OK, so I picked up my first vintage Auto5 tonight...

Slugo · March 19, 2013, 06:40 PM

1965 I believe, Twenty gauge with 28" ventilated rib barrel and **choke (Mod). The gun is in excellent condition. I guess I'll have to stop making fun of them, now that I've been bitten...

Orphanedcowboy · March 19, 2013, 08:18 PM

Blonde wood at that, nice

Slugo · March 19, 2013, 08:40 PM

speaking of blonde and wood!!

rs97 · March 20, 2013, 03:33 PM

I need to get me one of those.

shouldazagged · March 20, 2013, 04:29 PM

Getting back to the shotgun, I was given one just like it many years ago, and loved it. Never any kind of malfunction, shot like a dream.

Unfortunately, in my drinking days I went crazy and sold it. Still miss that gun. Hang onto yours!

jaguarxk120 · March 20, 2013, 05:24 PM

It's just the way they cycle, either you like it or not.

I think you will as it is different from any other gun.

joe45c · March 20, 2013, 07:34 PM

I have one in a 16ga, not a Belgium, but shoots just as great. I've had since 1990.

Scorch · March 21, 2013, 07:46 PM

Quote:

It's just the way they cycle, either you like it or not.

Yup. The first time you'll say "what the heck was that?", then you'll start to like it. The best part is that they are almost impossible to miss with (but somehow I still manage a few).

Slugo · March 21, 2013, 08:06 PM

thanks for the words of encouragement, guys!!

Slugo · March 22, 2013, 04:10 AM

here it is with my 20 gauge Franchi Affinity. The OLD and the NEW...

mr kablammo · March 23, 2013, 12:50 AM

The Auto-5, the gun that is so nice that it kicks you twice. First on firing and unlock and second when the spring pushes the barrel and bolt back. I would be chary of taking 'the Fist of Moses' 12ga to a high volume shooting event. The 20ga is managable but use a good vest. A classic design in production, with mods, for more than 100 years, yes? That is a beauty. Shooting JMB firearms is like listening to JSB music.

Rob228 · March 23, 2013, 02:46 PM

Beautiful. Simply beautiful.

stmichps · March 24, 2013, 10:45 AM

I would have love to have had a A5 in twenty gauge but my budget at the time
(most i've found were $1000 and up!) wouldn't allow it. So I looked around and found the A5's poor cousin, a Remington model 11 in 20ga., 28" inch barrel with a poly choke for $200.

The finish was worn the wood somewhat oil soak but according to the gunsmith that refinished (an additional $350) the gun it had been well maintained (which in his opinion was the cause of most if not all the exterior wear) showning little to no wear on internal parts.

Of course the Model 11 doesn't have the finish of the A5 but I don't think the rabbits, birds or clays mind that it's not as pretty. Seeing that the Model 11 is nothing more then a economical A5 lacking only in the spit and polish. I don't feel the lessor for not getting the A5 and would recommend to anyone if they could find one the Model 11.

Slugo · March 24, 2013, 12:03 PM

the Remington built Model 11 is an absolute classic! The guy who owned my 20 has one and I think it's the most unique A5 of all of them...

jrothWA · April 6, 2013, 09:06 PM

and replace the ones there. This will keep the action functioning nicely.

LOOKS NICE!

Enjoy.

Slugo · April 7, 2013, 09:58 AM

just as an aside, this gun belonged to a district justice in central PA. Ex cop, turns lawyer, turns judge!!

jaguarxk120 · April 7, 2013, 11:48 AM

If you go to the Midwest Gun Works web site they have a section on Brownings. In that section you can download the factory service manual. Something nice to have.

therifleman556 · April 7, 2013, 02:25 PM

I "had" a Belgian 16 gauge. *sigh* Nicest pheasant gun I should've kept...

Slugo · April 9, 2013, 07:46 AM

XK120, thanks for the heads up on the online manual...

WillyKern69 · April 9, 2013, 04:29 PM

I have a A-5 and a model 11. Great guns.

WK

hgmeyer · April 9, 2013, 09:35 PM

Now, over fifty years ago I woke up the first time at our duck club. I proudly put my Stevens/Springfield breakopen .410 single shot on one of the open slots on the gun rack. There it sat among a couple of old Win 97s, a few Model 12s and well over a dozen (and more) A5s or Remington 11/Sportsmans. I have seen pictures of the previous generation at the club (1928) with more Model 97s but still a good number of A5s (11s).

They pretty much ruled the duck/goose game on the Mississippi River till the 11-48s, 58s and eventually 1100s started showing up.

Oh, me, I was a Remington 1100 guy from almost the start after a short few years of a .20ga Springfield 3" pump and a few years with a Winchester Model 50.

But, those guys in my Dad's generation were almost all A5 guys. They were great guns then and still are. Like the guy said, above, JMB was a genius.

March 19, 2013, 06:40 PM	#1
Slugo Junior member Join Date: September 15, 2001 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,007	OK, so I picked up my first vintage Auto5 tonight... 1965 I believe, Twenty gauge with 28" ventilated rib barrel and **choke (Mod). The gun is in excellent condition. I guess I'll have to stop making fun of them, now that I've been bitten...

