Browning A5

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panhed

New member
I was wondering if there are any fans of the A5 here. I have always wanted one, and older one with a poly choke. anyhow today I found one at a gun show, in real nice condition, poly choke deluxe on it. paid 325 for it which is alot less than all the ones I have been passing on for a few years. have never shot an A5, so if anyone can give me a few hints on it, would help out. will be test firing it tomorrow. unsure about the little lever on the left next to the forearm, seems to be some kind of a shell cutoff. has a 5 digit serial #11xxx, supposed to be made in 1954. seems kind of heavy, but I am not much of a shotgunner, hardly ever use them. thanks in advance for any help.
Barry
 
I have safes full of them in their original boxes ranging from 1953 to 1971. I collect the light 20's and sweet 16's w/a few old round knob light 12's and Mag 12's thrown in for good measure. I am assuming you have a light 12? Maybe a standard perhaps? Pull the barrel and look at the barrel band which should have 3 holes in it if in fact it is a light. Never crank down on your forearm w/the mag cap. Hand tighten then back off 1 click. The older forearms had the propensity to crack. Always lube up your mag tube for proper friction ring lubrication and movement. Lastly, know their correct sequence for high and low brass shells. You now own the aristocrat of shotguns, congrats. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
DaddyRabbit! Good to see you here on this forum! I've corresponded with you over on ShotgunWorld.

BTW, y'all - DaddyRabbit is one of the resident experts on the A-5.

Great gun, panhead - enjoy it.
 
Good to hear from you again Tom. Picked up any A5's lately? What was your handle on Shotgun world? You're like me, where I see the title Browning A5 it traps me every time. I'm broadening my horizons by tipping my hat to the predator hunting world. You do much predator hunting?
 
The lever on the left is a magazine cutoff. In the normal position that magazine feeds shell as usual. Shift the other direction you can eject a shell without the magazine feeding in another shell. The usefulness is if you are duck hunting and a goose comes along, you can flip the switch, eject a shell, reload with a goose load and get at least one shot at the goose without having to cycle through all of the duck loads.

+1 on the oil on the magazine tube. If I remember right the manual states 30w motoroil and it does work well. The A5 is one of those guns that works well when wet with oil.

Below is a link to the field service manual and the browning historic manuals.

They are the greatest of all shotguns in my opinion. The only two reasons that they are no longer made is that they became very expensive because they are machined works of art, not stampings and they last forever which does not generate repeat business.

http://www.midwestgunworks.com/field_service_manual/browning_auto_5_field_service_manual.pdf

http://www.browning.com/products/manuals/index.asp
 
1954 was the first year to use a lettered SN system

Here is a link

http://www.browning.com/services/dategun/detail.asp?id=13

1903-1939 First 10,000 shipped to U.S. Marked with "BROWNING AUTOMATIC ARMS CO. OGDEN UTAH-U.S.A." Very few serial number records remain. Beginning with Serial Number 1 to approximately 228,000. Exact production figures are not available. Year of manufacture on Pre-World War II production is strictly a guess.
 
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You are right. They lost a bunch of records in a fire or something. My 123XXX being from the 20s is just a guess, but it is in the middle of the 1903-1939 range.
I missed the one he was talking about being a lettered SN.

Jack
 
the A5 was the first gun that I ever bought, was a magnum 12 with the 32" barrel on it, kind of a tank for a 14yr old kid, but for 200 bucks seemed like a good deal, and since I got it from my uncle my dad actually said yes /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

One thing people always complain about it seems about them is recoil and not ejecting certain shells, its an easy fix, just adjust your rings, I honestly cant tell you how to do it atm since its been years since Ive done it, but you can buy the kits online pretty cheap and its a good idea to have a spare set, since they do wear out eventually.

