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Anything I should check on a old Browning A5 before firing it?
Posted on 4/24/24 at 10:22 am
Posted on 4/24/24 at 10:22 am
I inherited an old Browning A5 12 gauge last year that hasn't been fired in decades. Looks like it's in decent shape and everything appears to be working correctly on it. I watched a few videos on breaking it down and setting up the friction rings correctly and plan on cleaning/oiling it before firing. I'm going to check and make sure the forearm isn't looking like cracking where the barrel lug hits it. Anything else I should be checking out on it? Just firing low brass shells through it.
10
Posted on 4/24/24 at 10:40 am to Loup
Check to make sure rings are set to the heaviest setting that it will cycle reliably. Use very little oil especially on the mag tube. If an Auto 5 kicks hard its 100% either the rings are set wrong or you have too much oil on the mag tube causing the friction ring to not be able to do its job. These are very soft shooting guns when setup correctly. As for the forearm tighen it all the way down then back off one click
Posted on 4/24/24 at 10:50 am to Loup
I was given one by a great uncle about 20 years ago. It had sat on his back porch for decades. I took it to a gunsmith to check everything out. He told me to take it squirrel hunting but I have never shot it.
Posted on 4/24/24 at 12:38 pm to lv2bowhntAU
quote:
se very little oil especially on the mag tube. If an Auto 5 kicks hard its 100% either the rings are set wrong or you have too much oil on the mag tube causing the friction ring to not be able to do its job.
Thanks, I was going to treat it like my 870 and hose it down with rem oil. Glad I asked.
Posted on 4/24/24 at 1:05 pm to lv2bowhntAU
quote:He ain’t bullshitting. That mug will punish yo arse.
Use very little oil especially on the mag tube. If an Auto 5 kicks hard its 100% either the rings are set wrong or you have too much oil on the mag tube causing the friction ring to not be able to do its job
I’d make sure the breech of the barrel is barely visible though the ejection port. If too far forward from forearm wear, can break the op handle or worse. Bad:
Posted on 4/24/24 at 1:13 pm to White Bear
quote:
He ain’t bullshitting. That mug will punish yo arse.
So should I make sure the friction rings are set up for heavier loads like below and see if they'll cycle the low brass target loads I'll be shooting? If it doesn't put the second ring on the receiver side of the spring?
I've shot a pump 870 my entire life. Never owned an automatic so this is new territory for me.
This post was edited on 4/24/24 at 1:15 pm
Posted on 4/24/24 at 1:18 pm to Loup
I leave mine on the heavy setting and shoot everything.
The oiling of the mag tube is what will make it kick the absolute shite out of you. Worst recoil I’ve felt. was probably hungover too but either way it left an impression.
The oiling of the mag tube is what will make it kick the absolute shite out of you. Worst recoil I’ve felt. was probably hungover too but either way it left an impression.
Posted on 4/24/24 at 1:34 pm to Loup
quote:
I inherited an old Browning A5 12 gauge last year that hasn't been fired in decades
The friction ring setup you posted above should be fine. If you want to know more about the gun post the SN and I can look it up for you. I have about every piece of historical literature Browning ever published
Posted on 4/24/24 at 1:47 pm to White Bear
quote:.
The oiling of the mag tube is what will make it kick the absolute shite out of you. Worst recoil I’ve felt.
Glad I’m not the only one. I have 1950’s Belgian Light 12 that I only break out for skeet shoots. Sometimes it wouldn’t eject low brass shells so I oiled up the tube. I thought I was just being a pansy, but after shooting it 100 times in a day, my shoulder was miserable.
Posted on 4/24/24 at 1:48 pm to JDPndahizzy
quote:
If you want to know more about the gun post the SN and I can look it up for you. I have about every piece of historical literature Browning ever published
Thanks, I'll post it later.
I looked it up last year and I think this one was made in the 50s or 60s. I have 0 ability to recall numbers correctly so I may be wrong. It has a solid rib on it. I think the barrel is fixed modified choke. The feller who left it to me used to hunt pheasants and quail back in the day but it was pretty rare. It probably hasn't been fired much unless he bought it used.
Posted on 4/24/24 at 2:08 pm to REB BEER
quote:.
Sometimes it wouldn’t eject low brass shells so I oiled up the tube. I thought I was just being a pansy, but after shooting it 100 times in a day, my shoulder was miserable.
