Browning Light Twelve Question

[Aries68]

I have a Belgium-made 1950's era Browning "Light Twelve" 12 gauge shotgun with 26" barrel and would like to know if this gun would suffice as a home defense shotgun or should I spend the $$ to buy a pump shotgun with shorter barrel?

[4 eyed six shooter]

The negitives would be the long barrel getting in the way when swinging it around, the long barrel is easier to grab and the fact that it is a long recoil type firearm you would need to be sure it was held tightly held against your shoulder or you could have a jam. A pump shotgun with a shorter barrel would be better. The pump can be shot from the hip or other angle and is not dependent on firm shouldering to funtion correctly.
Good shooting, John K

[special poop]

4 what it's worth I too have an A5 (1935) and I say hold on to it as is. I was thinking of making it a short barrel which is like cropping the Mona Lisa. For $350 or less you can buy a kick ass home defense shotgun and keep your nice old Browning for fun stuff like geese and ducks, and just to say you got one!!!. Plus, if you keep your A5 armed with slugs you have a hell of an intermediate range home defense gun, if you need it. The earlier A5's like ours are built like a tank and even though it's an auto, you can fire it from any position. Mine has never jammed...ever, from any position. Barrel length is a problem for CQB, but don't mess with such a nice old friend. It may not be tailor made for home defense, but it can do that if it has to and more. A5's are great.

[dvdstdg]

For what it would cost to make the A5 an average HD you can get the best. An 870 Express HD new with the factory mag extension and sling swivels goes for aroun $320 plus tax and you make get a deal occasionally.

Keep the A5 factory issue to hold its value.