Need Help with Browning Auto-5. Dangerous Issue

C

Canadianz

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Hi all,

I don't post much on here but I am baffled on this one :

I was shooting clays with some friends on our farm. My one friend was using an older Browning Auto-5. While reloading the shotgun he put one shell in the chamber and was putting two more into the magazine. After he put the first in the chamber he went to insert a second into the magazine and the gun then fired the round that was in the chamber to his surprise. He had the gun pointed downrange while this happened, so there was no danger. Two people watched him reload and verified that his hands were no where near the trigger. One was holding a shell and the other on the barrel just in front of the receiver. The shotgun was upside down (loading position ) and pointed on a slight angle downwards. I tried replicating the issue with no success.

Does anyone have any idea how this could have happened ? I do not want to use this gun anymore if it had some strange tendency to fire on its own. We have shot over a 1000 rounds with this firearm and this is the first issue, although a very scary one.

Thanks

Chris
 
Thanks for the manual, I did not check the primer. That would have been a good idea. We had shot through about half a flat at this point. If it was a bad primer what could have set it off ? Heat ?
 
I had a look through the manual. It says if the sear is worn there is a chance you could encounter a double fire. I will have to take the gun apart and check to see if there is wear on it. I don't think it would be possible for it to hold the hammer for a few seconds then release, firing the gun. I am not sure though.
 
Probably time to have it examined by a professional gunsmith. Worn or dirty sear or related fire control components on the older Auto 5 would be my guess.
 
I'm trying to find that see thru A-5 video with the shotgun cycling through
it's firing order.
Anyone know where to find it and post it up?

Haaaaaaaalp...................:runaway:
 
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If the round was simply put into the chamber, the bolt would have been locked back. While attempting to put the second round into the magazine, it would have tripped the bolt release and the bolt would have been moved forward by the recoil spring into the back of the chambered round. It the firing pin was forward inside the bolt, such as jammed with dirt from previous firings or something similar, it could have hit the primer and set off the cartridge.

Also, check for a broken firing pin. It has happened before where a firing pin has broken, and the front piece was jammed forward.

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On the auto 5 the bolt must be closed to load sells into the mag tube. You also have to hold the bolt release button while doing so. If you are holding with your hand in the way of the bolt handle it could be very painful to have it fire.
I have had a shell in the mag tube not engage the cutoff and pop back under the gate while there was a shell in the chamber. Very precarious as you can't open the bolt, or get the shell out(I'm terrified to think of what would happen if I fired it!) I ended up taking the barrel off carefully while pointed in a safe direction which was very uncomfortable...

I would say take it to a gunsmith to have a peek. They are great guns, but some get cranky!
 
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I think I'll send it in to check the firing pin,

On the model I have there is a release on the side, I believe after the round was put in the chamber he hit the button to close the bolt and as he put the second round into the magazine it went off. For what it is worth too the button does not need to be depressed to load the magazine. Not sure why because on my 20g Auto 5 the button has to be down to load. It is a very weird and scary problem.

Thanks for the advice

Chris
 
Let us know how you make out, that's a frightening experience. Good to hear no one was hurt and is a good reminder about treating the firearms with respect and keeping the barrel pointed in a safe direction.
 
I am guessing he never had the safety on well he was loading the gun .this would have kept the gun for firing .Dutch
 
No expert here but typically turn of the century magazine fed weapons want to 'be fed from the magazine'
It's hard to get your head around after using modern firearms where you can throw one in the pipe first.
My daughter did the same thing with a nuisance kill ( except she just got it jammed up).
You are asking the A-5 to do something it really was not designed to do (IMO) when you throw one in the pipe.
Clean it first, then use it like it was intended would be what I would do.
 
Toqueguy is right on with his comments.

I wonder if the bolt wasn't pulled entirely back locking in the firing pin, but
instead pulled back far 'nuff to allow a shell to fall in and then the bolt
handle was released causing the floating firing pin to strike the primer?

Operator abushe?
 
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