My first brand new shotgun. I’ve killed thousand’s of waterfowl with it.
I used to shoot the cheap Federal Field loads if I had to buy my shell’s. They had wax on the ends to seal them. This would build up in the bore and need to be cleaned for proper ejection.
I’ve made ones that didn’t shoot wheel by boiling a kettle of water, spraying the receiver with degreaser, then pouring the boiling water to rinse it.
Don’t oil the tube. Clean the recoil spring. Pay attention to whether you put the bottom ring with the seat up or the flat side up. It’s simple and quick to change them up, but you have to have them configured correctly.
Good Shooting.
This post was edited on 4/24/24 at 2:24 pm
Posted on 4/24/24 at 2:23 pm to Bigfishchoupique
quote:
Don’t oil the tube. Clean the recoil spring. Pay attention to whether you put the bottom ring with the seat up or the flat side up. It’s simple and quick to change them up, but you have to have them configured correctly.
Good Shooting.
Thanks! I'm pretty excited to shoot it. I was kind of hesitant to use it because of the sentimental value but it wasn't given to me to collect dust.
My dad still shoots my grandpa's model 11. We have a box end from when he bought it showing that he paid $16 for it. I've been enjoying reading up on the history of them. I don't remember the exact year but this one was made in Belgium.
Posted on 4/24/24 at 3:09 pm to Loup
Does yours have a fwd/back trigger safety or l/r ?
Posted on 4/24/24 at 3:11 pm to kaleidoscoping
quote:
Does yours have a fwd/back trigger safety or l/r ?
L/R just behind the trigger
Posted on 4/24/24 at 4:55 pm to JDPndahizzy
quote:
If you want to know more about the gun post the SN and I can look it up for you. I have about every piece of historical literature Browning ever published
JD,
What can you tell me about a sweet sixteen S/N #G77935 ? Do you have any original literature for this?
Thank You
Posted on 4/24/24 at 5:05 pm to Loup
Cool , just curious. I havent seen any for sale with the fwd/back inside the trigger guard except for mine. Belgian 46'
This post was edited on 4/24/24 at 5:06 pm
Posted on 4/24/24 at 5:18 pm to Loup
I inherited a 16 gauge several years ago from my grandfather that hadn’t been fired in probably 50 years. I sent it over to my local gunsmith to give it a once over because I just didn’t want to risk anything on a really nice shotgun. The gunsmith did a good job of explaining what he was doing like I was a child. He spent a good bit on time talking about the rings, so I’m sure that’s probably near the top of the list. Cost me about $100.
Posted on 4/24/24 at 7:04 pm to kaleidoscoping
Nice baw!
Mines a ‘57.
Mines a ‘57.
Posted on 4/25/24 at 9:06 am to Loup
quote:
I think this one was made in the 50s or 60s.
Don't shoot steel through it unless you want barrel bulge.
Posted on 4/25/24 at 4:17 pm to Loup
I have/had three Belgian A5’s that I’ve inherited from relatives.
One from my grandfather that’s a mid-40’s model.
One mid-50’s model from my wife’s father that is easily the cleanest one I’ve ever seen. I’m not sure it’s been shot more than 5 times.
One from my uncle that is an early 50’s model (since given back to my cousin when she had kids)
I guess I’m in the minority on this, but I just don’t get the love for A-5’s. I find them clunky and one of the most uncomfortable guns I’ve ever shot. Even after I checked the rings and everything.
Like others have said, I’d recommend having it checked out by a gunsmith if you’re not comfortable doing your own work.
Even if they’re not one of my favorites, I do enjoy breaking them down , cleaning them, and thinking about those men who taught me so much.
One from my grandfather that’s a mid-40’s model.
One mid-50’s model from my wife’s father that is easily the cleanest one I’ve ever seen. I’m not sure it’s been shot more than 5 times.
One from my uncle that is an early 50’s model (since given back to my cousin when she had kids)
I guess I’m in the minority on this, but I just don’t get the love for A-5’s. I find them clunky and one of the most uncomfortable guns I’ve ever shot. Even after I checked the rings and everything.
Like others have said, I’d recommend having it checked out by a gunsmith if you’re not comfortable doing your own work.
Even if they’re not one of my favorites, I do enjoy breaking them down , cleaning them, and thinking about those men who taught me so much.
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