CoryTheCowboy
CGN Regular
Anyone else still shooting these old relics? 
My two main duck guns, both Mag Twelves.
Cory
My two main duck guns, both Mag Twelves.
Cory
Browning Auto-5
- Thread starter CoryTheCowboy
- Start date
gunsaholic
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Winnipeg, Manitoba
How much steel have you shot through these? Only reason I ask is because one hears all kinds of stories (including from Browning) that you aren't supposed to shoot steel through older Brownings because the barrels are too soft. I am curious to hear from anyone who has been shooting steel through them if they have actually seen damage from steel shot or is it another myth.
CoryTheCowboy
CGN Regular
You're not supposed put steel through the Belgian barrels. Later Japanese (like the top one) barrels choked Mod or more open are fine (and of course threaded for chokes as well). The top one has had over a case of #3's and BB's through it by me and who knows how much from the previous owner.
The bottom one is a Belgian barrel with the Poly-Choke. I haven't shot anything at all through it yet (just got it a couple weeks ago), but I won't hesitate shooting steel through it on the Mod or more open setting.
Cory
Exactly but I would be real careful with the bottom one, me I would not do it at all, but that is just me being overcareful. I don't pay too much attention to these guns any more but have seen some in the early days of steel shot with the bores grooving ,the chokes out of shape and these were mod stamped and a few ribs and sites falling off. Seemed over no.2 shot was doing most of the damage but I cannot remember. Also recall smiths saying that Browning wasn't real careful about boring chokes in the older guns. So you best know exactly just what your barrel really measures and don't go by the stamp. Your mod many be closer to full than you think.
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gunsaholic
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Winnipeg, Manitoba
Yes, I could maybe see a problem in the early days of steel shot. But steel has come a long way, plus even ballistics experts say that the shot now rides in a shot cup and does not touch the bore.
Regarding steel shot, I was sent an interesting video last month about the early days of testing steel shot on actual waterfowl. Ranges were recorded at what distances different birds were taken and with what size shot. This was back in the 80's. I found it interesting that a lot of the shooting was done with full chokes.
Regarding steel shot, I was sent an interesting video last month about the early days of testing steel shot on actual waterfowl. Ranges were recorded at what distances different birds were taken and with what size shot. This was back in the 80's. I found it interesting that a lot of the shooting was done with full chokes.
My Belgium magnum A5 saw more then a few cases of 3" 2's back when steel first came into play. It has a fixed mod choke and has no signs of damage from shooting steel. I have replaced it with a Browning Silver Hunter so it only sees occasional use these days.
It has however split the original wood forearm which has been replaced with a synthetic forearm.
It has however split the original wood forearm which has been replaced with a synthetic forearm.
The steel coming a long way yes but the A5 barrel steel is real soft in the original barrels. I have been shooting sheet and reloading it since the 1st year required after trying one box of factory which was terrible and it was in a cup then also as were my reloads. Cups with very little give trying to squeeze out of a soft barrel but more important a soft choke area.
Can honestly say the few I have seen using it with full chokes but not A5 got some nice bells in their barrels real quick, have not seen a split barrel but others say they have .
Like I said I think the guys using no. 2 or less may have got away with it but after coming from lead the new steel would not kill so TT, F, BBB for geese which is what I was into back then quickly became the norm and those large pellets I think did any damage to the A5 that was seen.
To me Browning says :Any and all Belgian A-5 barrels are not approved or recommended for steel shot. Although many people have shot thousands of rounds out of them with no ill effects. Thus that is a personal choice you have to make yourself but I would hate to see a vintage A5 destroyed as a result even though I think they are logs with barrels..
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Got four of'em here, that count?
Those after market stocks you have on there,
they looky the same but different?
Are they worth the investment?
I've got an A-5 here that Loooeeegie must of owned.
A tad short and then a tad more.
A rear wood with the round knob would shure be nice
to update this Light Twelve with a modified barrel.
Those after market stocks you have on there,
they looky the same but different?
Are they worth the investment?
I've got an A-5 here that Loooeeegie must of owned.
A tad short and then a tad more.
A rear wood with the round knob would shure be nice
to update this Light Twelve with a modified barrel.
