Gun Test
between the hands it provides I believe, greater visual pointability, the fi ngers of the leading hand not intruding into the line of sight. In the same way, the trigger hand is set lower providing the same advantages. All this and the rest of Browning’s original gun is incorporated in the B525 Prestige along with some new ideas so far as their Sporter is concerned. The Browning always handled well because its weight is so well distributed. Extended
screw-in chokes
It only took fi ve minutes for me to feel I had been shooting this gun for years
Specifi cations Model Bore
Action
Barrel Lengths
Choke Rib
Stock
Trigger Weight Price
Browning B525 Prestige Supersport
12
Coil spring, boxlock 30”
Detachable, extended 7mm parallel Pistol grip Adjustable 7lbs 13¾oz £3450
Distributor BWM Arms Ltd
don’t usually help in this area but the
Supersports are made of Titanium
and so the point of balance is in the ideal place, just in front of the cross-pin. Presumably also to keep the weight down the barrels are fi tted with a narrow 7mm rib. I last saw the Browning narrow rib on some Belgian made B25s in the ‘70s and many will welcome its return. There is one area where Browning get it more right than anybody and that’s their Sporter stock, an excellent confi guration with an open radius to the grip and a narrow tapered comb. Dimensions are sensible 36mm – 56mm front to back at the comb, 37.5cm length of pull and a whisper of cast. For the fi rst time for a long while this
although I like a slim forend on a Sporter. The beavertail however does have an advantage which is to provide a more relaxed grip for the leading hand where tension is defi nitely not required. The B525 Prestige as its designation suggests is particularly well fi nished. Avoiding gaudy badging it is enhanced in the best possible way with a well executed fl oral engraving that covers the action and is extended to the top lever and trigger guard. This contrasts well with dark rich, well fi gured walnut used to stock the gun.
Shooting impressions It only took fi ve minutes for me to feel I had been shooting this gun for years. Although the stock was not exactly to my measurements it helped a lot for all the reasons I have already mentioned, and also because there was not too much drop at the heel. No one can shoot overhead targets properly unless the butt sits up solidly in the shoulder and there are a lot of Sporters around where this is not the case. The Browning trigger though very reliable was never of the best. The geometry of the hammer sear engagement creates too long a pull and so can never be as short and crisp as some other designs. It is I believe the only reason why nowadays Browning doesn’t compete with other guns in the Olympic disciplines, because in every other area it has qualities which ensure it would. Where it does score however and why it still sells in huge numbers worldwide, is the user friendly handling qualities it possesses as a game gun or in any clay
Browning Sporter does not have
a Schnabel forend which has been replaced by a beavertail type. I was never a great enthusiast for the Schnabel
12 | PULL! September 2010
target shooting specifi cation. What constitutes the ideal Sporter
is very much open to debate, but at a fraction under 8lbs this Browning comes pretty close for me. Heavy enough with great feel and balance I dealt pretty well with most targets, both long and short. Bigger, longer guns are fi ne on very long birds, but I still look for an all-rounder and that describes this new Browning very well.
www.cpsa.co.uk
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