Browning 65,53, Got 1?

[big bear]

Found a model 53(32-20) deluxe and a 65 (High grade) 218Bee for sale. Anyone have experience with these. Initial investigations suggest getting fixings to shoot them might be difficult and pricey?

[Hobie]

You'd better get those while you can. You'll find the components soon enough.

[SmokeEater2]

Buy them if You can. they are hard to come by,I just recently found a Model 65 in .218 Bee here in the Leverguns classifieds and they are definitely a fantastic little rifle! Components are not the easiest thing in the world to find but nothing good ever is. Several of the fine members of this forum dug into their stash and sold me brass,bullets and ammo, so it can be had.


Did I mention buy 'em?

[KirkD]

I've handled (fondled) both and both are beautifully made guns with excellent fit and finish. If you reload, then there is no problem making ammo for either.

[Chuck 100 yd]

I have a 53 .32-20. They are a sweet little rifle , as nice as any you could find and very accurate. Mine is rough on brass as it dings up the case mouth on ejection. That can be fixed and I probably will one day. So many guns and so little time!

[Pete44ru]

My advice (naturally) is to buy both.

But.........If you HAVE to make a choice.........

I would get the M-53 for two reasons:

One, I like the M-53's clean receiver better than the silvered/pickled one on the M-64 Hi-Grade.
If the Hi-Grade M-65 was blued/engraved, I'd be between a rock and a very hard place, indeed - but still think I'd go for the M-53 due to reason #2, below.

Two, JMO, but I think the .32-20 more useful than the Bee - but then I already have Hornets, etc.

.

[SFRanger7GP]

I have both and they are beautiful, sweet shooting guns. I was really surprised at the accuracy of my 218 Bee. It shoots as good as an old Win 43 I had years ago. I mounted Marble's tang sights on both.

[KirkD]

Mine is rough on brass as it dings up the case mouth on ejection. That can be fixed and I probably will one day.

Chuck, I have an original 53 in 32-20 and it never dings up the case mouth on ejection, so I'm sure an adjustment can be made on yours that will solve that problem.

[Chuck 100 yd]

KirkD , Yes, The ejector springs are too strong and they scrape the case mouth over the extractor slot in the rear of the chamber as the case passes by. A lighter spring should take care of that.

I don`t believe in cutting springs if one of the proper tension can be had.

[SFRanger7GP]

I read this on the brass and went and checked all of my fired brass. I don't have that problem. I do know that the mouths on them little cases can be bent pretty easy. If I let my brass hit the cement floor at the range or tumble it with heavier cases I will get a lot of bent case mouths. Resizing seems to fix it with no problem but sometimes I have to use a small screwdriver to straighten the mouths out some prior to running it in the die. I bought my 65 and 53 in a collection thinking I would just try them out and then trade them for something I wanted but I am very attached to them now.

[SmokeEater2]

I have a 53 .32-20. They are a sweet little rifle , as nice as any you could find and very accurate. Mine is rough on brass as it dings up the case mouth on ejection. That can be fixed and I probably will one day. So many guns and so little time!

My 65 does that too. I'm going to have to come up with a fix for it since it's so darn much fun to shoot.

[woods-walker]

I have a Browning 53. I did not have any issues finding components. These are very nice rifles to carry while walking the fields and woods. I like the way they come to the shoulder and "point". The rifle and barrel seems very well balanced for off hand shooting.

[Mitch1352]

I found a Model 53 at my gun store some time ago and bought it without nary a thought. I'm not real keen on the caliber, simply because I don't load for it and it's all alone in that chambering in my safe. But it is waaaaay cool. It is the only lever I have with a half mag tube. I thought about replacing it with a full length tube, but thought better of it. It is a neat lil lever.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

KirkD , Yes, The ejector springs are too strong and they scrape the case mouth over the extractor slot in the rear of the chamber as the case passes by. A lighter spring should take care of that.

I don`t believe in cutting springs if one of the proper tension can be had.

Hi Chuck,
It's not a good idea to cut that ejector spring anyway. This is because the spring does not have much travel to start with and because the guns are stored with the action closed if it’s cut over time they tend to take a set and no longer work. I have the proper replacement for it. It’s as long as the original but the wire size is smaller.

[Chuck 100 yd]

Thanks Steve, I will be dropping you a line. Chuck