Browning A5 Barrel Doesnt Fit

dubious · January 30, 2015, 01:24 PM

Hi folks,

I am trying to replace the old fix choked barrel on my classy (1930s?) Browning A5. The replacement barrel has a different size "lug" on the bottom. Both say Browning made in St Louis. It looks like if I file down the width slightly it may fit? The original is a 20 gauge 2 3/4 inch shell fixed blued barrel. I ordered another browning a5 barrel which is also for 20 gauge 2 3/4 inch with ventribs and a powerchoke.

The top barrel is the original and the bottom is the replacement. Check out the lugs at the bottom.

Thanks for your help on this folks!

Pics of the new Barrel:

Hi... they are both marked Browning 20 guage 2 and 3/4 inch shells.. heres another pic of the new barrel

Dixie Gunsmithing · January 30, 2015, 04:12 PM

When you say it doesn't fit, how do you mean?

You may need to measure the width and thickness of the way lugs on the bottom.

dubious · January 30, 2015, 04:28 PM

Well it looks like the lugs could almost fit width wise into the channel in the reciever but are about 1/8th of an inch too wide on each side. That's why I was thinking of trying to fit it. Here's another pic of bottom of the barrels. I'll measure more precisely after work.

James K · January 30, 2015, 09:17 PM

A good shotgun smith should be able to remove the barrel from the barrel extension, or you can ask Browning about doing it. Check the front ring, though, for both position and length; it has to be right in relation to the barrel extension.

Jim

Snyper · January 30, 2015, 10:16 PM

I'd contact Browning before doing any modifications
It's possible you can buy the correct barrel

Scorch · January 31, 2015, 01:37 AM

One of them is a Belgian Browning, the other is a Remington Browning ("American Browning") barrel. The barrels are different, and you will not likely be able to find a smith that can fit them.

In the FWIW category, neither of them was made in St Louis, MO, and neither of them was made by Browning. St Louis, MO is where Browning had their corporate headquarters for many years, their corporate headquarters are now in Logan, UT. Browning did not and does not make the firearms sold under their name, they are importers and distributors and have been from the start (unless you want to count the few rifles JBM made before selling his falling block rifle design to Winchester).

mete · January 31, 2015, 07:07 AM

Sometimes a product is changed without telling anyone ! One of Browning rifles started out with a large barrel thread . The at some time that was changed to a small thread + epoxy !

Dixie Gunsmithing · January 31, 2015, 12:03 PM

After looking, that is an older heavy weight gun, and the new barrel is for a light twenty. I don't know if the barrel extension can be changed from one to the other, or not.

Even if the way lugs on the barrel extension were fitted, it may still not be quite correct. The only hope would be unscrewing the barrel extensions and trading them, if they're even the same thread, and they may not be, since the heavy weight was made by Remington, and the light in Belgium by FN.

**4V50 Gary** · January 31, 2015, 01:35 PM

If they can be unscrewed, can not a new barrel be fitted to the older extension? That's a lot of work and if a rib is desired, then it will have to be soldered on afterward. Then the assembly must be blued (or reblued).

Dixie Gunsmithing · January 31, 2015, 02:42 PM

Gary, one would be better to use a light twenty barrel, like this, but I'm not even sure on the recoil ring being in the right place. One would think they should be the same distance from the receiver extension out to the ring, but it would have to be measured. Also, the I.D. of the ring should match so it will fit on the magazine tube correctly.

The rib should still go inside the receiver, when the barrel recoils, so I don't think it will need to be tinkered with. The rib stops at the ring in front of the extension.

Also, as far as extensions, I'm not sure if they thread to the same place. The heavy weight looks like the extension to barrel thread fit is right where the barrel runs into the extension. On the light twenty, theres that ring, so which side does the thread start on?

Snyper · January 31, 2015, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Even if the way lugs on the barrel extension were fitted, it may still not be quite correct.

