Apparently model12's& auto5's values of diminished

There are still gun shops that have M12s around at 1000$+.

I have no issues buying them at 200$.

If I didn't already own 3, I would buy another. A M12 with a PolyChoke2 Deluxe and PolyChoke vent rib, with a smoothed action is still a monster shotgun by any measure - even at nearly 100 years old! By the time you are done you have a 600$ gun that has real blue, decent wood and is a great shooter.

Is it a Beretta 391 in Max4 with a 3 1/2 chamber? No. But, I don't care - it seems that the birds don't know the difference with my measly 2 3/4. :).

C
 
My gun show experience in the GTA is that used Auto 5 prices have been flat for at least a decade. I see nearly all models, but mostly 12ga, from beat-up plain barrel to decent vent rib with "good+" metal & wood, in the range (from memory!) CAD$350 to CAD$550, perhaps CAD$600 for a really nice one. As others have said, all fixed-choke and no good for steel shot. I had two Auto 5's decades ago... set up the rings on one up for low pressure target loads just to test it, that was a bit of a pain... Later sold them both (back to field load setting) at my out-of-pocket cost. I've never negotiated for one since as I don't want one, although there's something collectible about them! Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Roger
 
How open does the choke need to be on an Auto 5 to safely use steel shot?
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Mod, but even then I would not shoot shot size bigger then #2 in older gun like auto-5. Some will say no steel shot at all, but the modern steel shot shell has come a long way. Today's steel shells use a very think wad cup that holds the shot well and wont let it come in contact with the barrel walls protecting them from the steel shot. But no tighter them Mod or there could be damage like a barrel ring at the end of the barrel where the choke starts.
 
VictoryXC said:
How open does the choke need to be on an Auto 5 to safely use steel shot?
Click to expand...

In a Japanese made browning I probably would get a full opened up to imp modified to start but more for patterning concerns than fear of damaging the barrel. The Japanese made brownings have thicker barrel walls. Browning themselves does not recommend shooting steel through a Belgian made barrel regardless of choke. At the end of the day it is entirely a personal decision, to risk it or not.
As I type this there is a 1960's Belgian Auto 5 magnum 12 with a 28" plain barrel and a fixed modified choke sitting in my gunsafe, it has digested thousands of steel waterfowl shells with no damage. I saw its twin bulge after 5 rounds of steel trap loads this summer. If it was me and I found another classic Auto 5 I truly wanted to waterfowl hunt with I would pay a competent gunsmith to fit it with choke tubes, yes it will damage collector value but I love waterfowling and even more I love waterfowling with a classic gun.
Modern wads and shotcups have done a great deal to reduce the damage steel shot will do in a gun, however I still worry about steel lack of compression going through chokes, this is what causes bulges to occur.
 
It's really too bad that these guns get ruined and their value destroyed to comply with regulations that are based on junk science....or really, no science at all. Just wishful thinking.
 
Asking Prices are nutz. There's an Auto 5, Sweet 16 on the EE for $2000 right now. Just ordered an as new one from the US that should land here for $1200.00 including exchange - shipping & taxes.
 
Well hear izz a golden awppertunittitty tuh seize the floor.
List'er in the EE fer the same price point.
Sell yerzse, buy hizz and then stick hizz in the EE fer lesser.
Then yewse feel more better.
 
Sold a sweet 16 a few years ago, shipped th South Carolina, price was about $400 and shipping. I place no extra value on either non steel gun. I want a user so I look at the many good steel rated guns out there. I sold a group of mod.12s I got in a take it all or none deal. They took quite a while to all sell, 2 years ? between $2-300 all in using or better condition. Not in a hurry to take one or other in trade again. These are just my views and know there are others that love both models.
 
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I shoot an auto-5. Like the way it swings and I find the hump lines up my eye for some strange reason. No vent rib.

I would open the choke on my spare barrel if I could find someone local that actually would do it right and for a decent price.

Most gunsmiths I have spoken with seem to see the choke job as either not worth their time or lecture me on steel shot and "no guarantees" safety etc.
 
CMichaud said:
I shoot an auto-5. Like the way it swings and I find the hump lines up my eye for some strange reason. No vent rib.

I would open the choke on my spare barrel if I could find someone local that actually would do it right and for a decent price.

Most gunsmiths I have spoken with seem to see the choke job as either not worth their time or lecture me on steel shot and "no guarantees" safety etc.
Click to expand...

I just got Jennings to do my A-5 in 3".
Given that this A5 dad bought me in 1982 bran-spank'in-new.
I'm confident I can use steel shawt thru it now.
I was almost convinced to Briley choke it, but sure couldn't see the point.
More chit to worry 'bout.

A-5's make the neetest clunking noizes too.
 
I have a 1953 A5. It also came with A Japanese vent rib barrel. I opened the choke up on the Japanese barrel to modified and have shot steel (not a lot) through it with no issues so far.
 
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