CoryTheCowboy
CGN Regular
Top gun has a Bell and Carlson and the bottom is a Ram-Line. I think the B&C is a nicer stock, but I don't think twice as nice as the Ram-Line (at least $$ wise anyways). These both came with the stocks when I got them and since they're duck guns, I just left them on (and I can't afford new wood!
). I really wish I could find a factory synthetic Browning stock though...
Cory
CoryTheCowboy
CGN Regular
Actually, according to my choke gauge (which is close enough for me) the fixed Mod barrel is just past the Mod line towards the Imp Cyl. setting. I don't know if the guy who had it before opened it up a little bit?
Cory
badgreenbird
Regular
- Location
- Dawson Creek, BC
yup - I have a 1959 Belgian-made Auto 5. 30" barrel, full choke. I don't use it much anymore. Maybe a few rounds turkey hunting and occasional late-season ducks. I have, and do, shoot steel with it and have done so since it was a requirement. I use #4 exclusively and don't see any negative effects. The dang thing just SLAYS ducks!
I would say it is factory. Most who worked on them would just say the chokes were never accurate but usually towards being tighter but going the other way is obviously possible also. Have to remember back then ask me what restriction I was running in my choke and I would look at you like you landed from Mars.
We didnot need all those little details , fancy gear etc to smoke targets like today.
CoryTheCowboy
CGN Regular
I would say it is factory. Most who worked on them would just say the chokes were never accurate but usually towards being tighter but going the other way is obviously possible also. Have to remember back then ask me what restriction I was running in my choke and I would look at you like you landed from Mars.
We didnot need all those little details , fancy gear etc to smoke targets like today.
I'm too young to remember those days...but I'm told they were the glory days
I have a hull I found at my duck hunting by Winchester called "Duck and Pheasant #4". I showed it to my Dad and he said, "Yup. That's what you bought. There wasn't much discussing back then. You bought a box of them and fired them at everything out of the old Winchester 97"Cory
I'm too young to remember those days...but I'm told they were the glory days
Cory
You might be too young to remember but your Dad sure did a good job to make sure he shared his knowledge and today you would fit right in with what we were shooting etc back in those days. He should be very proud I know I would be
I have quite a few boxes of the No.6 Pheasant left ( 16ga of course
) that is the last style box they used and if I look hard think there is two boxes of the no.4 duck & pheasant and some dove and quail maybe 7 1/2 in the older boxes like the pic. I was and still am terrible for stashing this old stuff.Glory days yes looking back now they were but we didnot know it. Never did I think firearms would be seen as they are today by so many. I think once they were no longer required to feed the family the trouble began. take care
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CoryTheCowboy
CGN Regular
You might be too young to remember but your Dad sure did a good job to make sure he shared his knowledge and today you would fit right in with what we were shooting etc back in those days. He should be very proud I know I would be
I have quite a few boxes of the No.6 Pheasant left ( 16ga of course
Glory days yes looking back now they were but we didnot know it. Never did I think firearms would be seen as they are today by so many. I think once they were no longer required to feed the family the trouble began. take care
Actually, I made a mistake. The hull I found just said "DUCK LOAD #4" (though I just found it last fall in fairly good condition...that's another story all together...), the "Duck and Pheasant #6" I have are from a local well-known 16 bore fan that I can credit (blame?) a lot of my purchases in the last couple years to
That's a nice collection you've got there!
Cory
Actually, I made a mistake. The hull I found just said "DUCK LOAD #4" (though I just found it last fall in fairly good condition...that's another story all together...), the "Duck and Pheasant #6" I have are from a local well-known 16 bore fan that I can credit (blame?) a lot of my purchases in the last couple years to
That's a nice collection you've got there!
Cory
Those puppies I shoot to get the compression formed hulls. Now there is an area I failed to be smart on saving the 16ga win AA's and original super X. never did I think back then winchester would stop making that design. I have some but not enough.
The duckload #4 I remember were a paper with a roll crimp and kind of a deep red or wine in color in 12ga
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CoryTheCowboy
CGN Regular
Man, I had NO idea how neat the Duck and Pheasant box was! I'll have to keep my eye out for one.
Me and MT143 went out last year for duck opener with our SxS and Bismuth loaded in compression formed hulls in the 16's. I think he spent more time looking for the hulls then he did looking for ducks!
Cory
