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Bryant Ridge's Analysis: The Browning Auto-5—commonly known as the A-5—is a landmark in firearms history and the first truly successful semi-automatic shotgun. Designed by the legendary John Browning and introduced in 1905, it revolutionized shotgun design and set the benchmark for autoloading performance for nearly a century, remaining in production until 1998. Its instantly recognizable “humpback” receiver not only gave it a distinct profile but also served a practical …

Bryant Ridge's Analysis: The Remington Model 1100 Field in 16 gauge is a fine representation of one of the most successful and beloved semi-automatic shotguns in American history. Introduced in 1963, the Model 1100 revolutionized the shotgun market with its gas-operated action, significantly reducing felt recoil compared to its recoil-operated predecessors. This 16-gauge variant, chambered for 2 ¾-inch shells, offers a balanced blend of power and smooth handling, making it an excellent ch …

Bryant Ridge's Analysis: Stevens Arms was an American firearms manufacturer founded by Joshua Stevens in 1864 in Chicopee, Massachusetts. The company introduced the .22 Long Rifle round and made a number of rifle, shotgun, and target pistol designs. By 1902, they were advertising themselves as "the largest producers of sporting arms in the world". They were purchased by New England Westinghouse on May 28, 1915, and again by Sa …

Bryant Ridge's Analysis: The Winchester Model 1200 was introduced in 1964 as a more affordable alternative to the iconic Winchester Model 12, a pump-action shotgun that had been in production since the early 20th century. The Model 1200 was designed to offer similar performance and reliability as the Model 12 but at a lower price point, making it accessible to a wider market. While the Model 1200 retained the classic pump-action design, it featured cost-cutting measures, such as a simpler const …

Bryant Ridge's Analysis: Parker started production of the Grade 0 (zero) in 1869. Parker started its grade numbering system at zero to denote the lowest grade made at that time. As Parker introduced the named grades, they named Grade 0 guns R, S, T, U, and VH. Except for the VH, which describes all Grade 0 hammerless Parkers, the other names describe Grade 0 hammer guns based on various gauge and stock configurations. It had Decarbonized Steel barrels in the beginning and later used Plain Twist, …