Not a Double but....
 

I should know this, but I'm asking anyway. Are the barrels interchangeable on the Browning Auto-5?

I have a standard 20 gauge, Belgian gun. 2 3/4" chamber. It has a modified choke barrel. Recently, I found a Belgian made skeet barrel, 2 3/4" chamber.

Will this work with my gun or were they fitted?

Thanks in advance.

In a word, Yes.

Should work. Not fitted but excellent close tolerences. Regular weight barrels and light weight barrels interchange. All standard weights to Light Twelve, Sweet Sixteen, and Light 20 and vice versa. The light weight barrels you will see holes drilled.

Magnum to standard or light, and vice-versa do not work.

Belgian and Jap barrels also interchange. As long as you are in same gauge and shell length of course.

Alfred,

All 20s except for the Magnums are "Light Twenty"s, even though they may be marked just Twenty. The Light was added later. Look at the barrels and there are holes in the barrel ring, no matter whether it says Light Twenty or just Twenty. My 1963 just says Twenty. I don't know the year when the designation changed.

12s and 16s have Standard, and Light and Sweet.

The only issue you may run into is, the forearm barrel channel may need to be relieved to accommodate a slightly different barrel profile.

In the 16ga the 2 9/16 " ( prewar ) will not interchange with 2 3/4 " or vice versa . 16ga's were either Standard or Sweet no designation for Light .

Really early 12ga do not interchange .

Meaning: Light Twelve and Sweet Sixteen.

Thanks all. The skeet barrel fits like it was originally made for it. I was pretty sure it would work, I was thinking of the Ithaca Model 37 where they only interchange after a certain serial number. Thanks again for all the input, and Merry Christmas.

What differentiates a standard Belgian-made 16 and a Belgian made Sweet Sixteen?

Early versions of both had 2 9/16" chambers. I believe that both are true 16 gauge frames. The difference between the two is weight. The Sweet Sixteen had holes drilled in the barrel ring, additional milling of the receiver, and the stock had additional milling under the butt plate to remove weight. I think the early Sweet Sixteens also were enhanced with a gold plated trigger and safety.