Mine has since been retired sort of, It comes out for the first day of dove season, gets a small workout then cleaned and put away.(until of course I get the itch to shoot it again) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif

Good luck and have fun, your gonna love that gun! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

Dave
 
I love the old A5 also. Mine is a Light Twelve with 28" modified barrel. 2 3/4" heavy loads of plated lead BB's through that old gun was my first predator shotgunning experiences. That old gun has taken gray fox and coyotes, no telling how many rabbit, squirrel, dove, and turkey. My dad killed a fat 4 point buck with it on the run at 40 yards with a slug once. I don't pack the old A5 anymore for much hunting. It's quite heavy and where it isn't silver worn it is very shiney, so its days in the predator fields are over. It is an excellent dove gun and I will still drag it out of the safe for that. I have used it crow hunting a few times also in recent years. Mine is a 1958 model. Like my 1966 Remington 870 the two are treasured companions of many hunts, mostly silver worn from my handling and much bad weather hunting. Neither one could be bought, except for an insane, stupid, amount of money. Classy guns... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
I have owned a number of Auto 5's over the years and hunted with them on a regular basis, but being Left Hand they sometimes would eject hot powder in my eye while ejecting the spent shell across my face so i sold them and replaced with Left Hand pump, s-auto shotguns or S/S AND O/U's. I always hoped Browning would put out a Left Hand Version but it never happened. In my opinion they are the finest semi- auto shot ever produced. For a new owner of the Auto 5 this photo might help. You will love your new Auto 5 shotgun. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
auto5frictionrings.jpg
 
DaddyRabbit or Jack, I had a A5 that was one of 2000 commemortive,#624 when the 2,000,000 A5 was made. I sold it for $2500.00 . Did I sale to cheap. I couldnt find any for sale to compare.
 
Not really as I see them often for $3K. Thing is I see the same one's over and over again. They're not selling. I'd say you sold w/in the mark. Thing is what did you pay for it? They are gorgeous guns but I just love the old nostalgia mystique of the 50's and 60's. You find a 99% or NIB 50's vintage and you've got something.

Quote:
DaddyRabbit or Jack, I had a A5 that was one of 2000 commemortive,#624 when the 2,000,000 A5 was made. I sold it for $2500.00 . Did I sale to cheap. I couldnt find any for sale to compare.

 
Love mine!!


Just started shooting more shotgun this past fall with my son. I'd forgotten what a pleasure to shoot it was. It's one of few that I own that I will Never part with!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif


A5.jpg



Dave
 
Got my dad's after he died in 1977. It is from the early 70's, don't shoot it much, it's just a safe queen. It sure is pretty!

Tim
 
Thanks everyone for all the info and comments. shot the gun, it works fine and I like it. it does have a crack in the forearm full length between the barrel channel and the hole for the magazine tube, think I may get a synth. one for it, they ought to be tough enough to hold up. I did look up the # and it is way earlier than I was told when I bought it, not that it matters, works just fine.
Barry
 
Hey DaddyRabbit, I have two of the A-5 Stalkers, don't see many of them, I love mine, and hunt ducks and turkeys with them. I have one in a 26" barrel, and the other is a 28" barrel. What are they worth? I also have a light twelve belgium, that is in need of new lumber. Where would I find original belgium wood for my light twelve do you have any reliable sources? Thanks Butcher
 
Butch, I have been looking for a NIB Browning A-5 12 Mag stalker w/a 26'' barrel forever! Its the one gun I can seem to get my grabbers on. I know that if I find one I stand the chance of getting pregnant in the deal too. I have a 1960 Mag 12 that I replaced the lumber w/original stalker synthetic stocks and love it. You might want to look into that. Otherwise you'll want to buy from Midwest gun works. Note: they also sell the stalker stocks as well.

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Hey DaddyRabbit, I have two of the A-5 Stalkers, don't see many of them, I love mine, and hunt ducks and turkeys with them. I have one in a 26" barrel, and the other is a 28" barrel. What are they worth? I also have a light twelve belgium, that is in need of new lumber. Where would I find original belgium wood for my light twelve do you have any reliable sources? Thanks Butcher

 


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