Numerous years ago, I inherited a old shotgun, with no stock, along with a couple other guns. The other two guns, I had no need for either but they were complete functioning guns, so I sold one cheaply and gave the other one away. The only two reasons I did not get rid of this old shotgun, was it was missing the butt stock and it is 16 ga. I have a thing for 16 ga. shotguns.
So the gun sat in the back of the closet for many years, then a few years ago, I went around talking to local gun smiths that I thought might have a old stock for the gun. But I was told it was better to build a new stock than to try and find a old stock. So I just put it back in the back of the closet for a few more years.
Then last year, I decided I was going to try and find a butt stock for the gun. I found one pretty quickly, then found two more fairly easily. I bought the 1st one, it looked closest in condition to the forearm on the gun. I got the stock and a retaining screw, cheaply. Took the gun and shot it, it would not eject shells, because the screw that holds the ejector to the inside of the receiver was missing. So I went back to searching, I found both new and used screws quickly. I ordered one of each. Then I found there was a spring in the bottom of the gun, that seemed like it was bent. So I ordered both a new spring and a used spring. I got replaced the spring and the installed the ejector and screw. Those pieces fixed the gun, it works great now.
In the process of looking for parts for the gun, I needed to know exactly which gun I had and I was curious to see what info I could find on the guns. I had never shot one, never heard anything about them, previously. I found the 520, the first in the evolution of those guns. Then the 530, 620 and the 620A are all John M. Browning designs. I found that interesting, I never knew. Then while searching for info, I read something about them being taken down shotguns. I did not think much of it. Then I found a video of the 620A. The guy in the video took one apart, I was surprised, they do come apart easily in two assemblies. I found that part pretty cool. They can be taken apart without the use of any tools. The was the first in the series was the 520, then the 620 and then the 620A. I read something about a 530 and 520A, that were variations of the 520. The 620A was first produced in 1940 and seems to have lasted till 1955. Then they stopped production on the civilian models during WW II and made multiple versions for the military. Including a trench gun, that I would like to have one of.
The gun I have has a Lyman Cutts compensator choke on it. I have had a 20 ga. many years ago, that had one of those chokes on it. I thought those were things the owners of the guns had installed, which some were. But some were factory installed, seems a lot of the Cutts chokes were installed on 620As by the factory. The gun I have has a full choke, but I have found a couple different chokes. One is either improved cylinder or open choke don't remember, then they had a adjustable choke and I found one of those in 16 ga. also. I would like to get some different chokes for this gun, to see how it patterns with different chokes.
So far, I have only shot it on two occasions, once when I first got the stock on it, when it would not eject shells, then a couple weeks ago, I shot a squirrel with it. Seems like a pretty good shooting gun. I am going to try and find the time to shoot some clays with it in the next couple months, probably should find a different choke before I try it on some clays.
I have wanted a Winchester 1897 shotgun since I was a teenager, but never bought one. I came close to buying one last year, but decided there was another gun I had more use for and bought the other gun instead. I still plan on buying a Winchester 97, hopefully I can find a 16 ga., but I would be happy with a 12 ga. But in the mean time, I have found another cool old John Browning design shotgun. I found guys on forums talking about they make nice guns to pack around, after you cut the barrel down to 20". I might do that to a 12 ga., but not this gun. Unless I bought another barrel for it, which I also found barrels pretty easily.
So the gun sat in the back of the closet for many years, then a few years ago, I went around talking to local gun smiths that I thought might have a old stock for the gun. But I was told it was better to build a new stock than to try and find a old stock. So I just put it back in the back of the closet for a few more years.
Then last year, I decided I was going to try and find a butt stock for the gun. I found one pretty quickly, then found two more fairly easily. I bought the 1st one, it looked closest in condition to the forearm on the gun. I got the stock and a retaining screw, cheaply. Took the gun and shot it, it would not eject shells, because the screw that holds the ejector to the inside of the receiver was missing. So I went back to searching, I found both new and used screws quickly. I ordered one of each. Then I found there was a spring in the bottom of the gun, that seemed like it was bent. So I ordered both a new spring and a used spring. I got replaced the spring and the installed the ejector and screw. Those pieces fixed the gun, it works great now.
In the process of looking for parts for the gun, I needed to know exactly which gun I had and I was curious to see what info I could find on the guns. I had never shot one, never heard anything about them, previously. I found the 520, the first in the evolution of those guns. Then the 530, 620 and the 620A are all John M. Browning designs. I found that interesting, I never knew. Then while searching for info, I read something about them being taken down shotguns. I did not think much of it. Then I found a video of the 620A. The guy in the video took one apart, I was surprised, they do come apart easily in two assemblies. I found that part pretty cool. They can be taken apart without the use of any tools. The was the first in the series was the 520, then the 620 and then the 620A. I read something about a 530 and 520A, that were variations of the 520. The 620A was first produced in 1940 and seems to have lasted till 1955. Then they stopped production on the civilian models during WW II and made multiple versions for the military. Including a trench gun, that I would like to have one of.
The gun I have has a Lyman Cutts compensator choke on it. I have had a 20 ga. many years ago, that had one of those chokes on it. I thought those were things the owners of the guns had installed, which some were. But some were factory installed, seems a lot of the Cutts chokes were installed on 620As by the factory. The gun I have has a full choke, but I have found a couple different chokes. One is either improved cylinder or open choke don't remember, then they had a adjustable choke and I found one of those in 16 ga. also. I would like to get some different chokes for this gun, to see how it patterns with different chokes.
So far, I have only shot it on two occasions, once when I first got the stock on it, when it would not eject shells, then a couple weeks ago, I shot a squirrel with it. Seems like a pretty good shooting gun. I am going to try and find the time to shoot some clays with it in the next couple months, probably should find a different choke before I try it on some clays.
I have wanted a Winchester 1897 shotgun since I was a teenager, but never bought one. I came close to buying one last year, but decided there was another gun I had more use for and bought the other gun instead. I still plan on buying a Winchester 97, hopefully I can find a 16 ga., but I would be happy with a 12 ga. But in the mean time, I have found another cool old John Browning design shotgun. I found guys on forums talking about they make nice guns to pack around, after you cut the barrel down to 20". I might do that to a 12 ga., but not this gun. Unless I bought another barrel for it, which I also found barrels pretty easily.
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