Question on shotgun. Browning made in belgium

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PurpleCoyote

New member
I probably spelled Belgium wrong but anyway, Ive got a buddy who wants to trade a 12 ga aout browning made in B_--gum. Its suppose to be in great shape. I think its a auot5 if thats right. Whats it worth? Hope thats OK to ask here.I need a shotgun but never liked that weird receiver look but havent seen one in awhile and things change.Ive even gotten use to my wife.Opps I hear her coming.
Daryl P.
 
I've always heard that their very well made. However, it seems that I've also heard that their made for lead shot, not steel, and that the barrels can be damaged with the wrong shot. Hopefully others will have more infor----
 
I know the Citori's made there are very good guns and would assume the A-5 are or equal quality. I just checked on Brownings website about steel shot and here it is:

"3. DO NO USE ANY STEEL SHOT LOADS: The Belgian-made A-5, Superposed, Leige, and other Belgian Over/Under models, Double Automatic, American-made A-5 and all other models not listed in category 1 or 2. Note: Belgian Auto-5 barrels are interchangeable with the new Invector barrels which are made in Japan. With this new Invector barrel installed on the Belgian-made Auto-5 receiver, steel shot loads can be used."

As for value: look in a Gun blue book (just go to Barnes and Noble if you don't want to buy it).
 
I thought all Citori are made in Japan, Belgium(FN) made the Superposed, but I could be wrong. As for the Belgian guns, one thing to be aware of is the "salt wood", for a period of time the Belgian walnut was dried by applying salt, consequently a lot of the Brownings badly rust out under the stock due to this problem.
 
The Browning A5 is one of the best autos ever made but a lot of people don't like the extra kick you get from recoil operated shotguns. I personally wouldn't pay more than 500.00 for a used A5 and then it would have to be in very good shape . New in the box would bring more. My favorite was the Sweet 16.
 
Shot A-5's duck hunting some years ago and if your have the chance to own one go for it

If its a 16 or 20 the prices have shot up on those but 12 ga bringing 550 to 800 range depending on condition and configuration ie 12 ga vent rib round knob grip open choke like IC or mod as most were fulls

Choke marking -* improved cyl ** mod * full
Check out the butt plate if it has FN on it too

Browning Service does/did provide dates of manufacture if you called them with serial #

When I pick up an A 5 always checked the forearm for cracks when they saw heavy use and pay attention to the received screws if they been toyed with as some basement gunsmith tried to take it apart
 
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Belgian A5 in 12ga is not hard to find, some can be had still new in box. But since they quit making them, there is a little collector value in the early ones if it's in good shape.
I've seen them anywhere from $150~$700 depanding of the model & conditions the later magnums may fetch a little more but not by much. If you can get the specs on the gun that would help to ID the true value.
BTW, I'm not a fan of Browning shotguns, but I do think the A5 is very sexy and I know she shoots even better than she looks.
 
Im not sure about quality issues between Belgium and other manufacture's but the A-5 is a great weapon. The only thing I noticed was the ingraving on the reciever was not as full on the Jap makes.

A5.jpg


Here is the one I have laying around. It is a Jap model and works stuningly for me. It has been and always will be my favorite pheasant blaster. Like you said, It is a wierd style but it just works for me.

My barrel is clearly marked (Made in Japan) but is still my favorite 12 banger. Wish it said "Made in Belgium" though!

The "Light Twelve" is a great gun no matter were it was assembled. But it still has to fit YOU!

Dave
 
I have several A-5s and use one (Jap-1997 made) for all of my duck hunting.

I recently used a 1950's issue Belgium Browning A-5 vent rib for trade on a Ruger red label. The metal was 95% w/ vent rib-mod choke. The stock had been cut and sanded slightly for what appeared to be a high cheek bone. The dealer is known for fairness and allowed me $450. Had the stock been uncut it would have been $500+.

Additional pluses to look for are the round knob on the bottom of the pistol grip which mine did not have and quality of wood and finish. Mine was beginning to craze - cracking of the finish common to older brownings. There are a lot of well hunted A-5's in the $250-300 range that will give many more years of service, but those with good metal and wood esp. belgium's command a pretty penny. Add $$ for Round Knob, Long Tang (RKLT), Belgium and Light models. Jap models were very well made also, they just don't have the mystic.

The good thing is an A-5 that is well maintained will outlast many of the modern guns that are made to last a few years not a few generations. That longevity is a bad thing for a manufacturer who wants to sell more guns.
 
I was at the SHOT show in Dallas in the mid 90s and I visited the Browning booth to see then the newly released BOSS system on their rifles. After getting the information on the BOSS, my conversation with the rep quickly went to cost of build and his opinion on the quality between FN and Maruko made Browning. This rep told me he worked in the sevice dept for 13 years before he was transfered to sales/ marketing side. He believes the Belgian made prettier guns but they are not necessory better guns, the major down side is they always take longer to get. He felt the Japanes made Browning has a better value. He also told me for every 10 FN that comes back for repair you may see one of the Japanese gun, for that reason the Belgian made have a higher after the sale support, which in term a higher cost to the company and that was the key reasons for Browning to shift to Maruko.
 


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