Browning auto 5

577/450

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Picked one of these units up, 3'' magnum, nice gun. That being said, can it be de-tuned to run 2 3/4 trap loads? I just found a pdf online and printed the adjustment instructions. Iwould like to know from someone who tried if it can actually be done. Thanks in advance.
 
Not to my knowledge. I have tried everything with 2 separate A5 magnums and could not get them to cycle reliably. The only way is leave everything out except the spring...but this will beat up you and the gun.
 
Not without beating your gun up. Real heavy loads are OK, but they defeat the purpose.

~~~

You can cheat, but you need to buy extra parts. Here is a way to convert the gun to 2¾".

The Magnum guns use a different Recoil Spring, Bronze Friction Piece and Forearm. Buy a 2¾" Recoil Spring, Bronze Friction Piece and Friction Spring.

You will also need to come up with a sleeve. This may need to be manufactured. The sleeve fits over the magazine tube and it's OD is the same as the OD of the Recoil Spring. I don't recall the length, but it is the difference between the the free lengths of the 2¾" and 3" Recoil Springs plus their Ring assemblies. In use the sleeve is place between the receiver and the Recoil Spring.

This allows you to use the 3" barrel and the 3" Forearm when using light loads.

Do Not Use 3" Loads With This Setup.
 
The magnums have 2 brass friction rings in it to shot 3'' loads, all you do is take one out and the rings that are in between them as well and now your gun is set for 2 3/4''. There is instructions online with pics(my I description is pretty bad I know) lol. I do it with mine when needed and have no problems cycling shells.
 
Take it out a try it before doing anything to it. I have used my 3" Auto 5 to shoot skeet using 2 3/4 inch Federal Top Gun and it never missed a beat.
 
My 3 inch Browning Auto 5 works with the 2 3/4 inch shells.You just have to change the friction rings.You can put a little extra oil on the magazine tube,this will help make things move easier with lighter loads.
 
Seeing a snow one wants the old A5 anymore you could probably pick up a 2 3/4" version for cheap and have all your bases covered with no fooling around.
 
Mine has the instructions inside the front stock.
She has been put away for years.
Dad bought me this shotgun N.I.B.
She was a guilt buy.......... :D
I believe one of the double set of rings gets
left out for light loads.
I wonder if the Browning site explains it?
 
Trap loads are not within it's design parameters.

Correct. The 3" gun is designed for heavy 2¾" loads, not the light trap loads.


Set the rings for light loads, and oil up the magazine tube and see what happens.

Doing this will make it easier for the light trap loads to cycle, but at a cost.

Those bronze and steel rings are a brake, designed to slow down the movement of the barrel. This movement is slowed in two directions. The barrel when it moves rearward has to stop somewhere, heavy impact on the receiver is damaging. The forward movement of the barrel is stopped by the forearm, that piece of wood.

Many A5's have the rings set incorrectly for the loads being used, or are lubed incorrectly. Remove the forearm and check the damage, look for wood compression.

The wood damage can be seen also by looking at the top of the receiver, the forward edge where the barrel enters the receiver. If you can see the silver color of the barrel extension then the forearm is damaged.
 
Like others have said, it's not designed for target loads, but for duck hunting loads in both 2 3/4" and 3" mag. Clean the spring, and rings, put some G-96 gun oil on the magazine tube (just enough to make it slick). Whatever you do, do not remove all the rings in hope it will work with target loads, because you will damage the gun and crack your wooden forend.

One other thing..hold the butt stock in tight to your shoulder when shooting the gun. This gives extra support to help a recoiling barrel work it's action.
 
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