. My results were mixed due to the gun pulverizing my face (2 3/4 dram loads) and causing a flinch that took about five years to overcome. In the Spring of 1971 I paid $530 retail. Approximately a year after purchase I received a letter from Browning stating that I was to return the gun immediately because the barrel and receiver number were mismatched at the factory (on exam, barrel assembly was one number higher than receiver number). The dealer returned the gun for me and after about six months Browning advised me the butt stock was severely damaged by UPS during the trip back to Browning. But not to worry, as Browning would install a new butt stock to match the old at no charge. Another six months; the gun was shipped back with the plainest and ugliest butt stock I have ever seen on a Browning. After direction communication with Browning, I was told "tough nuggies"; wasn't Browning's fault that UPS mangled the stock. The Browning rep. was directly advised that had the factory not mismatched the barrel/receiver this would never have been an issue. After dealer (major) involvement Browning replaced both butt stock and forearm to match with wood that was still a long way from what was originally installed. Fortunately for me I learned an early lesson and have never been tempted to buy another Browning shotgun. The saga of this Broadway actually ended very well for me in 1978 shortly after Browning announced that after 1976 no B-25 guns would be available in the US. This resulted in folks paying obscene prices for Belgium Browning shotguns for a short time until reality hit. The dealer I bought this gun from in 1971 bought it back from me in 1978 for $850 and still sold it again for a profit!

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the old guy

· #18 · Feb 23, 2013

I have an unusual B25 that I got in the early 80's. It's one of 15 built as an ATS Trap 6. The engraving pattern doesn't show up in any Browning catalogue or the Browning book. Beautiful gun and great shooter as well.

CharlieAMA

· #19 · Feb 23, 2013

I have a Broadway, and love it. I hunt with it also. Charlie

senior smoke

Discussion Starter · #20 · Feb 23, 2013

Jay:
Are you serious? If so, never heard of that.
Steve

Bossbasi:
What would of happened if you did not return it to Browning?
Steve

1 - 20 of 27 Posts

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