Browning Super Shotgun

Would have been pretty useless without ammo, 3-1/2" 12 gauge is pretty recent, introduced about 1990s. They did make the A-5 chambered for 12 gauge 3" magnum.
 
I was wondering about that but not sure. It is possible that the guy said it was 4 years old and not 40. Whatever, he was complaining that ammo costs $35 a box for and if he tries to shoot 3" or 2 3/4" it doesn't cycle. If he brings it up again I will find out exactly what model it is.
 
is there any reason 3.5" shells wouldn't be reloadable? maybe he should find a friend that can reload for him if he doesn't want to.
 
and if he tries to shoot 3" or 2 3/4" it doesn't cycle.
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Many shotguns have that issue unless an adjustment is made to the gas system - either changing something, reversing something, etc.

One gun I know that doesn't have that issue is the Beretta A400 Xplor; otherwise, using a 3.5" shell in a gun whose gas system is set up for light target loads would batter it to pieces in short order - maybe that is the issue your friend is having??
 
The Browning web site (ggod place to start) has the owners manual for the Maxus shotgun.

The Maxus comes in 3 and 3 1/2 barrels and the owners manual says it will cycle all 1 oz. field loads in 2 3/4, 3, and 3 1/2.

Sounds like the gun needs a good cleaning.
 
If this is an supposedly an older Browning Auto-5 - first I'd check to see if it is actually chambered (marked) for a 3-1/2" shell. Since the 3-1/2" did not arrive until 1988, I bet not. If the seller says they couldn't get the gun to cycle on 2-3/4" rounds or the 3" ("Magnum" marked guns for the 3" round starting about 1974) - my bet is on the gun was chambered in one of those two rounds and the seller started experiencing extraction problems and just upped the load to compensate. The likely reason the seller was having problems was the friction rings/recoil bolt was dirty/worn. Also, if the gun was a "Magnum" - the friction ring had to be reversed according to the load so it would extract. IF the gun is an early model (check the serial number) AND the seller was shooting 3-1/2" shells out of a 2-3/4" rounds or the 3" gun - I would pass on the purchase!!
 
Double check what it is ...whether we're discussing a 40 yr old Auto 5 ...or one of the newer gold versions or something else...is a big difference.

But the number one reason semi-autos don't cycle is because they aren't cleaned and lubed properly ....and the older the technology the more that is true. And some guys think swabbing the barrel ...once a month ...means its "clean" ....:eek:

I saw 3 semi-auto jam-amatics at my club yesterday .../ a 10yr old Beretta that I know he hasn't cleaned in 5000 shells or more ....and a couple of old Auto 5's ...( even the barrels were rusty and pitted ...) .../ some guys take care of their guns ...and some guys don't ...:cool:
 
What you guys say is essentially what I thought. He took it to a dealer and was told there was nothing to do to adjust it, such as changing a spring, and he simply had to shoot 3 1/2" shotshells. It isn't a cleaning issue. I will have to get some specific info from him.
 
YIKES! This has perilous potential. As was mentioned by Scorch, the 3 1/2-in 12-ga is a fairly recent load. It should be noted that the 3 1/2-inch 12-ga, being new, has a higher SAAMI maximum pressure. Using one in an old 3-inch gun is not recommended. Anything capable of shooting 3 1/2-in 12-ga maxi mags will have the shell size clearly marked on the gun.

Jim, ol' buddy, I wonder if the jam-o-matic Auto-5s were even adjusted properly (ring settings) for target loads.
 
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They were probably not adjusted properly ....and I'll guarantee they hadn't been cleaned in my lifetime, based on the looks ...( and I'm old ...) ....

No reputable gunsmith would tell a guy he had to shoot 3 1/2" shells in it to get it to cycle....that's nuts ...

I have a hard time believing it was clean --- or properly lubed ---/ but then I'm a skeptic by nature ...
 
Sounds like gunk in the gas ports

Just because it will chamber a 3.5, does not mean it should be fired with one - fired shell length and all that - this sounds like something ugly going to happen
 
Also find a new "dealer" just because the guy is behind the counter doesn't make him a expert or gunsmith, even though many will claim to be.
 
I told the guy that a lot of dealers, even honest ones, don't always know what they are talking about and that he should ask a smith. He thought he had talked to a smith. I hadn't thought about a dirty gas port, but told him he might have a smith look at it to see if it was too small and could be enlarged.
 
Clean the heck out of it and make sure the friction ring is right if it's an A-5. If it's a gas gun it really needs to be clean and there is always the small possibility the gas port does need to be cleaned up or slightly enlarged. Had that problem with a B-80.
 
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