A-5

Welcome to TFL.

The Auto 5 is a JMB design, and made for decades. Like most JMB designs, it requires complicated machining and close tolerances, thus it's expensive to make.

The A-5 is a classic.
 
Typically very well made, very reliable, very fast cycling and a true classic.

The downside is weight, and if it ever broke the parts would need to be fitted by a real gunsmith.

I had one, never a glitch with it but I sold it anyway. I just didn't think it was the best shotgun for ME, so I moved on and am happy that I did. Other guys find that the A5 is THE shotgun for them, more power to them.
 
The Auto 5 is a work of art. Mine has worked perfectly for my Dad and then for me since he got it in 1975. I agree that a good gunsmith would have to fit the parts but the gun is absolutely worth it IMO. BTW, I've been only shooting the Auto 5 for the last 6 years.

RIKA
 
I own an A5 Light 20 that I bought new in 1969. It still looks brand new and has functioned flawlessly all of these years. It has been the best natural pointing shotgun I've ever shot. The high squareback receiver is at the perfect level when you bring the gun up to give you a great flat sight plain. Great gun for shooting clay pigeons or taking birds on the wing. I own several shotguns, but the A5 is my favorite, hand-down.

I think Browning should be beaten with a stick for discontinuing it. Their stopping production on the A5 is nothing short of blasphemy. It would be like Colt saying they weren't making 1911s anymore. :mad:

If you have a chance to pick up one of these in decent condition, you would find it money well spent, IMHO

RJ
 
I don’t have an A-5, but have a Remington Model 11, made in 1942. It is a clone of the A-5, without the mag disconnect. I inherited mine and when I got it, it was in bad shape. I thought enough of it to have it restored. I set mine up for IPSC 3-gun competition. It has a 25” barrel, with removable choke tubes, an MMC rear ghost ring sight, and an AO front blade on a Williams base. I also have a Choate extended mag for competition. It shoots inexpensive Foster slugs into less then 3” at 50 yds. Works great. I also use it for Sporting Clays. Works well there, too.
 
I have never found a shotgun that I like better than the A-5. I have three, one each, in 12, 16, and 20 GA. My three are all pre Japanese manufacture. I have one Model 11 in 12 GA.
My HD shottie is a Remington Wingmaster, with a few add ons, my 'tactical' shotgun is Mossberg 590, but my hunting is done with an A-5.
 
I've got two of them.

Well, one early model Browning Auto-5 and an even earlier Remington Model 11. I love both of them, they handle well, and have put their share of Canada geese in my freezer.

If you didn't know, Browning quit making the Auto-5 just a few years ago. The gun was just too expensive to make and maintain a profit margin, considering you have to take a chunk of steel and machine away everything that doesn't look like a humpback A-5 receiver. ;)
 
:) I, just, turned 61 years old. I've used the Browning A-5 since I was 16 years of age. I presently own 2 of them: one, 2 3/4”, 12ga. and one, 3”, 20ga.

I've got 3 barrels for the 12, (1 is the slug barrel) and 2 more barrels for the 20. Because of the hump at the end of the receiver (And, maybe, the long drop at the comb.) I tend to hit very well with these shotguns.

I've, also, owned a Fox side-by-side as well as an 870; but I keep gravitating back to the A-5's. Oh, yeah, because of all the improvements in shotgun shells over the years I sold my 30" barrels. Today I use only 26" and 28" barrels; and I have no full chokes.

Last year in Maryland, it made no matter on all the geese I took. I was the only hunter in our party that limited out everyday. It must be that hump! ;)
 
My father owns 3 Auto 5's, in 12, 16 and 20 guage. I use them every chance that I get. I personally love the 16 guage for hunting rabbits in the real thick stuff, it works great. They can be a PITA to takedown for me, probally just because I don't mess with them as much as I would like.
 
Excerpt from http://www.chuckhawks.com/browning_A-5.htm

"Anytime you fire "old humpback" you are enjoying a piece of Americana. You are using the most difficult and most satisfying creation of the most prolific gun designer in history, a man whose ingenuity helped win two world wars. Maybe it is just me, but I swear that dogs hunt better, pheasants fall faster, the skies are bluer, and the birds even taste better when an A-5 is involved. When you swing a walnut and steel A-5, you're not just pointing a shotgun--you are swinging an American dream."

I am the proud owner of a 1950 A-5 Light 12 and even though I love my other guns, I somehow still gravitate towards the A-5 on opening day. Maybe it's just nostalgia, but I grew up with one, and invariably, hit more birds with it.

Trent
 
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value of A5

I think that you are a young hunter.
you have two options :
- buy a new model semiauto- the best and expensive -
- buy an old reliable A5 at cheap price.

After twenty years the A5 will be ready to hunt with you; and its value high,
while no one will buy the ex-new model , its fate only for sweepings
ciao, franco
 
I have a Japanese model that I bought new in 98. I bought it mainly for the history since Browning was phasing them out. The rings are a pain, and the forearm has cracked once.
Botton line.
For hunting or SC giive me a Benelli, and I'll be happy.
 
The A5 is everything others have said here and more. My father has one from '59 and I have one from '69. I was born in '59.

Anyway, if you are wanting something to hunt with, I do think finally there are better choices. Possibly a Benelli blowback design. I prefer a Berretta 391 currently as it seems utterly reliable, shoots softer and I need make no adjustments going from #8 shot to 00 buckshot.

Then again, absolutely nothing would keep an A5 from doing everything you need.
 
I have a really old 16 gauge Browning A5. It is my favorite shotgun, hands down. I like it more than any of the new auto designs, and I can actually hit birds with it. (That says a lot for the gun, believe me ;)).
 
Consider a big, rough Airedale Terrier. It will do anything any other breed will do. Perhaps not quite as good at pointing, flushing, retreiving, guarding and so on and so forth as all the specialty breeds, but it will do everything!
Browning A5 - same as an Airedale. Spend some money, do everything with it for the rest of your life!

taa, cs :D
 
Yup my mid to early sixty's belgium made A-5 has never faild me. I use it for deer hunting with a "buck special" barrel on it for slugs, ive only had it jam on me one time, it was like -10F outside and I had cleaned it and forgot to oil it. more my fault than the guns.
 
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