Browning A5 Acier?

[Brithunter]

Hi All,

     Have been offered the Browning A5 at an excellent price. It's a 12 guage with the rounded pistol grip stock and an embossed facny butt plate. Serial number does not appear on Brownings web site but I guess it was made around the mid 1950's. It's an FN made gun and I recall it has Acier and something else engraved on the barrel. As I have no experience with Brownings let alone the Auto 5 any information would be gladly recieved.

     

[Questor]

Definitely get somebody else's opinion other than mine, but I don't like the A5. It was the first auto shotgun I ever fired and it kicked very hard. This, I later learned, was because of the way the mass moves on a recoil operated shotgun. Best I can say is to try to fire it before buying it so you can make up your own mind.

[Cement Man]

I started almost 50 years ago with a 12 gauge Remington 11 - a knockoff on the A5.  Over the years I have owned four 12 gauge A5's, shot many, many ducks with them, and for some reason, wandered into O/U's and hadn't shot autos very much for years.  I recently bought a really nice used A5 Light 12 and last week took it out for sporting clays.  I was somewhat startled at the "clink -a-chung" mechanical recoil, even though I knew what was coming and expected it.  I was pleased with how well I shot with it and that unique A5 recoil was like a reunion with an old friend.  Although I didn't shoot my other A5's for several years, I just can't be without one.  They are classics and there is good reason why they led the pack for the better part of a century.  They are fine guns.
You need to know how the friction/recoil system operates to make sure it is set up appropriately for the loads you are using, but it's very simple. (Brithunter, I have seen enough of your posts and firearms - I know you know that.)  I think that most of the modern gas guns are really great, but the old humpback will still get the job done.  I believe I have a reference chart on the serial numbers, but will have to search for it.  Let me know if you want me to look. I don't recognize the "Acier".

Addendum:  I Googled "Acier Browning" - got the following -
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_a_Browning_Acier_Special_12_gauge_c12_px_Belgium_and_it%27s_value

[454Puma]

Brithunter
  If your getting it at a good price -go for it you'll love that gun-I have 2 a 12 GA Mag and a Sweet Sixteen my dad gave me!!  Both of 1950's vintage.

Questor- if you had one that kicked the crap out of you then 1. Either the spring was broken-not installed or 2 the friction bushing were not installed  or installed incorrectly!! With every thing installed correctly they are very low on recoil even with heavy loads!  As compared to my old Mossberg 500 the A5's are pussy cats in the recoil department! Recoil should be a push not a jab!

[Brithunter]

Well thank you for your replies. The deal is done I will meet him in a fortnight and pay him as he is away on holiday now. Saw hi at the range yesterday, the price is £170 ($140 US) yep a steal. Have to still speak to the licensing folks about the section one (Firearm same as a rifle) bit although it can be converted to section two (Shotgun) by having the mag tube crimped so that only two cartridges can be put in.


What I need to know is about the bronze friction rings. Now I know that they are switched round depending on the loads but which way is what? and do they fit from the front or rear? Does the mag tube have to come out of the receiver to change them. Never had a semi auto before although I have shot a few like the Winchester Model 1400, Berretta 303 and another Italian one whose name escapes me just now. never shot an A-5 to me recollection although a friend had one for a while so I may have shot it once or twice.

   Of course if it needs to be adapted that will add to the cost and I may have to pay a transfer fee as it's beign taken to the local dealers because the temp permit it's on has expired.

[Cement Man]

BH,
Congrats on your new acquisition!  I really hope you will enjoy it.  I'm sending a link that has a drawing of the position of the friction rings.  It will matter whether you have a magnum 12 3", or a Light 12 2 3/4" as to which way you can set up.  Basically the recoil system depends on friction to keep the gun from pounding itself (and the shooter) excessively.  The whole barrel recoils with firing and the friction rings on the mag tube retard the velocity of the rearward barrel thrust.  With the light 12 it's only a matter of changing the position of one of the rings.  The mag tube doesn't have to come off.  You just unscrew the magazine tube cap while depressing the barrel rearward slightly with the other hand. After you remove the cap, keep the barrel under control as it is spring loaded, allow the barrel to move forward - it will slide out of the receiver and carefully take the forend off and the barrel off.  The ring positions on the magazine tube can then be easily changed.  The best piece of advice I believe is always set up for hi-velocity loads, and then if it doesn't cycle/eject empties as it should - go to the light load setup. I use Winchester AA's 1-1/8oz at 1300 fps for sporting clays and mine cycles just fine set up for HV loads.
Her are a couple of links that may have some interest to you..
http://www.midwestgunworks.com/merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=C-001
http://3c-enterprises.atfreeweb.com/photos.html
I'm trying to recall if I have an extra owners manual, if I do I'd send it to you.

[Brithunter]

Hi Cement man,

     Thank you.

       I actually spoke to a gunsmith who knows about these Browning's and who uses a Browning 2000 for his Pigeon shooting, he is fitting a recoil pad to a rifle stock for me,  and he showed me a diagram of the rings and spring. Due to the age of this gun (about 1954) I might spring for a new service set for it. Did a little net searching last night and found that they are now expansive at all. Also looked at a replacement barrel as there is some pitting in this one so I am exploring every option.

    The pitting has been caused by por maintnance and storage as there is also so disfiguration in one or two places on the action and outside of the barrel. I will see how they respond to treatment and then make enquiries about a re-finish. At this price I can afford to do a little to bring her back to he former glory!

    Now looking at my stock of cartridges I find that I have 28g (1oz) 30g 1 1/6 oz and 32 g 1 1/8 oz in shot size from 6 to 8 (English sizes) the cartridges are either 70mm or 65mm  (2 3/4" or 2 1/2") this is because I have an old English SxS which has 2 1/2" chambers so I will sort them out and put them seperate Later I will also see about a new barrel suitable for non toxic shot wich is required here now for all water fowl and it just happens to be Wildfowl season. As yet I have never been on the marshes but I know this gunsmith does do so and it might be an idea to approach him about going out with him. You don't want to go out alone especially when new to them as they claim lives almost yearly. Normally we have Mallards on our back field but due to the extensive flooding earlier this year the Ducks seem to have dispersed and we have not seen any for some months now. Saw a flock of about 40 a mile and half down the road yesterday while driving back from the smiths .

[okie john]

Acier is the French word for "steel." The Belgiques speak French, so it was marked accordingly.


Okie John

[Brithunter]

Ahhh thank you  my French is non existant. Just one thing though:-

Acier is the French word for "steel." The Belgiques speak French, so it was marked accordingly.
 

   Only some Belgians speak French! about half the country speaks Flemish. Have been to Belguim several times, luckily most speak English so it was not a problem.