Performance 
I love this shotgun! Whether you're bringing up or down, it levels perfect every time. Even though the primary purpose of a scattergun is not accuracy, the pattern is perfectly centered on my aimpoint every time. I've hit the bulls eye with 1oz. slugs from 50 yards with consistency. It's a recoil operated, so it doesn't kick as soft as today's gas-operated guns, but it isn't as bad as a break-open or slide action. When the recoil works the action, the entire barrel slides back, so it's give a weird shuffling feeling that takes a little getting used to, but once you do, it is real easy to unload a few shells on target very quickly. Mine is almost 90 years old, so that is a testament to its durability.
Features 
I had to go with a lower rating for features, since this is an older gun. The sights are a bead on the front of the barrel. The Barrel is older and, according to Remington, is not safe to fire steel or other hard shot. It only takes 2.75" shells. But it is an autoloader, and its tubular magazine takes 5 shells. The trigger is real light. I haven't tested it, but I'd guess not much more than a 1lb pull, so it will scare you if you're not familiar with it. I have come to like the humpback design, as it seems easier to sight down the barrel. Also, it has a fixed full choke, so there is not altering that.
Appeal
This is a classic and Browning himself considered it his "best achievement". It might not look like much to an outside observer, but when you hold it and fire it, you know you have something special. The mechanics are simple, so you can easily take it down and put it back together. The appeal of this gun is its performance.
Summary
The Humpback. Another Browning classic. The first autoloading shotgun produced in the U.S.A.
I love this shotgun! Whether you're bringing up or down, it levels perfect every time. Even though the primary purpose of a scattergun is not accuracy, the pattern is perfectly centered on my aimpoint every time. I've hit the bulls eye with 1oz. slugs from 50 yards with consistency. It's a recoil operated, so it doesn't kick as soft as today's gas-operated guns, but it isn't as bad as a break-open or slide action. When the recoil works the action, the entire barrel slides back, so it's give a weird shuffling feeling that takes a little getting used to, but once you do, it is real easy to unload a few shells on target very quickly. Mine is almost 90 years old, so that is a testament to its durability.
I had to go with a lower rating for features, since this is an older gun. The sights are a bead on the front of the barrel. The Barrel is older and, according to Remington, is not safe to fire steel or other hard shot. It only takes 2.75" shells. But it is an autoloader, and its tubular magazine takes 5 shells. The trigger is real light. I haven't tested it, but I'd guess not much more than a 1lb pull, so it will scare you if you're not familiar with it. I have come to like the humpback design, as it seems easier to sight down the barrel. Also, it has a fixed full choke, so there is not altering that.
This is a classic and Browning himself considered it his "best achievement". It might not look like much to an outside observer, but when you hold it and fire it, you know you have something special. The mechanics are simple, so you can easily take it down and put it back together. The appeal of this gun is its performance.
Overview:
Introduction Year: 1905
Year Discontinued: 1947
Action Type: Recoil operated – Hammerless – Side ejection – Take Down
Caliber/Gauge: 12, 16, 20 gauges
The Model 11, like the FN Browning A5, is a shotgun that has made history. You can't argue with its time proven design and performance. The one that my grandfather bought in 1918 and then given to my father has been through so many thousands of shells, I couldn't image the total. And outside of occasional TLC, it has needed no maintenance. I am so confident of the durability of this gun, I plan on giving it to my son when I am too old to fire it anymore.
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| The humpback |
8 Comments
samD
Inherited from my father in law. It has NO safety. I don't think he ever cleaned it.
Anonymous
I have been seeing lots of older guns come thru the shop I am working at for cleaning or to repair after cleaning because they dont work right. Guns are mechanical and metal parts do wear out. when you clean all that crud and gunk out you may be removing the material that actually allows that old worn out gun to still function. I would suggest that you only clean the barrel and oil the outside to prevent rust or if it gets hard to work the action just add a bit of oil to the moving parts to free them up a bit because if you clean it then it may never work right again and for most old guns replacement parts are no longer available or if you could get them it would cost you way more than what the gun is worth. I am of course talking about guns that are 25 years old or more. You can not expect a shotgun made in the 20's or 30's to work just fine after you clean out all the garbage in it from years and years of no maintenance. Cleaner beware!
ronin1604
While you may be right.... kind of a scary thought. LOL!
Jeffashbyjr
My P97 looks like shit. I went offshore for a four month hitch and asked my father to put it away for me. I get home and the thing is forming rust on the slide but it still works like a champ
Anonymous
yes it is a scary thought that by cleaning those old really dirty guns that they then may not function properly but I aM SEEING IT MORE AND MORE IN THE OLDER GUNS ESPECIALLY SHOTGUNS SUCH AS THE bROWNING a5 pattern guns and the savage/stevens 520/620 models but also with model 94 winchesters and such made and well used. something to think about when you inherit an old gun froma dead relative is that you have no idea how much they used it and nor how well they took care of it. If you clean out all the gunk you may end up with a wall hanger over the fireplace.
Anonymous
just use some WD 40 or 3 in 1 oil and 4 ought steel wool ( 0000 fine) and lightly polish off the rust and then just keep it oiled so the rust does not come back.
vimalnanthipulath
i hav an air gun.... btut iam not a sharp shooter.... but i love guns.......