Browning A5 full choke: options for new chokes?

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Canadian Mulie

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Hello I have a Belgium made A5 12ga magnum. Think the year is 1958. It is all original with a 30” barrel and full choke. I had retired it as I was afraid of wrecking the barrel with steel shot. I’m now looking for options to bring it out of retirement. Ideally I’d like interchangeable chokes but highly doubt this is possible without changing the look of the barrel much.
 
I think those old barrels may be to thin for most makes of choke tubes. Someone who installs choke tubes would have to inspect it and let you know.

That being said;

SHOTGUN BARREL ALTERATIONS FOR STEEL SHOT

Forcing Cone Alteration:

Factory shotgun barrels usually have a fairly short and abrupt forcing cone. The forcing cone is the tapered area just ahead of the chamber where the shell is contained. Altering the forcing cone, so it is one and one half or two inches in length, reduces recoil and improves the pattern density. Trap shooters and skeet shooters have been doing this for many years. It is a good benefit to the steel shot user as well.

Choke Alteration:
Choke designation from the tightest to the most open are:
Extra Full, Full, Improved Modified, Modified, Skeet II, Improved Cylinder, Skeet I, and Cylinder Bore.

Steel shot does not require the constriction that lead shot needs, to produce good patterns. In fact too much constriction, causes poor, erratic patterns, and in some cases, permanently damages the barrel. I have seen barrels bulged at the choke, I have seen barrels where the choke split right open, from using steel shot.

For steel shot, with thin barrels, chokes should be altered to at least Skeet II. Often, over & under, and side-by-side shotguns, are best altered to Skeet I and Skeet II chokes. Heavier barrels can be left at Modified choke but may see an improvement in the pattern if opened slightly.
 
You can have it reamed to modified as one option. I had a 32" Full Belgian barrel that I cut to 26" and it is a very tight cylinder as another option. This would be a good option with 3" steel #4's @ 1 1/4 oz. I like them about 1400 fps. With this loads large ducks to 35 maybe even 40 yards is quite doable. I always hunted tight chokes hoping for that elusive 50 yard shot. Experience has told me those shots are rarely made. The shots that connect are between 30 and 40 yards right where the 26" amputee CYL is working.

Darryl
 
I put a poly choke on one of my A5s. If you want the option to switch back, buy a second barrel to put the poly choke on.
 
Browning was advising gunsmiths not to alter the barrels of the Belgian made Brownings for steel shot. The steel is too soft for steel shot. This applies to the auto 5 and Superposed.
Having said that you can have the chokes opened and continue to use lead. Western Gun parts had quite a few of the Japanese made barrels for this shotgun with choke tubes. Not likely any more but it is worth a shot.
 
Neilm said:
Browning was advising gunsmiths not to alter the barrels of the Belgian made Brownings for steel shot. The steel is too soft for steel shot. This applies to the auto 5 and Superposed.
Click to expand...

I believe it has more to do with how thin the barrels are... not so much the Auto 5 but the Superposed barrels are filed thinner where they are soldered together at the choke area...

I have not seen any barrel failures on Auto 5 barrels when the choke was opened to improved cylinder and steel shot was used.
 
Dennis,
I don't mean to be argumentative but I have seen a bulged barrel on an A5 from shooting steel. There may have been other contributing factors but you could see the bulge about 2/3 of the way to the muzzle. The older fellow that had it was very meticulous in maintenance. Also it is a fact that Browning advised against opening either Belgian made gun for the use with steel shot. They stated the steel was softer than the later Japanese guns.

Neil
 
Hmm, I was hoping I could use this gun again for geese. We shoot #2’s and BB’s steel shot at 1550fps. I hate to have it just sit there in the safe any longer. If I bought a Hastings barrel, could the finish be matched on the rest of the metal work? I know it’s not possible to say an exact price, but what would reblueing cost (ballpark) for receiver, tube ect?

Regards CM
 
Neilm said:
Dennis,
I don't mean to be argumentative but I have seen a bulged barrel on an A5 from shooting steel. There may have been other contributing factors but you could see the bulge about 2/3 of the way to the muzzle. The older fellow that had it was very meticulous in maintenance. Also it is a fact that Browning advised against opening either Belgian made gun for the use with steel shot. They stated the steel was softer than the later Japanese guns.

Neil
Click to expand...

Interesting bulge part way down the barrel... steel shot columns do not compress like lead but to bulge a barrel 2/3rds of the way down a barrel it must be either a very light obstruction (cleaning patch) or high pressure. I was not aware the pressures were higher with steel shot compared to lead. I just went searching and found that High Performance Steel shot loads are considerably higher pressure than all other loaded shotgun ammo in the US.
 
Canadian Mulie said:
Hmm, I was hoping I could use this gun again for geese. We shoot #2’s and BB’s steel shot at 1550fps. I hate to have it just sit there in the safe any longer. If I bought a Hastings barrel, could the finish be matched on the rest of the metal work? I know it’s not possible to say an exact price, but what would reblueing cost (ballpark) for receiver, tube ect?

Regards CM
Click to expand...

It will be close iirc.
We went South to Kesselrings back in the early 90's and bought and fit it right in the store.
Was darn near a perfect match.
Besides a hunting gun isnt a show piece ;)
Rob
 
I acquired a Belgian A5 that was opened up for steel. I'm not a real shotgun guy... my son took it to a ' better place' at his house.
He's been using it for years for Waterfowl... definitely pay heed to the warnings here. Or not... your call.
Browning's warning... they sure as hail ain't gonna tell you to do it. I wonder how much is a Corp Lawyer saying 'CYA'?
 
Some of you may recall photos of the old A-5 paw bawt me new in the eighties.
Took it into Jennings to install threaded tubes and he dint recommend it.
He mentioned these 3" mag chokes are tight like a turkey choke.
He suggested to ream the full into a modified to safely shoot steel thru.
I allowed him to do this.
Funny thing is, I haven't tried it out yet.
Price was under a hundred $$.
 
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