Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Sucker's Born Every Minute I Guess

The Auto 5, like the Savage 99, seemed ungainly from afar to me until finally realizing it's beauty. Slow learner, here. Got to shoot two at the campfire boar hunt and fell hard for one.

Recently a doubles shotgun-nut friend and retired smith Charles turned me on to his dealer honey hole so off we went, looking for an honest Belgian 12ga light 26" vent rib IC or Mod English grip. Place must have had 35-40 A5's, few less than "nice", but he didn't have "the one". Better luck next time.

Trying to leave I couldn't help but pick up again and again a really clean, pretty wood, all the desired spec's but for one - it's a 16ga, and surprise, double the planned budget. Thought (read: hoped) Charles might talk me into it, but the old gentleman was decidedly neutral. "It's nice. I wouldn't buy it. If you like it, buy it. It won't do anything a 20ga won't do and I can get 20ga-anything anywhere, but it's a nice gun." ... "You can get 16ga components alright, but not necessarily what you want when you want it or sometimes not at all until next year."

Some help, eh? But I can forgive Charles - he was preoccupied trying to justify buying a homely, ratty 12ga light chopped-stock he doesn't need, in 30in/full he doesn't want, soley because it was a potential project he could give to a kid in possible need he hasn't yet met. What can ya say; guy's a gentleman.

So reminding myself that I came for a twelve, not a headache, we left. Be darned if could forget that damn shotgun, though.

Anyway... there's a fine line between "Glad I didn't buy that" and "God I should have bought that." And God this headache fits like a glove and shoots oh boy.... S622xx, estimate '60 but open to other suggestions. A worn spot at the toe of the buttplate itself and but one little blem on the forend, that's it of significance. The bronze friction ring was worn to a nub. Set rings back to factory spec. Ran great up to around round 80 then started balking on eject. Just needed more lube likely but got in a fresh set of action and recoil springs and friction ring so learned to grind screwdrivers last night (was real careful). Tore down, cleaned her up, all went well and she sang out 100 more today at skeet without missing a beat. Local dealer carries 16ga ammo pretty regularly, so all smiles here.

All ears on any maintenance tips/pitfalls for these. Have downloaded the manual. Forend clearance good.

Hey Doc, very, very nice, congrats man, she will make ya a fine shooter, just like mine did.

Gunner

About the only real CLASSIC jammamatic. (And they don't jam much if you treat 'em right!).

You're NOT the first guy to fall in love with a Sweet 16! Including even diehard "double nuts"....

Love me some Sweet 16!!! That gun is a dandy!!!

I almost passed up a clean Remington 11 last year in 16.
Did not want the hassle of another caliber but it was priced at $200 OTD.
So being a chump I bought it, shot it and now I love it.
I have found more 16 in stock these days than 12 and a guy at work sold me 500 rounds of #6 that he had laying around for $50.

Is that gun a 26 inch IC? I REALLY like it and call dibs if you ever decide to part with her

Nice shotgun..Never owned an A-5...

Cabelas is carrying the Herter's line of shotshells in #6 and #8 for $69. a case of 16ga, free shipping if you pick up in the store. I bought a case of each and they work well in my drilling.

B&P has them also with free shipping to your house, I don't know if they will keep that as they have a new importer but they hired Kari from the old one so it might still be when they start shipping again.

I bought 10 cases of the #8 shot and love em. Is Herters is made by BP?

The Herter's brass is marked with stars and numbers like RIO and Chedite Brass.

Don't over tighten the mag cap, that's what causes most of the forearm cracks I've seen.

Now that you've got the A5, you need a MEC press and the 16 Gauge Manual from Ballistic Products.

It's a 26" in ** which translates to Mod. Wanted IC or Mod so could back up my 20ga CZ ringneck grouse gun or could hunt pheasant maybe back home, either way, close enough. Hunted Mod for everything as a kid so it's like old times again; trying to get back in the swing of things with some solid shotguns. Duly noted, passport would take it if got tired of it. Sum beetch could break some clays with aplomb so reckon we'll be gettin along fine a good while.

If you become disillusioned with that obsolete rattle trap, get in touch.

In 1963, I skipped lunch and piggy banked the $7-8 per week until I had enough to pay for an A-5 Light 12,,28" Modified. This was about the time plastic wads began to appear. It shot full. I lived with I for a while, but turned too many quail into hamburger. After a while I had a Lyman choke installed. It worked, but the smith misunderstood my obviously poor instructions. I asked the barrel be cut 22 inches, then install the choke. It came back almost 22" overall. When Browning came out with the invector choke tubes, I ordered a 26" barrel. The jap barrel works just fine.

Much later, I bought a Light 20 ga, 26" IC, and even later picked up a 25" IC Sweet 16. Because of an interest in Superposed guns, I traded these two away. Mistake. Wish I still had them. I rarely use the 12 anymore because of the weight. It sometimes gets a dove outing when they are flying high.

With a little polishing of the recoil/magazine tube and just the right viscosity lube for the season, the recoil has been tamed, and I do not recall the last jam while using better ammo. Jack

Amazing looking A5.

Like you I didnt appreciate the Brownings until they were discontinued. Now I've grown to love them.

P.S. You must turn us on to this A5 Heaven that is stocked with with such nice shotguns.

I got my grandgather's 16 ga A-5 a few years ago after my uncle passed and nobody in his family wanted it. It was a basket case to look at, tape on the stock and surgace rust here and there. It's a 28" full with bump safety, solid rib and short chamber.

I cleaned it all up, found a source for 2 5/16 ammo and it's a pheasant killin machine.

Mine is a short chambered pre-war also.
If you reload try the Ballistic Products Z16 wad and their recipes for it. Most impressive wad I've used in any gauge.

I love A-5's. My FIL used the Sweet Sixteen. Drove over it too . I had a heck of a time finding a 'smith who could straighten a 16 gauge barrel.

That honey hole wouldn't be found in Wagram, NC, would it?

The Herters ammo I have also has the Federal name on it.
Made in USA.