Browning Auto-5 Magnum 20 - Questions!

BlackPowderBurner

BlackPowderBurner

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
123   0   3
Location
the chesterfield
Hello all, I recently stumbled into this shotgun. It's not really my usual sort of purchase but after handling it and seeing the quality I couldn't say no. From what my research tells me, the gun was built by FN in 1969 due to the "69X" serial number prefix. Using a Brownells drop in gauge I measured the choke to be a full (fixed) with a barrel length of 28". Should I be worried about the so called "salt wood" issue on this gun? I can't seem to find any rust above the wood line or under, in fact it seems to have been hardly fired. I'm also not really sure what it's worth. The blue book and everything online is American pricing which seems to be rather high on these things, not much out there for the Canadian market. Lastly, would bismuth be safe to use in this for ducks?

Many thanks! :cheers:


VmoWFVA.jpg
64fGGqX.jpg
jxQwEFH.jpg
p8j2IW1.jpg
 
Yes bismuth would be a safe alternative for waterfowling and of course lead is not an issue in it for upland and much cheaper! You mic’d it at full so I would bet it is stamped with the Browning full mark *. Probably not a salt wood gun. If it was you’d likely have pitting where the stock meets the receiver. I have never heard of too many salt wood issues in A-5’s? Mostly in rifles and superposeds though I am sure there are some out there. Gun looks nice, enjoy it.
 
From my limited experience with Bizmuth (I hate it by the way) you should good 2 go should you choose to shoot that stuff.
The ''Salt Wood'' issues was in the higher grade woods if my reading was correct, not to say it isnt possible to extend to lesser grades of wood.
Get the choke reamed by someone reputable and you will have no further worries or find a Hastings barrel and keep the full choke for chits and giggles.
The Hastings barrel with chokes and you can shoot whatever you like.
BTW, you not going to like it so send it to me, Ill buyt he barrel I mentioned and run it through some hvy duck loads.
Nice Score and thanks for sharing.
Prolly less a brown one on a grand on my limited valuations.
Again good score if your into the A-5's and sub-gauges.
Rob

http://www.artsgunshop.com/
Check out Arts videos...
 
Nice gun congrats. My understanding is the auto 5 didn’t have the salt wood used on them. Mostly the o/u and rifles had the salt wood stocks. One way to check yours is to unscrew one of the butt plate screws and see if it’s rusting. As for value a mag 20 in that condition should be worth a grand.
 
My buddy had his Magnum 20 opened to improved modified by a competent gun smith. It shot 3" Kent steel loads very well and killed a lot of ducks and geese. The plus is steel is way cheaper compared to Bismuth. Kent's 3" magnum 20 bore loaded with #3 is a duck killer. When the work is done no visual modifications to gun exist. In fact in this day and age having the full opened to improved modified may increase the value.

Darryl
 
Iff'in yer worried 'bout this gal rust'in away, send'er'ear before she disintigrates.

Nice ketch. (as I wipe thuh drewl awf me chinnie chin chin)
 
Believe me if you have a browning with a salt stock you will know it especially now in 2018
I have never seen one on a A5 but the experts say the commemorative model had them but I have not seen one of those either
Cheers
 
Thanks for the responses everyone! I can't wait to shoot it.

FLHTCUI said:
From my limited experience with Bizmuth (I hate it by the way) you should good 2 go should you choose to shoot that stuff.
The ''Salt Wood'' issues was in the higher grade woods if my reading was correct, not to say it isnt possible to extend to lesser grades of wood.
Get the choke reamed by someone reputable and you will have no further worries or find a Hastings barrel and keep the full choke for chits and giggles.
Click to expand...

What turned you off of bismuth (besides the price lol)? I've dropped the gun off to have the barrel reamed to an IC for steel. The shop quoted me a flat of bismuth north of five Bordens... $65 for a ream seems to make more sense methinkies! EDIT: forgot to mention I looked into a Hastings barrel first, it seems they don't produce any for the 20GA Auto 5. If I just didn't look hard enough please correct me and I'll be making some frantic calls to the smith!

Ravenmanwoody52 said:
$750 offer
Click to expand...

lol has this thread turned into an auction?

the spank said:
Yes bismuth would be a safe alternative for waterfowling and of course lead is not an issue in it for upland and much cheaper! You mic’d it at full so I would bet it is stamped with the Browning full mark *. Probably not a salt wood gun. If it was you’d likely have pitting where the stock meets the receiver. I have never heard of too many salt wood issues in A-5’s? Mostly in rifles and superposeds though I am sure there are some out there. Gun looks nice, enjoy it.
Click to expand...

Yes there is a * mark, I thought that might mean something! Luckily there's no indication of salt wood, I checked the butt plate screws as suggested.
 
The first generation of bismuth that was available was largely unreliable.
I could swat a Mallard at 30 yards one shot and completely have one fly away at 20 yards over decoys.
You could see the pellets smack the duck, yet it would fly away.
Anyways, felt better with steel back then...
Maybe things have changed ... I just dont shoot that particular non toxic ammo anymore.
Good call on the reaming .
Rob
 
BlackPowderBurner said:
Thanks for the responses everyone! I can't wait to shoot



Yes there is a * mark, I thought that might mean something! Luckily there's no indication of salt wood, I checked the butt plate screws as suggested.
Click to expand...

Never heard of an A-5 with salt wood but then anything is possible I guess?

FLHTCUI said:
The first generation of bismuth that was available was largely unreliable.
I could swat a Mallard at 30 yards one shot and completely have one fly away at 20 yards over decoys.
You could see the pellets smack the duck, yet it would fly away.
Anyways, felt better with steel back then...
Maybe things have changed ... I just dont shoot that particular non toxic ammo anymore.
Good call on the reaming .
Rob
Click to expand...

I had the same experience with Bismuth first time I tried it back in the late 90’s. I’ve never bought another box since!
 
Make shure you take'er apart and clean up the mag tube and lewb'er.
The rings have an order of placemint as well.
Study hard Grasshopper.
Don't wish fur the frunt stawk tuh split awn the bawttum near the receiver.

Me Lawrd, she's ribbed too.
 
As far as I've read the salt wood was an issue with the Claro walnut coming from California for the Safari - Olympian grade rifles.. I have not heard of or seen it on any Auto 5's, not that it isn't possible though.
 
The * is Brownings mark to indicate a full choke. I have the identical gun from the same year. Ive also used used the kent tungsten matrix, its is made specifically for full choked guns but like bismuth is super expensive. I lucked out and found a second barrel on here one day for $50 and had it opened for steel
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom