There’s a good reason you see all those Buck Mark decals on the back windows of so many pickup trucks and SUVs driving down the road. Browning makes excellent firearms at a fair price for the level of quality you get. The variable Active Value gas system on their updated Silver line of shotguns lets the reliably cycle everything from light skeet loads to heavy magnum goose-bangers, all at a price that’s affordable for most shooters.  Here’s their press release . . .

Browning has added four new models to the Silver semi-automatic shotgun line. They are the Silver Black Lightning, Silver Matte Hunter, Silver Matte Hunter Micro Midas and the Silver Rifled Deer Matte.

All of the Silver shotguns feature the self-adjusting Active Value gas system that diverts gases to operate the action instead of adding to the recoil. When shooting light loads out of the Silver, most of the gases are used to operate the action. With magnum loads, only a small amount of the gas is necessary to operate the action. The remaining gases are vented out the top of the forearm and away from the receiver for cleaner, more reliable operation. The results are faster, more accurate follow-up shots and all-day shooting comfort.

The Active Valve also allows for a wide range of loads to be shot out of the same gun. The 12 gauge 3” models handle everything from 1 oz. field loads to the heaviest 3” magnums. The 3-1/2“ model is built with a similar range, shooting everything from 1-1/8 oz. field loads to the hardest hitting 3-1/2” magnum loads.

The new Black Lightning, Silver Matte Hunter and Silver Matte Hunter Micro Midas Silver models are ideal for hunting and sporting clays shooting. All the models have these features:

Strong, lightweight aluminum alloy receiver
Semi-humpback receiver shape
Lightweight profile ventilated rib
Three Invector-Plus choke tubes
Brass front bead sight
Inflex recoil pad

The Silver Black Lighting has these additional features:

Gloss black receiver finish
Gloss blued barrel finish
Lightning-style, gloss finish buttstock and forearm made of Grade 2.5 Turkish Walnut

Suggested retail is $1,259.99

The Silver Matt Hunter and Silver Matt Hunter Micro Midas have these additional features:

Silver/matte black bi-tone receiver finish
Matte blued barrel finish
Satin finish walnut stock
Micro Midas model comes with one 14” stock spacer
Micro Midas model is eligible for Browning’s Growth Insurance Program

The Silver Matte Hunter is available in both 20 and12 gauge with either a 26” or 28” barrel length. The Silver Matte Hunter Micro Midas also comes in 20 and 12 gauge, with a 24” or 26” barrel length.

Suggested retail is $1,149.99 for both models.

Browning’s new Silver Rifled Deer Matte shotgun combines good looks with exceptional performance for the serious deer hunter in areas where using a shotgun with slugs is mandatory.

The Silver Rifled Deer Matte has these features:

Strong, lightweight aluminum alloy receiver
Semi-humpback receiver shape
Thick-walled, 22” fully rifled barrel for slug ammunition
3” chamber
Satin finished walnut stock
Cantilever scope mount
Available in 20 gauge

Suggested retail is $1,339.99

For more information on Browning products, please visit the website at www.browning.com.

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8 COMMENTS

  1. I have a Browning Silver Hunter. I named her Betty after Betty White who is my silver fox. Zero failures of any kind. Cycled light loads my father’s A5 wouldn’t eject and was so much more gentle with the magnum loads. Very little carbon buildup after a hundred rounds at the range too

    • “At times people act surprised when they learn that Browning is now making the Citori, the BLR or the X-Bolt in the Miroku factory in Japan. But the fact is they have always been made there. Even today, production of the Browning line is split largely between Miroku in Japan and Belgium/Portugal in Europe. Only Buck Mark, 1911-22 and 1911-380 pistols are made in the US.”

      From this article from 3 years ago:

      http://www.browning.com/news/articles/brief-history-browning-legendary-miroku-factory.html

      I have had an A5 from the Miroku plant for the last 35 years and have never had one problem with it.

  3. I would love to own a semi-auto shotgun … but $1200+ ?????

    Too rich for my blood. Besides, I cannot begin to imagine that manufacturing costs are much above $300, if that.

  4. At some point I’ll submit my reviews to this site on Browning autoloaders, being quite the fan myself I have the Maxus, Silver and now the new A5 Sweet 16 (which quite simply could be the best upland autoloader on the market and an instant classic). Of the three, the Silver is more the value option, but the Browning buck mark comes at a premium. Yes, out the door price of 900-1000 still a chunk to spend on a shotgun, especially one labeled a ‘value’. And there are lower cost options that will git ‘er done (Remington V3/numerous Turkish guns). However, a Browning shotgun will outlive you and your grandchildren, so take that into account the investment, the long term value. Plus Browning’s customer service is top notch and has been for decades… So take that into account when you evaluate the label of your purchase as well.

    Be that as it may, the Silver is a rock solid shotgun, well built, flawless operation and one of the better hunting shotgun available. One that you won’t regret.

    Of the new versions, the “lightning” stocked, prince of whales version is the most appealing to me. That harkens back to the old Belgium Auto-5 stocks I grew to admire as a kid.

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