come spring i plan on joining some of the leagues at the local clubs and the begin shooting competitively. i shoot a Belgian Browning A5, and have no desire to use anything else. i've tried other shotguns, including the high end trap models that cost more then my car, but none of them feel as right or swing as smooth as the old humpback. as i've mentioned before, i lucked out big time, i bought it off the used rack at Wholesale and it fits like a glove. what i want to know is if there where ever trap and skeet models made? also i see trap shooters using single shots almost exclusively, does this mean that single loading a semi is not allowed? also are there any mods that can be done to the Auto 5 to improve it for this role? it has a full choke now which will be saved for trap, and i'll watch gunshows for a more open choked barrel for skeet.
A5 for competitive trap & skeet
- Thread starter kevin.303
- Start date
there is no problem using your gun for trap/skeet
the only thing is some people like a choke that's little bit more open than "full" for trap.. but if you can shoot okay /w a full choke then it's all good... like you say its whatever you are comfy /w
good luck, happy shootings
the only thing is some people like a choke that's little bit more open than "full" for trap.. but if you can shoot okay /w a full choke then it's all good... like you say its whatever you are comfy /w
good luck, happy shootings
Auto 5
Well, I'm glad you bought up the topic with the Auto - 5 and trap shooting. I too went through several attempts at trap shooting with dedicated trap guns all with mediocre success. I picked up a 1963 FN Auto - 5 off the board with a full choke that I shoot better on trap than I ever did with a BT-99 or a Citori O/U. Simply fits better and chews up the clays. My shooting is strictly recreational though so for competitive shooting your decision but I'd save the frustration and stick with what works.
Single loading a semi on the trap field is perfectly acceptable when it's your turn. Agreed with Claybuster that a shell catcher is a good idea or you can put the Auto-5's rings on the heavy setting and if your gun is like mine it won't eject the light target load hull. Then it's just a case of manually opening the breech to eject the hull at your feet.
Liked that one so much that I picked up another with a modified choke.
Then just to round it off I lucked into a skeet and trap barrel cased set in a Browning Double Automatic from another board member. Has to be one of my favorite shotguns, even ahead of the Beretta 391 Sporting.
Yes, Browning made dedicated trap and skeet variations but differences were minor. Trap was a 30" full and skeet were 26" and 28" skeet bored .
Yes, I did sell my Remington 3200 Live Pigeon gun. That was a beauty but fought with it every time I shot it. The Auto - 5 shoots better for me so case in point try as many guns as you can to see what works for you.
Regards,
REM3200
Well, I'm glad you bought up the topic with the Auto - 5 and trap shooting. I too went through several attempts at trap shooting with dedicated trap guns all with mediocre success. I picked up a 1963 FN Auto - 5 off the board with a full choke that I shoot better on trap than I ever did with a BT-99 or a Citori O/U. Simply fits better and chews up the clays. My shooting is strictly recreational though so for competitive shooting your decision but I'd save the frustration and stick with what works.
Single loading a semi on the trap field is perfectly acceptable when it's your turn. Agreed with Claybuster that a shell catcher is a good idea or you can put the Auto-5's rings on the heavy setting and if your gun is like mine it won't eject the light target load hull. Then it's just a case of manually opening the breech to eject the hull at your feet.
Liked that one so much that I picked up another with a modified choke.
Then just to round it off I lucked into a skeet and trap barrel cased set in a Browning Double Automatic from another board member. Has to be one of my favorite shotguns, even ahead of the Beretta 391 Sporting.
Yes, Browning made dedicated trap and skeet variations but differences were minor. Trap was a 30" full and skeet were 26" and 28" skeet bored .
Yes, I did sell my Remington 3200 Live Pigeon gun. That was a beauty but fought with it every time I shot it. The Auto - 5 shoots better for me so case in point try as many guns as you can to see what works for you.
Regards,
REM3200
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It's pretty rare to see an Auto 5 used in competitive trap but if the gun works for you that's all that matters.
According to the Blue Book of Gun Values, Browning made the Auto 5 Trap until 1970 so these are Belgians only. 30", full choke, vent rib.
The Auto 5 Skeet was made in both Belgium and Japan. Production of the skeet guns stopped in the early 80's. 26" or 28" barrels in 12, 16, 20 gauge.
When using an autoloader for trap you should use a shell catcher. Bouncing hulls off the shooter to your right will make you very unpopular.
