Auto-5 Light Twenty Belgium w/3" Chamber

I'm new here. Thanks for having me. I'm trying to help an estate with the sale of a few firearms, including a Browning Belgian Auto-5 Light Twenty. Based on the SN, it's a 1975 manufacture. It is new and unfired, in the factory box with all the paperwork. A question has arisen in that the box label and receiver are marked "Light Twenty" but the barrel has a 3" chamber. The owners tell me that the barrel and receiver were purchased together in the factory box and have never been out of the box. The barrel and receiver seem to be a mismatch. I was told by one person that 3" chamber barrels should only be used with an Auto-5 Magnum receiver. I assume this is because the Light Twenty receiver is not rated for 'magnum' loads.

My question is this: Can 2.75" shells be safely fired in this barrel and will ejection and feeding be unaffected? I did search to see if this question had been posed but was unsuccessful. Maybe I didn't go back far enough. I will certainly appreciate any help. Thanks.

I was hoping that would be the response. It's just too nice a shotgun to go unused. Thanks for sharing your experience.

There are many more differences between a Light Twenty and a Magnum Twenty. To get it to cycle the longer shell the ejection port must be larger, and the barrel stroke changed by the length of the forearm groove. To go from 65mm to 70mm in the 16 gauge they also introduced the sliding ejector. The Light Twenty already had one of those, so they must be further modifications to go from 70 to 75. Not having one, I don’t know what they are.

So the question becomes, will this barrel work in this receiver. I doubt it, but I would hand cycle some dummy shells through it to see. By that I mean close the bolt, load the magazine, and cycle the gun by pulling the barrel back and releasing.

Thank you. As you indicate, I doubt if 3" shells would cycle in this receiver as the ejection port is not wide enough. The shotgun would be relegated to 2¾" shells, which I hope would allow safe operation including cycling. I'll certainly recommend to the owners that they cycle some rounds as you suggest. I appreciate your reply.

You’re welcome. I doubt that the gun will even cycle the 2 3/4” shells. There may be a difference in the location of the barrel ring, for example.

A check of the MGW website shows that the Magnum barrels have been discontinued. I read that as out of stock as I seriously doubt they’re making any barrels any more. But since you have a rare commodity, either they or Art’s may swap you even.

https://www.midwestgunworks.com/page/mgwi/prod/293231IC

https://artsgunshop.com/

Thank you.

Attached are 7 pictures. Thanks.

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Replied. Thank you.