browning A-5 question

Chris S.

Chris S.

Well-known member
I have an old browning A-5 and have 2 barrels i have a 24inch fixed IC and a 28inch fixed full I try to shoot all ducks with in 30yrds over the decoys. I am wondering what barrel most of you would use and why. I know I should pattern to see what works best. But the gun was my dad's and just got it from my brother. I am thinking the 24inch to have a wider pattern and use a 1500fps 2 3/4 shell. All the feed back I can get is welcome. Also for the A-5 owners how do you change the rings for high and low brass there is a brass ring with a ring around it and a steel ring. I get the bevels and the flat part has to be against the spring but what are the 2 ways to place it for high and low. anything else I should know about the A-5 will be great thanks Oh also whats the little switch for that blocks the feeding tube I see how it works but not sure why you would use it.
 
Evening Chris,

You can also send the barrel to Art's Gun & Sport Shop located in Hillsboro, MO (636-944-3630) and have the fixed choke open up to IC. You can find them on the WEB for more information. There shop has some of the top A-5 gunsmiths in the country.

The other way to go is to purchase a Hasting Barrel if you can find one, they come with three choke tubes. Not sure if you have the mag. 3" gun or the 2 3/4 gun.

I have both the 20 gage and 12 gage mag. guns and the 12 gage has the Hasting Barrel 34" it is a great goose gun, and never fails me.

Good Luck and good shooting.

Best Regards,

Dennis S. (Rio Rancho, NM)
 
Chris,

I forgot to mention that I lived in NJ (Florence) and hunted out of Dennis Creek and also out of Tuckahoe with Bob Peterson, and Ronnie Donbroski of Trenton NJ. I sure due miss the salt marshes. I use my Chuck Huff BBSB here on the lakes in New Mexico and I still have my fiberglass pond box.

By the way, our Duck season runs from October 15 to late January with two flyways to hunt. No Black Ducks but plenty of Mallards, Pintails, Teal and Widgon.

Still have family in Millville and in Trenton.

Best Regards,

Dennis S. (Rio Rancho, NM)
 
Chris:
Ditto, Art's Gun Shop is THE BEST! I had a 49' Light 12 restored by them. Beautiful job. I would not hesitate to recommend them for any and all A5 repairs or mods.
 
I used a old A5 Mag all season as my primary gun was broke. I had a 30" full choke barrel and I searched for a while an found a 30" mod on gunbroker for $200, that is cheap for a A5 mag barrel. You can almost buy a used jap complete gun for the price of asking prices of some choke tube barrels. I shot 3" inch steel all season and it worked well, outside of a couple hunts on snow geese. That is just the limitation of steel. I find 24" to short for most duck hunting and would either go the route of opening up the choke, or having tubes installed in the longer barrel if you can't find a used barrel cheap enough locally. Once they hit the web the get spendy.
 
Shoot the IC choke. Length of the barrel is less important than the choke. Full is likely not steel proofed and you should be careful with that.
If you hit the close shots with the one you have, enjoy it.
Having a gun with history is a very good thing.
I would shoot what you have at clays and ducks for at least a year before making any changes that cant be reversed.

You must make sure to set the gun up for the high speed of the steel you stated you would use.

1300 fps was a fast lead load. 1500 will pound the action if not adjusted properly.

Bob
 
I agree with Bob B. Shoot the 24" barrel for a year and see how you like it before you go changing anything.
 
Chris, something to consider, is how envolved that gun is to dis-assemble and clean... I would not use it in the salt. I shoot an A-5 Magnum as my duck gun, a newer made in Japan model with a Browning 26" screw-in chokes. Wish I had the 28" barrel... and wish I had a 12ga Light for Trap! If it is Belgium made, make sure you match the right barrel to it if you buy another barrel. If you are going to shot it with heavy loads, buy the plastic stock now before you ruin the nice walnut stock....

Dave
 
Chris,

First off, go here and either download your owners manual or request one from Browning. http://www.browning.com/customerservice/ownersmanuals/index.asp

I agree with the guys on shooting the I/C barrel to see how it patterns for you before making changes to an older gun that cannot be reversed. The 24" barrel should do just fine over the decoys and actually should be a fairly fast swinging gun. Also, if you can I also agree on getting a plastic stock installed if that gun is Belguim made. The original buttplate is very expensive if you have to replace it with another original. I used to own a Belguim A5 Light 12 and they are sweet shooting guns, you will enjoy it.

I always forget how to set the bevel ring so refer to the owners manual for that setting. The "switch" on the side prevents a round from being released from the magazine tube when the chamber is opened. This allows for single shots or so you can change the round in the chamber without the next round leaving the magazine tube. If you do any layout hunting it could be used to drop a "swatter" round in...The owners manual explains it in good detail.

Hope this helps!
 
it is belgium made its only chambered for 2 3/4 shells and both the barrels say special steel on them. I looked on a website and the new barrels are pretty high upwards of 400+ I will do a little researh thanks for the help guys

Anyone know about setting the rings for high and low brass
 
it is belgium made its only chambered for 2 3/4 shells and both the barrels say special steel on them. I looked on a website and the new barrels are pretty high upwards of 400+ I will do a little researh thanks for the help guys

Anyone know about setting the rings for high and low brass
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Set the rings for light loads with steel shot. http://www.browning.com/customerservice/qna/detail.asp?id=105 Great Guns. I shot a 1966 Mag I bought used from 1978 till 2008. I have owned and shot a bunch of them ole Humpbacks.

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I would say yes you do own a few. Mine isn't blued on the reciever and has engravings but not as purddy as the far left in your picture and no gold trigger that is a but load of parts in you pic of it taked down

What is the worth of a used A-5 rough idea
 
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I have been keeping an eye out for another Magnum, and a 12 Light.... Magnums are $450 to $900 and Lights a little less. When my Magnum gets too beat up, I will either have it dipped or parkerized... is is a non-stop, function all day, every day duck gun for me. A little heavy to carry, but in the boat or blind, I love it. I only shoot heavy loads in mine, always functions.

I think Browning is re-introducing an A-5 inertia gun?

Dave
 
I would say yes you do own a few. Mine isn't blued on the reciever and has engravings but not as purddy as the far left in your picture and no gold trigger

What is the worth of a used A-5 rough idea
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The Market on Auto 5's has cooled the last few years. NIB Guns and Like new Sweet sixteens still bring high prices. All the others just sit on the market. Here they range from $350 to $600 in Good to Very Good Condition.

Now the collectors are picking Browning Superposed Shotguns. That market is VERY strong. Bought a Like New 1963 Superposed Standard Twelve (my birthyear) not long ago. Crazy amount of money.

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Rob,
You are not worried about pounding the back of the action with the higher speed steel loads?
I own a double auto that was my grandfathers and my father in law has a 20 ga Superposed.
Neither has adjustment but I thought I remember reading to be careful of the setting with the rings on the A 5 to keep from pounding the action if the speed goes up.


Bob
 
Rob,
You are not worried about pounding the back of the action with the higher speed steel loads?
I own a double auto that was my grandfathers and my father in law has a 20 ga Superposed.
Neither has adjustment but I thought I remember reading to be careful of the setting with the rings on the A 5 to keep from pounding the action if the speed goes up.


Bob
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Bob, I run all my Auto 5's with the tube dry. No Lube. None of my 2 3/4 inch guns will cycle 1 1/8oz steel with the rings on the mag setting. Every Auto 5 is a little different. Try the shells on the Mag setting. If they wont cycle change to the light setting. The rings and friction pieces are to soak up the recoil. I find as Ive gotten older the less recoil the better.
 
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