The Shooter’s Companion

Shotguns·makers·models·history

An independent reference on sporting shotguns, for shooters, collectors, buyers and sellers.

Browning
B25

The Superposed over-and-under, with a sliding fore-end and custom target configurations

B25 · UKSuperposed · US

Drawing of a Browning B25 from the right: two stacked barrels, a boxlock action, a walnut pistol-grip stock and a sliding fore-end with a tulip tip.
Drawing: 12-gauge Sporter 206, 29.92 in, right side

he B25, also known as the Superposed, is Browning’s offered in custom configurations.1, 2, 3, 4 The range includes the Evolution 2 and several Sporters.2 The slides forward to free the barrels and stays attached to them.5

The hinges on a full-width pin and locks with a low bolt engaging the barrel lumps.6 The works a bolt that Browning fits closely to the barrel lugs.7 Browning leaves extra metal on the locking surfaces to allow for gradual wear.7

Specifications

12-bore

HingeFull-width 6
LockingLow bolt engaging the barrel lumps6
Lockwork6
Made inHerstal, Belgium4, 1, 8
Introduced19319, 10, 3
Bore12-bore
Chambers70 mm (2¾ in)
Barrels29.92 in
Chokesfixed
Weight3.5 kg (7 lb 11 oz; catalogue, 29.92 in)

2 Compare specifications

Specifications

ConfigurationBoreChambersBarrels, inRib, mmFore-endGradeChoke systemWeightStock
Trap Evolution 2212-bore70 mm (2¾ in)29.9216semi-beavertailTrap Evolution 2fixed3.5 kg (7 lb 11 oz; catalogue, 29.92 in)pistol grip; semi-beavertail fore-end; 375 mm pull
Trap Evolution 2212-bore76 mm (3 in)29.9216semi-beavertailTrap Evolution 2fixed3.5 kg (7 lb 11 oz; catalogue, 29.92 in)pistol grip; semi-beavertail fore-end; 375 mm pull
Sporter New Generation212-bore70 mm (2¾ in)27.95, 29.92, 31.89SporterSporter New Generationfixedpistol grip; Sporter fore-end; 375 mm pull
Sporter New Generation212-bore76 mm (3 in)27.95, 29.92, 31.89SporterSporter New Generationfixedpistol grip; Sporter fore-end; 375 mm pull
Sporter 206212-bore70 mm (2¾ in)29.9212tulipSporter 206fixedpistol grip; tulip fore-end; 375 mm pull
Sporter 206212-bore76 mm (3 in)29.9212tulipSporter 206fixedpistol grip; tulip fore-end; 375 mm pull
Sporter 208212-bore70 mm (2¾ in)31.8912tulipSporter 208fixedpistol grip; tulip fore-end; 375 mm pull
Sporter 208212-bore76 mm (3 in)31.8912tulipSporter 208fixedpistol grip; tulip fore-end; 375 mm pull
Sporter 207212-bore70 mm (2¾ in)29.928tulipSporter 207fixedpistol grip; tulip fore-end; 375 mm pull
Sporter 207212-bore76 mm (3 in)29.928tulipSporter 207fixedpistol grip; tulip fore-end; 375 mm pull

Scroll for more columns.

Identify and date

The upper barrel carries the and maximum shell length on its right side.13 The fixed- marks sit at the rear of each barrel, on the left surfaces of the polished breech.11 The serial number sits immediately above the semi-circular hinge recess.14 Browning describes the Superposed as made entirely in Belgium.4

Earlier serial numbers carry a letter: S for 12, V for 20, F for 28 and J for .410.15 In Browning’s example, 6556S2 is a 12- gun of 1962.15 From 1969 to 1975 the serial carries two year digits, as in 1000S69 for a 12- gun of 1969.16 From 1976 to 1986 the model code comes first, then two year letters and the serial sequence.17

WhereMarkings
Right side of the upper barrel and maximum shell length13
Left surfaces of the polished breechFixed- marks at the rear of each barrel11
Above the semi-circular hinge recessSerial number14

Proof date

Plain letters a–z mark 1922–1947, and underlined a–z mark 1962–1987. The later codes, up to 2005, are also underlined. A bold z denotes 1952, and an underlined alpha denotes 2000. J appears against both 1991 and 2005.18

Proof date codes

Browning serial date code

Two letters encode the last two digits of the year of manufacture. Browning gives this key for the Citori in 1976–1997 and from 1999, the Superposed in 1976–1986 and the Auto-5 in 1976–1997. The Superposed places the type code first, as in 213RT01001. The Auto-5 example 01001RT151 and the later Citori example 01001NN131 place the serial sequence first. The Superposed and Auto-5 examples denote 1976, and the Citori example denotes 1999.19, 20, 17, 21

