Have you shot steel in an old Belgian A-5?

[MD]

I've been offered a good deal on a Belgian-made A-5 Browning, but even though the barrel has been opened up to modified, I wonder if it is safe to shoot steel?

The Browning site says to not do it, but then adds that a "ring" might develop near the muzzle. I've never heard of any peeling back like a banana skin or anything.

Have you shot steel with your old Browning?

 

[bobbyjack]

Just don't do it I have a model 12 winchester made in 1916 in 2&9/16 original bore that someone either shot steel through or 2%3/4 through it but it has a ringed barrell! it's cosmetic but one inch behind the front bead it's hard not to see!

It takes away from the value and the collectability!

Plus use your beretta or something else(like a browning Jap barrell)save your belgium barrel for little birds!

Bo)

 

[Grouse Man]

The forcing cone can also be damaged by large shot. BBB I think it was. I'd open the choke to IC myself, but I was lucky enough to find an old Belgian barrel with no choke. I use it lots for steel - now staying smaller than BB - and haven't noticed any marks in the barrel. I'll have to check it more carefully.

 

[Longwalker]

For sure open the choke to modified or IC, and shoot BB or smaller and you're good to go. You'll also get better patterns if you lengthen the forcing cone. Been there, done that with both Auto 5's and Model 12's. No worries.

 

[straightshooter]

Just use Tungsten Matrix (or Bismuth, if you reload). Sure, they're more expensive, but you'd have to shoot one heck of a lot of waterfowl to use as many shells as you can get with the money you'll spend on getting the A5 tweeked (and/or the devaluation of the gun).

Look at it this way: If you use the A5 for 100 shots at ducks/geese, how much extra will those 4 boxes cost you (and how soon will you be ready to shoot and how much hassle was involved)? If you pay a gunsmith, how much will he cost and how much will the gun depreciate due to the mods? If you pass on the 'smith, shoot the steel and ring the barrel, how much will the gun depreciate?

I used to always buy the cheapest ammo I could find. This page isn't long enough to list all the reasons why I do just the opposite, now. Same old, same old - you get what you pay for.

 

[ben hunchak]

I bought a used A-5 (Belgian) and reamed it to Light Mod., the steel used seemed very hard and the choke very long and gradual. It was easily the toughest one I've ever had to ream, but now it shoots good with Steel. Some failures to feed but, thats another story.

 

[12magnum]

at $50.00 or so to ream a barrel out to mod. or skeetII, the savings are pretty obviuos as compared to shooting bismuth or tungsten! i've never noticed any bulging in mine after i opened it up to light mod. the patterns with #2 or #3 are definately better with steel, with the more open choke. as i've said before,a lot of my clients find modified for ducks and geese over decoys to still be a little to much choke and have found by having another 2/1000 of an inch taken out really improves their patterns