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No fun when you all agree on a topic so let me stir a little. A5 are too damn heavy. Cant shoot steel without damaging the barrels, cant shoot 3in, and you have to change the spring to go from upland to magnums. Also, kick more than gas. And to clean the receiver, what a nightmare to put it back together. And they do have a problem ejecting lighter loads.
Sorry, but Im sticking with Beretta.

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Steve NO, I had the same experience with my 1919 version, and it turned out that the brass friction ring had worn out from about a million rounds downrange. The recoil was really hammering the gun, so I put a new one in.

I was at the club a couple of years ago when a real pretty woman came back from halfway around the sporting clays range with an A5 with a splintered forearm. It had split into about 5 pieces. I have seen A5s with cracked foreends before, but that one was a mess. So if your gun is cycling too easy, you might want to fix it.

Maestro, you are right that A5s are hard to assemble. Remember though that you only have to do it about once a generation. I borrowed a 391 last week, that hadn't been cleaned in about 1K rounds, and it wouldn't eject light loads either. Worked OK otherwise. It didn't fit me (too long) but I still shot it about as badly as I do my guns.

The 391 is a nice gun. No nicer than an Ithaca 51, but nice.


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The A5 light will not shoot 3" Mag. But the A5 Mag shoots 3" and 2 3/4"! All but the Belgian barreled A5's can shoot steel.
Mine can't it Belgian made-but if I wanted to shoot steel all I'd have to do is buy a post 1965 barrel. As for being to heavy? Mine isn't any more heavy then my Mossburg 500. Definately doesn't kick as much as the Mossburg does. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

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<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />MY Dad, rest his soul, always shot a Winchester model 12. He was a paper maker for St. Regis. He got his left hand/arm caught in a paper machine and virtually left his left hand useless. This was about 1945, the year I was born. He bought a light-12 and I grew up looking at the gun. He kept the model 12 till he gave it to my brother and he traded it for a Stevens double 12. My first gun was an 870 bought from Montgomery Ward in 1960. I got married in 1966 after getting out of the Navy. In 1967 I bought a light 12 like dad's for $75.00. I took it out and shot low brass loads. It jammed every shot. I took it back and went to a gun shop and bought a brand new one. $174.95. Allot of money to come up with in those days. I got a manual with the new one and learned about the friction ring and sort of kicked myself for being so ignorant . In 1970 I got divorced. I still have the Browning though. Much more faithful than my first wife. It has a squared pistol grip. I kinda wished it was rounded. BTW, I still have dad's also. Thanks for asking. It brings back a whack of memories, both good and bad. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />


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I don't know how you'd call under 7 lbs for a 20 gauge heavy. As far as shooting 3" shells, who cares for an upland gun? I'd take an A-5 over an aluminum receiver Beretta any day.

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BMR,
The problem with me is that I get used to shooting with one gun and then switch game and need to use a different gun. Id prefer to use the same one, and I can do that with the Beretta. And Im not sure if the "Aluminum Receiver" was an insult towards the Beretta or not. I really dont worry about what the metal is called as long as it works. You have your preferences and thats the beauty of the world we live in. Wouldnt want it any other way. Viva the A5! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
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I bought my Light Twelve new in 1956 and it is still going strong. I have used it for quail, doves, ducks, geese, prairie chickens, pheasants, rabbits, squirrels, and clay birds. One of my favorite guns and one of JMB's best designs.

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That shotgun is as old as I am, except it still looks good!
NICE.

I just picked up a 1986 A5 Magnum Twelve in 95-98% condition.
Glad I did that.


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Yes, it is easy to do. I have the secret. I will go home and look at my kit I built and give you some measurements. DO NOT cut those springs !!!!


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Don't forget that lubrication is the other factor in how the friction rings function. Try a little bit more oil on the mag. tube and see if that cycles better.

In another 100 years, nobody will be talking about the Benelli SBE or the Beretta 391. But people will still be bragging about how their 175 year old A5 is still working!


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Yes....I had a 20ga. about 15 years ago....and should have kept it....they are superb autoloaders.


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Quote
That shotgun is as old as I am, except it still looks good!
NICE.

I just picked up a 1986 A5 Magnum Twelve in 95-98% condition.
Glad I did that.


I'll be taking the A5 out soon, and I need some advice.
Since I plan to shoot only low base shells for clay shooting:
HOW ARE THE RINGS & SPRINGS SUPPOSED TO BE CONFIGURED FOR THAT?
If somebody can explain it or show a link or picture, I'd appreciate it.
Thanks.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


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Put the black steel ring on first, bevel down toward the receiver. Then the big main spring, then the friction ring, bevel up toward the business end. Then the barrel and forearm.

When tightening, always make sure the rear of the wood is seated correctly onto the receiver. There is a wood ridge that needs to be seated correctly before final tightenting.

That's the correct setup for light loads.

Rick


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Thank you.


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My father in law had a light 12 and a Sweet 16, plus Browning autos in .22LR and .308, and thought he was good to go from Missouri to Wyoming. Died of old age without ever finding out how much a man needs a rack of magnums. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />


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Dang, carlos111 , I just posted how cool your story on the .22's was, and now you give us another cool story on something else.
Thanks! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


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I wade through my friction ring setup confusion with the help of an old gunsmithing book. It says put the friction ring down at the bottom too for light loads. With three parts to arrange and two of them being two sided, there are 120 possible setup combinations. Maybe only one of them is exactly right, but many of them ain't exactly wrong.

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Quote
No fun when you all agree on a topic so let me stir a little. A5 are too damn heavy. Cant shoot steel without damaging the barrels, cant shoot 3in, and you have to change the spring to go from upland to magnums. Also, kick more than gas. And to clean the receiver, what a nightmare to put it back together. And they do have a problem ejecting lighter loads.
Sorry, but Im sticking with Beretta.


I solved the steel shot/ old barrel problem by buying a Hastings barrel for my older 12 Mag. Works great


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BMR

That's one pur-dee scattergun you got there. Although I've yet to pony up for one, I'm a sucker for the A5. There may be better autoloaders, but I've yet to see any that are better looking. I've shot many an A5 and I've never had even so much as a hint of a problem, so I'm not sure how much better those other guns are.

Last month I bought a Citori and I like it. This month I bought a (ok, two days ago) Winchester Model 12 and drove directly to the range, and I like it even better than the Citori.

A buddy of mine has a light 20 A5 and he let me shoot it...That wasn't a good idea because now I really want one. I will admit, it did kick more than I thought it would but I think that was because the stock was a bit short for me and it had no recoil pad.

I think a light 20 with an improved or Invictor barrel, 1/2" spacer and a 1" recoil pad would be a dream come true for me.

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