CodeYear digit
Z119
Y219
X319
W419
V519
T619
R719
P819
N919
M019

The Blue Book serialization guide describes historical-letter requests through Browning Customer Service with the model and serial number.22

Before you buy

  1. Inspect the blacking on the barrels where the sliding runs; it can leave a scar.5
  2. On guns from the salt-wood period, which Outdoor Life places in 1966–1972, inspect the metal at the wood joints for rust.23 The rust appears where the wood meets the metal.24
  3. Check the for oil damage and looseness; excess oil can soften the wood.25
  4. Inspect the barrel lugs, and bracket; Browning specifies a thin film of oil on these bearing surfaces.26
  5. Read the maximum shell length on the right side of the upper barrel and the fixed- marks at the left rear of the breech.13, 11
  6. Close the gun and let the return under its spring; on a new gun, Browning says, the lever need not come back to the centre.27

History

Browning introduced the Superposed to the US market in 1931.10 Twenty- production began in 1949.9 US distribution ended in 1986, but the gun remained available through the Custom Shop.10 The Custom Shop offers fixed or adjustable combs and deeply figured walnut.3

The grades B2G and D5G mark different standards of finish and .28 Browning’s patterns include Diana, C2G, D4G, D5G and D5G Side Plate.29 Browning’s European and North American offices may offer different models and features.30

Sources

  1. Browning Custom Shop brochure, custom-shop-location. Browning. maker catalogue · Archive
  2. Browning Custom Shop brochure: B25 configurations, target-configurations. Browning. maker catalogue · Archive
  3. John M. Browning Collection: B25 names and choices, b25-options. Browning. maker website · Archive
  4. John M. Browning Collection: B25 names and choices, manufacture. Browning. maker website · Archive
  5. Secondhand Browning B25 shotgun review, sliding-fore-end. ShootingUK. magazine · Archive
  6. Secondhand Browning B25 shotgun review, action. ShootingUK. magazine · Archive
  7. Superposed owner’s manual: B25 and B125 markings and maintenance, lever-and-wear. Browning. manual · Archive
  8. FN Browning Group Activity Report 2024, herstal-b25-and-barrel-production. FN Browning Group, 2025. maker website · Archive
  9. Superposed Over/Under Shotgun: dating guidance, early-serial-limits. Browning. maker website · Archive
  10. Superposed Over/Under Shotgun: dating guidance, us-distribution. Browning. maker website · Archive
  11. Superposed owner’s manual: B25 and B125 markings and maintenance, fixed-choke-markings. Browning. manual · Archive
  12. Citori owner’s manual: markings, fit and maintenance, fore-end-removal. Browning. manual · Archive
  13. Superposed owner’s manual: B25 and B125 markings and maintenance, gauge-and-chamber. Browning. manual · Archive
  14. Superposed owner’s manual: B25 and B125 markings and maintenance, serial-location. Browning. manual · Archive
  15. Superposed dating guidance: early year and gauge suffixes, earlier-suffixes. Browning. maker website · Archive
  16. Superposed dating guidance: early year and gauge suffixes, two-digit-year-suffixes. Browning. maker website · Archive
  17. Superposed Over/Under Shotgun: dating guidance, letter-key-and-layout. Browning. maker website · Archive
  18. Banc d’Épreuves des armes à feu de Liège: Tableau des lettres annales, annual-letter-table. Banc d’Épreuves des armes à feu de Liège (reproduced by Union Française des amateurs d’Armes). proof house · Archive
  19. Citori Over/Under Shotgun: dating guidance, letter-key-and-scope. Browning. maker website · Archive
  20. Citori Over/Under Shotgun: dating guidance, later-format-and-example. Browning. maker website · Archive
  21. Auto-5 Semi-Automatic Shotgun: dating guidance, letter-key-and-example. Browning. maker website · Archive
  22. Blue Book of Gun Values: Serialization excerpt, historical-letter-service. Blue Book Publications. book · Archive
  23. Browning Superposed review, salt-wood. Outdoor Life. magazine · Archive
  24. Browning Superposed review, rust-location. Outdoor Life. magazine · Archive
  25. Superposed owner’s manual: B25 and B125 markings and maintenance, stock-and-oil. Browning. manual · Archive
  26. Superposed owner’s manual: B25 and B125 markings and maintenance, bearing-surfaces. Browning. manual · Archive
  27. Superposed owner’s manual: B25 and B125 markings and maintenance, lever-position. Browning. manual · Archive
  28. Secondhand Browning B25 shotgun review, grades. ShootingUK. magazine · Archive
  29. Browning Custom Shop brochure: B25 configurations, engraving-names. Browning. maker catalogue · Archive
  30. John M. Browning Collection: B25 names and choices, market-differences. Browning. maker website · Archive

Revised