March 19, 2013, 08:18 PM	#2
Orphanedcowboy Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2009 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 194	Re: OK, so I picked up my first vintage Auto5 tonight... Blonde wood at that, nice

March 20, 2013, 04:29 PM	#5
shouldazagged Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2013 Location: Louisville, KY, USA Posts: 273	Getting back to the shotgun, I was given one just like it many years ago, and loved it. Never any kind of malfunction, shot like a dream. Unfortunately, in my drinking days I went crazy and sold it. Still miss that gun. Hang onto yours! __________________ "Don't let macho be your epitaph." ---Ed Lovette

March 23, 2013, 12:50 AM	#11
mr kablammo Senior Member Join Date: December 18, 2005 Posts: 241	The Auto-5, the gun that is so nice that it kicks you twice. First on firing and unlock and second when the spring pushes the barrel and bolt back. I would be chary of taking 'the Fist of Moses' 12ga to a high volume shooting event. The 20ga is managable but use a good vest. A classic design in production, with mods, for more than 100 years, yes? That is a beauty. Shooting JMB firearms is like listening to JSB music. __________________ "America is a free country, and Michael Moore is free to make an @zzhole of himself". David Horowitz in "Michael Moore Hates America".

April 6, 2013, 09:06 PM	#15
jrothWA Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2006 Posts: 2,519	Order up new friction rings and recoil spring ,... and replace the ones there. This will keep the action functioning nicely. LOOKS NICE! Enjoy.

March 19, 2013, 08:40 PM	#3
Slugo Junior member Join Date: September 15, 2001 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,007	speaking of blonde and wood!!

March 20, 2013, 03:33 PM	#4
rs97 Member Join Date: February 2, 2009 Posts: 86	I need to get me one of those.

March 20, 2013, 05:24 PM	#6
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	It's just the way they cycle, either you like it or not. I think you will as it is different from any other gun.

March 20, 2013, 07:34 PM	#7
joe45c Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2012 Location: peru ny Posts: 218	I have one in a 16ga, not a Belgium, but shoots just as great. I've had since 1990.

March 21, 2013, 08:06 PM	#9
Slugo Junior member Join Date: September 15, 2001 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,007	thanks for the words of encouragement, guys!!

March 22, 2013, 04:10 AM	#10
Slugo Junior member Join Date: September 15, 2001 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,007	here it is with my 20 gauge Franchi Affinity. The OLD and the NEW...

March 23, 2013, 02:46 PM	#12
Rob228 Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2010 Location: Hampstead NC Posts: 1,450	Beautiful. Simply beautiful.

March 24, 2013, 10:45 AM	#13
stmichps Member Join Date: December 23, 2007 Location: USA/Michigan/Battle Creek Posts: 52	I would have love to have had a A5 in twenty gauge but my budget at the time (most i've found were $1000 and up!) wouldn't allow it. So I looked around and found the A5's poor cousin, a Remington model 11 in 20ga., 28" inch barrel with a poly choke for $200. The finish was worn the wood somewhat oil soak but according to the gunsmith that refinished (an additional $350) the gun it had been well maintained (which in his opinion was the cause of most if not all the exterior wear) showning little to no wear on internal parts. Of course the Model 11 doesn't have the finish of the A5 but I don't think the rabbits, birds or clays mind that it's not as pretty. Seeing that the Model 11 is nothing more then a economical A5 lacking only in the spit and polish. I don't feel the lessor for not getting the A5 and would recommend to anyone if they could find one the Model 11.

March 24, 2013, 12:03 PM	#14
Slugo Junior member Join Date: September 15, 2001 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,007	the Remington built Model 11 is an absolute classic! The guy who owned my 20 has one and I think it's the most unique A5 of all of them...

April 7, 2013, 09:58 AM	#16
Slugo Junior member Join Date: September 15, 2001 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,007	just as an aside, this gun belonged to a district justice in central PA. Ex cop, turns lawyer, turns judge!!

April 7, 2013, 11:48 AM	#17
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	If you go to the Midwest Gun Works web site they have a section on Brownings. In that section you can download the factory service manual. Something nice to have.

April 7, 2013, 02:25 PM	#18
therifleman556 Member Join Date: April 6, 2013 Location: Central Wisconsin Posts: 43	I "had" a Belgian 16 gauge. sigh Nicest pheasant gun I should've kept...

April 9, 2013, 07:46 AM	#19
Slugo Junior member Join Date: September 15, 2001 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,007	XK120, thanks for the heads up on the online manual...

April 9, 2013, 04:29 PM	#20
WillyKern69 Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 160	I have a A-5 and a model 11. Great guns. WK

April 9, 2013, 09:35 PM	#21
hgmeyer Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2013 Location: Elgin, IL Posts: 147	My recollection of A5s Now, over fifty years ago I woke up the first time at our duck club. I proudly put my Stevens/Springfield breakopen .410 single shot on one of the open slots on the gun rack. There it sat among a couple of old Win 97s, a few Model 12s and well over a dozen (and more) A5s or Remington 11/Sportsmans. I have seen pictures of the previous generation at the club (1928) with more Model 97s but still a good number of A5s (11s). They pretty much ruled the duck/goose game on the Mississippi River till the 11-48s, 58s and eventually 1100s started showing up. Oh, me, I was a Remington 1100 guy from almost the start after a short few years of a .20ga Springfield 3" pump and a few years with a Winchester Model 50. But, those guys in my Dad's generation were almost all A5 guys. They were great guns then and still are. Like the guy said, above, JMB was a genius.