I agree
I think there are more differences than just the lugs

Dixie Gunsmithing · January 31, 2015, 09:11 PM

Snyper, yes, I think the locking bolt may be larger in one than the other. It looks like the square hole in the extension is different in size. I can see this, as when the lightweights came into being, they modified several things to cut the weight down. In that case, the extensions would have to be swapped, if it was to work. Something tells me they aren't swappable, but I may be wrong.

dubious · February 2, 2015, 04:21 PM

Well folks, the plot has thickened. It turns out I have a Browning 3 Shot version, which I gather is somewhat rare. Thats why the barrel doesn't fit. Do you guys have any idea how valuable these things are? I'm planning on having the existing barrel professionally bored out to improved cylinder for close range quail hunting. Would I be a fool to refinish the stock with linseed oil?

603Country · February 2, 2015, 10:30 PM

Don't use Boiled Linseed Oil. There are better options.

As for the choke, I used Briley in Houston and asked for two chokes - one a bit more open than Modified and one a bit tighter. Worked out great.

**4V50 Gary** · February 2, 2015, 10:54 PM

You'd better check the Blue Book for its value before making any changes.

Dixie Gunsmithing · February 3, 2015, 01:28 AM

I'm with Gary, as you don't see many of the 3 shots anymore. Plenty of heavy weights, but not these.

Edit. Below is a link to a 16 Ga. that sold, which was maybe 75%, and brought $795.00

http://www.gunsamerica.com/927672147...5-16-GAUGE.htm

Snyper · February 3, 2015, 08:32 AM

If you have a rare gun, any changes will take away from the value.

BUT if you decide to redo the choke, it would be better to have it threaded for tubes and you would have more versatility

January 30, 2015, 01:24 PM	#1
dubious Junior Member Join Date: March 2, 2011 Posts: 8	Browning A5 Barrel Doesnt Fit Hi folks, I am trying to replace the old fix choked barrel on my classy (1930s?) Browning A5. The replacement barrel has a different size "lug" on the bottom. Both say Browning made in St Louis. It looks like if I file down the width slightly it may fit? The original is a 20 gauge 2 3/4 inch shell fixed blued barrel. I ordered another browning a5 barrel which is also for 20 gauge 2 3/4 inch with ventribs and a powerchoke. The top barrel is the original and the bottom is the replacement. Check out the lugs at the bottom. Thanks for your help on this folks! Pics of the new Barrel: Hi... they are both marked Browning 20 guage 2 and 3/4 inch shells.. heres another pic of the new barrel Last edited by dubious; January 30, 2015 at 02:47 PM.

January 30, 2015, 04:12 PM	#2
Dixie Gunsmithing Moderator Emeritus Join Date: April 27, 2013 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,923	When you say it doesn't fit, how do you mean? You may need to measure the width and thickness of the way lugs on the bottom. Last edited by Dixie Gunsmithing; January 30, 2015 at 04:17 PM.

January 30, 2015, 10:16 PM	#5
Snyper Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2013 Location: Eastern NC Posts: 3,047	I'd contact Browning before doing any modifications It's possible you can buy the correct barrel __________________ One shot, one kill

January 31, 2015, 01:37 AM	#6
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	One of them is a Belgian Browning, the other is a Remington Browning ("American Browning") barrel. The barrels are different, and you will not likely be able to find a smith that can fit them. In the FWIW category, neither of them was made in St Louis, MO, and neither of them was made by Browning. St Louis, MO is where Browning had their corporate headquarters for many years, their corporate headquarters are now in Logan, UT. Browning did not and does not make the firearms sold under their name, they are importers and distributors and have been from the start (unless you want to count the few rifles JBM made before selling his falling block rifle design to Winchester). __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

January 31, 2015, 07:07 AM	#7
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	Sometimes a product is changed without telling anyone ! One of Browning rifles started out with a large barrel thread . The at some time that was changed to a small thread + epoxy ! __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

January 30, 2015, 04:28 PM	#3
dubious Junior Member Join Date: March 2, 2011 Posts: 8	Well it looks like the lugs could almost fit width wise into the channel in the reciever but are about 1/8th of an inch too wide on each side. That's why I was thinking of trying to fit it. Here's another pic of bottom of the barrels. I'll measure more precisely after work.