According to the Blue Book of Gun Values, Browning made the Auto 5 Trap until 1970 so these are Belgians only. 30", full choke, vent rib.
The Auto 5 Skeet was made in both Belgium and Japan. Production of the skeet guns stopped in the early 80's. 26" or 28" barrels in 12, 16, 20 gauge.
When using an autoloader for trap you should use a shell catcher. Bouncing hulls off the shooter to your right will make you very unpopular.
There's nothing really wrong with starting trap shooting with an A-5. I can only think of two problems you come across. First of all, out of all the guns I see on the our club range A-5's always seem to have problems ejecting trap loads. It's get to be a really pain in the ass haveing to open the guns action everytime to unload the empty or at clear the crushed one from the ejection port. Some A-5 dont have any problems with lighter shells but most of the ones at our club do. Second problem is only a prolbem if you dont have problem one. If your gun reilably ejects your trap shells there's no shell catcher for A-5. Thats not a problem for you, just the guy next to you with a $5000 O/U thats all of a sudden became a sheild to stop your hulls from hitting him. There is a wire one avalaible thats supposed to work on all autos but I've seen them on Auto-5's and they dont work that great. But if it the gun you have then shot away with it and enjoy yourself. A-5's are a great gun just not what I consider and good gun for on the range.
Tim
Tim
You know if the guns fits and you shoot it well and ar comfortable then I say stick with it. Many fellas use shotguns that are only full choke. I have seen a few 1100's and Model 12's that only have full choke.
One guy at my club has one of each (1100 trap and model 12 trap) and he is a PITA AA class shooter.
I think fit and knowing the point of impact are most important and if you like the A5 then use it.
Jacky
One guy at my club has one of each (1100 trap and model 12 trap) and he is a PITA AA class shooter.
I think fit and knowing the point of impact are most important and if you like the A5 then use it.
Jacky
i heard the same thing about the wire shell catchers. i've put about 2 cases of target loads through it since i bought it in july, never a hiccup or stove pipe if the rings are set right, and if i set them for heavy then i will just eject them manually. was planning on that anyways, want to give rolling my own target loads a try. i'ill look for the 30" trap barrel as well, but considering it has a 28" vent rib full choked barrel on it already, does the extra 2 inches really make a difference?
The 28" Full choke barrel will be fine. I use nothing but a full choke and almost all trap guns came with a full choke before tubes came along. I wouldnt spend the time or money on a 30" barrel. A 28" semi has just as long sighting plane as a 32" O/U and the longer barrel with do nothing for your patterns or speed. Spend the barrel money on shells.
Opening the barrel manualy would work fine but if you get shooting competivelty and end up shooting 100,200 or 300 targets a day it gets tireing very quickly.
Tim
Opening the barrel manualy would work fine but if you get shooting competivelty and end up shooting 100,200 or 300 targets a day it gets tireing very quickly.
Tim
The only downside from the A5's fit, performance, reliability, balance, quality, etc. is that it kicks more than a gas gun or an O/U. It won't be a problem if you only shoot it recreationally - 4 or 5 rounds per outing. But competitively you'll be at a disadvantage as the round count gets up to 10/day. Beautiful guns, though, in all respects. Get a GOOD recoil pad fitted and you'll be smiling.
kevin.303- Would you enter a Neon in a formula 1 race?, a .22 rimfire in a 1000 yd. rifle match, a rototiller to do a 100 acre farm?, get the right tool for the job at hand, shortcuts mean aggravation and much more money spent to accomplish your goals!!!!!!!!!!
Auto-5
Well for me at 6' 3" recoil is negligable in the Auto -5 and no better or worse than my O/U 's - just how I percieve it. There is a lively chunk - chunk as it cycles but that is classic.
Yes, there are guns costing several thousand with all the latest bells and whistles to go out and shoot trap with but you can miss just as easily with them. My minty 1964 Belgium A-5 with the 30" full choke barrel will do everything I ask for on the trap range.
REM3200
Well for me at 6' 3" recoil is negligable in the Auto -5 and no better or worse than my O/U 's - just how I percieve it. There is a lively chunk - chunk as it cycles but that is classic.
Yes, there are guns costing several thousand with all the latest bells and whistles to go out and shoot trap with but you can miss just as easily with them. My minty 1964 Belgium A-5 with the 30" full choke barrel will do everything I ask for on the trap range.
REM3200
