Browning A5 questions

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Phil_s

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Hey all,

I recently bought what I believe to be a 60's era A5 magnum 12 guage. After reading a little bit about the friction ring set up online at http://media.browning.com/pdf/om/auto5_mag_2up_s.pdf (fifth page) and looking at my gun, it seems as though in the manual, they reference the usage of three friction rings and two friction brakes, where as in my A5, I only have one ring and another larger brass ring. Is this normal for the magnum model of this era or am I missing some rings? If not how should the rings be set up with only the two that I have? Any info helps. Thanks
 
The set up you have will work for 2 3/4 inch shells.The spring of the magnum model is quite strong so the really light 2 3/4 inch loads will not always be strong enough to work the action.

You will need two more friction rings and another friction brake to work the 3 inch shells properly.
 
It get's more complicated than stated. 3" steel shot will require (most times) a different combo of friction rings and brakes than 3" lead. 2 3/4" loads require a different set up and most usually have to be HEAVY 2 3/4" loads to run the gun. They are great guns but are starting to show their age in regards to being versatile and user friendly.

Darryl
 
Interesting,have never heard of a different combo of rings and brakes for 3 inch steel and 3 inch lead.How would you set them up differently for 3 inch steel over 3 inch lead?

The set up he has will work for 2 3/4 inch shells ,but the lighter loads are not always strong enough to work the action of the magnum shotguns. Browning does not recommend the use of light loads in the magnum for that reason.

The Auto 5 is argumentatively the best auto loading shotgun ever made.It was the first successful auto loader ,introduced about 1903 and in production until the 1980s.Production was stopped not because of a poor product,but because of a an increasing cost to produce the well made quality shotgun.No auto loading shotgun,that I am aware of , has been in production as long as the Auto 5.
 
Each A5 is different depending on wear and tear. I have never had an A5 Magnum cycle 3" steel on the 3" setting. Some do and I know of one. It does slow when the weather gets colder though. All you can do is start with all the rings and brakes and start shooting the desired load changing settings until the gun functions. Ideally it should be on the heaviest setting that it will still cycle on. Like I said they are not as versatile as today's semi autos.

Darryl
 
28 gauge said:
The Auto 5 is argumentatively the best auto loading shotgun ever made.It was the first successful auto loader ,introduced about 1903 and in production until the 1980s.Production was stopped not because of a poor product,but because of a an increasing cost to produce the well made quality shotgun.No auto loading shotgun,that I am aware of , has been in production as long as the Auto 5.
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For about 60 years it was the finest auto loader.. until the Remington 1100 was invented... and since then there many other fine auto loaders. The old design (as beautifully made as it is) is not user friendly with the assortment of ammo today. There are 'better' choices available.
 
guntech said:
For about 60 years it was the finest auto loader.. until the Remington 1100 was invented... and since then there many other fine auto loaders. The old design (as beautifully made as it is) is not user friendly with the assortment of ammo today. There are 'better' choices available.
Click to expand...

As I stated ,"The Auto 5 is argumentatively the best auto loading shotgun ever made."
 
madtrapper143 said:
Each A5 is different depending on wear and tear. I have never had an A5 Magnum cycle 3" steel on the 3" setting. Some do and I know of one. It does slow when the weather gets colder though. All you can do is start with all the rings and brakes and start shooting the desired load changing settings until the gun functions. Ideally it should be on the heaviest setting that it will still cycle on. Like I said they are not as versatile as today's semi autos.

Darryl
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Interesting , as my 3 inch Auto 5 works well with 3 inch steel loads on the 3 inch setting.I always use Stag Gun oil on the on the magazine tube and never have had any trouble with any shells in cold weather.Do you use a good cold weather oil on the magazine tube?A dry or tacky magazine tube can cause cycling troubles in a recoil operated firearm.
 
Just for giggles and toots, I tried dry silicone lube on the mag tube as well as just G-96 and other lube/cleaners and
wiped it dry.
Doesn't work so well.
I have found the mag tube needs to be slightly wet to function properly.


28 gauge said:
Interesting , as my 3 inch Auto 5 works well with 3 inch steel loads on the 3 inch setting.I always use Stag Gun oil on the on the magazine tube and never have had any trouble with any shells in cold weather.Do you use a good cold weather oil on the magazine tube?A dry or tacky magazine tube can cause cycling troubles in a recoil operated firearm.
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For the recoil system to work right for the load it should be dry. Lubricating a system meant to run on friction goes against physics. If you have to lube the mag tube the system is set too heavy. The reason for this is why the friction brake rings are brass instead of steel. The harder the gun recoils the harder the steel rings squeeze the brass split rings to slow it down. No lube required for operation just a little at season's end to prevent rust.

Darryl
 
My goodness, the odor in here is strong.
Read page 12.
There is a section there explaining the lube process.

http://media.browning.com/pdf/om/auto5_mag_2up_s.pdf


madtrapper143 said:
For the recoil system to work right for the load it should be dry. Lubricating a system meant to run on friction goes against physics. If you have to lube the mag tube the system is set too heavy. The reason for this is why the friction brake rings are brass instead of steel. The harder the gun recoils the harder the steel rings squeeze the brass split rings to slow it down. No lube required for operation just a little at season's end to prevent rust.

Darryl
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madtrapper143 said:
For the recoil system to work right for the load it should be dry. Lubricating a system meant to run on friction goes against physics. If you have to lube the mag tube the system is set too heavy. The reason for this is why the friction brake rings are brass instead of steel. The harder the gun recoils the harder the steel rings squeeze the brass split rings to slow it down. No lube required for operation just a little at season's end to prevent rust.

Darryl
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If you were to use a little light oil on the magazine tube I am sure it would cure the cycling problems you are having with your Auto 5 shotguns.A dry or tacky magazine tube will cause problems with cycling especially in cold weather.The word here is light,do not lather the magazine tube with oil.
 
What I get from Browning's oil on the mag tube instruction is that IF the gun fails to eject a light load add some oil (load is too light in the first place or gun is improperly set). It does not say to add as a routine to ensure operation. But I have only shot and used A5's for 30 years or more so what do I know.
Darryl
 
The tube requires a light grease to provide lubrication or usually you will get ejection failures... that has been my experience fixing them for 45 years... the barrel has to be able to snap freely forward with no drag to eject cleanly.

G96 Gun Treatment is a silicone based lubricant that performs well in extreme cold weather for this purpose.
 
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I have used Browning Auto 5 shotguns for 40 years or more .About all I can say, if you want to remove rings or add a little oil to the magazine tube then do so.It just seems to me easier to add a little oil on the magazine tube and know that any shell you put in the shotgun will work,with exception of the very light loads in the 2 3/4 inch setting in the 3 inch shotgun .No need to worry about changing rings because you are switching for one type of 3 inch shell to another type of 3 inch shell,or one type of 2 3/4 inch shell to another type of 2 3/4 in shell,again with the exception of the very light loads in the 3 inch shotgun.
 
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