January 30, 2015, 09:17 PM	#4
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	A good shotgun smith should be able to remove the barrel from the barrel extension, or you can ask Browning about doing it. Check the front ring, though, for both position and length; it has to be right in relation to the barrel extension. Jim

January 31, 2015, 12:03 PM	#8
Dixie Gunsmithing Moderator Emeritus Join Date: April 27, 2013 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,923	After looking, that is an older heavy weight gun, and the new barrel is for a light twenty. I don't know if the barrel extension can be changed from one to the other, or not. Even if the way lugs on the barrel extension were fitted, it may still not be quite correct. The only hope would be unscrewing the barrel extensions and trading them, if they're even the same thread, and they may not be, since the heavy weight was made by Remington, and the light in Belgium by FN.

January 31, 2015, 01:35 PM	#9
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,829	If they can be unscrewed, can not a new barrel be fitted to the older extension? That's a lot of work and if a rib is desired, then it will have to be soldered on afterward. Then the assembly must be blued (or reblued). __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

January 31, 2015, 02:42 PM	#10
Dixie Gunsmithing Moderator Emeritus Join Date: April 27, 2013 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,923	Gary, one would be better to use a light twenty barrel, like this, but I'm not even sure on the recoil ring being in the right place. One would think they should be the same distance from the receiver extension out to the ring, but it would have to be measured. Also, the I.D. of the ring should match so it will fit on the magazine tube correctly. The rib should still go inside the receiver, when the barrel recoils, so I don't think it will need to be tinkered with. The rib stops at the ring in front of the extension. Also, as far as extensions, I'm not sure if they thread to the same place. The heavy weight looks like the extension to barrel thread fit is right where the barrel runs into the extension. On the light twenty, theres that ring, so which side does the thread start on?

January 31, 2015, 09:11 PM	#12
Dixie Gunsmithing Moderator Emeritus Join Date: April 27, 2013 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,923	Snyper, yes, I think the locking bolt may be larger in one than the other. It looks like the square hole in the extension is different in size. I can see this, as when the lightweights came into being, they modified several things to cut the weight down. In that case, the extensions would have to be swapped, if it was to work. Something tells me they aren't swappable, but I may be wrong.

February 2, 2015, 04:21 PM	#13
dubious Junior Member Join Date: March 2, 2011 Posts: 8	Well folks, the plot has thickened. It turns out I have a Browning 3 Shot version, which I gather is somewhat rare. Thats why the barrel doesn't fit. Do you guys have any idea how valuable these things are? I'm planning on having the existing barrel professionally bored out to improved cylinder for close range quail hunting. Would I be a fool to refinish the stock with linseed oil?

February 2, 2015, 10:30 PM	#14
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 3,998	Don't use Boiled Linseed Oil. There are better options. As for the choke, I used Briley in Houston and asked for two chokes - one a bit more open than Modified and one a bit tighter. Worked out great.

February 2, 2015, 10:54 PM	#15
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,829	You'd better check the Blue Book for its value before making any changes. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

February 3, 2015, 01:28 AM	#16
Dixie Gunsmithing Moderator Emeritus Join Date: April 27, 2013 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,923	I'm with Gary, as you don't see many of the 3 shots anymore. Plenty of heavy weights, but not these. Edit. Below is a link to a 16 Ga. that sold, which was maybe 75%, and brought $795.00 http://www.gunsamerica.com/927672147...5-16-GAUGE.htm Last edited by Dixie Gunsmithing; February 3, 2015 at 01:35 AM.

February 3, 2015, 08:32 AM	#17
Snyper Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2013 Location: Eastern NC Posts: 3,047	If you have a rare gun, any changes will take away from the value. BUT if you decide to redo the choke, it would be better to have it threaded for tubes and you would have more versatility __________________ One shot, one kill

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