Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Browning A-5

Any of you shotgun aficionados hunt with an A-5? I have a Belgian Light Twelve that I love! It is a precision-built work of art! I wish I had one in 20 gauge.

BTW, is there a difference between a Belgian A-5 and the later Japanese A-5 or are they in essence the same shotgun?

Merry Christmas,

Mando

'Mando:

Oh yes.

Light Twelve:









Sweet Sixteens:






I like Belgium Brownings.

rb

rick it looks like i need to come over for diner i've done some duck hunting with light twelve but mostly stays in

I would love to have an A-5. Hunting partner has a 20. I have shot clay pigeons with it a bit. The long "twang" with the light target loads was a bit disconcerting at first, but I do not hold that against it. High school friend's father had a 16 that he could never get to cycle. It wasn't until years later that I learned about the short (European) chambered 16s. I wish that I had picked it up at the auction following Warnie's passing.

Rick,

Pretty impressive. Do you hunt Imperial County? How about the High Desert Hunt Club?

Do you have another A-5 besides your Light Twelve? I'd like to get my hands on an A-5 20 gauge.


Merry Christmas,

Mando

I have an old Belgium A5 Light Twelve that I've packed a lot over the years. I really like it, but "Light" isn't a term I would apply to it. The Benelli M1's have pretty much replaced it in the field. But it isn't for sale...

The A5's are great guns. I own 4 at this time. I like the finsh and workmanship of the Belgium A5 better then the Jap A5's but the Jap A5's are good guns. Normaly a Belgium gun will bring more money, assuming simular condition.

The Jap barrels with screw in chokes are needed or at least probably a better choice for steel shot. I have a 3 inch Mag Jap 12ga that I keep for steel shot. And I have another really old FN marked but not marked with the Browning name, A5 with a solid rib and a Cutts compensator choke that I personally have literally shot hundreds and hundreds of rounds out of, and it was well used and abused before I got it. I think it was made in the 1920's and still works like brand new, 100% reliable.

Bought a 1920's A5 in 16ga a couple of years ago. Nailed a cottontail with it the next morning. Haven't hunted much with it though. Guess I'll have to rectify that.

TDF,

Or sell it to me!!!


Merry Christmas,

Mando

MOGC,



I agree. Mine weighs over seven pounds. But because it is such a beautiful work of art, I tolerate the weight!


Merry Christmas,

Mando

5sdad,

If I were presented with the choice of a Model 12 in 20 gauge or an A-5 in 20 gauge, I would be concussed.


Merry Christmas,

Mando

Anybody looking to unload a Belgian Sweet Sixteen, let me know. I'll trade for money, marbles, or mash.

rb

LMAO....

Hell, I'll find a Sweet Sixteen and give it to you if you take my mother-in-law!!!

Why did manufacture of the A-5 cease? Was it competition of gas operated shotguns? Cost to manufacture?

I could see where it would have been expensive for manufacture the A-5. There does not appear to be a single stamped part on mine.


Merry Christmas,

Mando

Cost of mfg. mostly. The old A5's were all hand fitted and usually one bbl would not fit another A5 without the help of a gunsmith due to close tolerances. The jap made ones are fully interchangable because they were made to lees exacting tollerances. They are now made in Belgium and assembled in Portugal, better than the Japanese ones but still short of the original.
Whoever had the one that wouldn't cycle probably didn't know about the adjustable friction rings inside the forend that allow the gun to cycle high and low brass rounds properly with a minor adj.

Untrue on all counts. Where do you come up with this stuff?

Otherwise I'd like to know where I can buy a new "Made in Belgium Assembled in Portugal" Auto 5.