1957 A-5 shotgun

01-08-2005, 11:33 AM

I saw a beautiful Browning A-5 shotgun..12 gauge recoil operated (wonder how hard it kicks ?) made in Belgium in 1957..kind of expensive..but looks like it's worth it

Oxford · 01-08-2005, 11:44 AM

Don't know about the 12 Ga but I've got the Browning Sweet 16...and it's kick isn't bad. Of course, it's recoil operated and holds five in the mag, too. Bought it used in 1961 for $100.

DANA · 01-08-2005, 12:01 PM

The (Hump Back) is one of my favorate using shotguns

DANA

01-08-2005, 12:27 PM

30 inch barrel..full choke..beautiful antique

could take it deer or turkey hunting

ScottD · 01-08-2005, 05:16 PM

Couldn't get any better. Have 2 and one is worn down to where it is silver from many trips in the marsh. KicK? Not any different then any other semiauto 12ga.

Was my first gun and I have hunted all kinds of birds and deer. I could not tell you how many shells have gone through that gun, but if I was to make an educated guess it would be 1/2 million shells. I have two barrels, a full that came with the gun and modified. I have had to replace the wood once on the older one, it was just worn out and split, repaired, split and repaired again. Killed my first deer with it.

About 6 yrs. ago the firing pin broke and created an unsafe condition. Bought a new one and put in without any problems. That has been the only mechanical problem what so ever.

One thing I would point out is don't press the bolt release without the barrel being in place. It dings the receiver.

jerry · 01-08-2005, 06:52 PM

my first gun too. long story why I still don't have it. John Browning design, say more?

A beautiful shotgun.

01-08-2005, 10:53 PM

it costs almost as much as a brand new Wingmaster

Apollyon67 · 01-08-2005, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logansdad

it costs almost as much as a brand new Wingmaster

Apples and oranges there. A5s are very collectable as well as being a fine firearm. Belgian made are more sought after by the guys I deal with.

01-08-2005, 11:46 PM

not apples and oranges..$450 isn't very far from $550

at least not as far as I'm concerned

Apollyon67 · 01-09-2005, 12:03 AM

Logansdad, Sorry, I meant the difference between the guns, not the money All things being equal, I would choos the A5 personally.

01-09-2005, 12:21 AM

I think I'm going to buy it

nobody said anything bad about them

Oxford · 01-09-2005, 12:37 AM

That sounds like a good investment. :nod: You won't be sorry...because you can always get your money back if you choose to sell it later. Prices of those old Browning's keep increasing.

Arby · 01-09-2005, 01:56 AM

If it's in good condition, it's still a weapon you can pass to your grand children. I cut my teeth on an A-5, and I own at least a couple of dozen. Regardless of the fads, I still hunt with my humpbacks, and I've never gotten a bruise I didn't ask for. God bless John M. Browning, and I'll shoot them tilll thr day I die!

G Hollingsworth · 01-10-2005, 09:51 AM

I own a grade 3 sweet 16 that I bought years ago for a $100.00 and have added 3 barrels. too bad no one is making 3" mags in 16. I would have the reamer tomorrow.The orig barrel was 16/60 and no import marks.but was reamed to 16/70 which is 2 3/4" background was built in the 30s and more than likely brought back during the war. very nice piece.

DANA · 01-10-2005, 11:54 AM

You can get a Rem Mod 11 for about 150 -350 which is the same.

DANA

jerry · 01-10-2005, 12:02 PM

The model 11's Iv'e seen have been nicely built :right:

Oh, I foregot, yes they do recoil a bit heavier, than compared to a gas gun. Also have to remember to change friction rings between heavy and light loads. This is frought with controversy in itself. Some claim you can cycle the light loads with a heavy set up. I'd not reccomend the other way around.

My dad's will shoot soup cans at 50 yards with the standard barrel with BRI slugs. It is definitely a gun you use a can of gun scrubber on to clean the action. I would be leary about taking it all the way apart & I'm fairly mechanically inclined. Mabe I haven't studied it enough, but on the surface it looks tricky.

01-10-2005, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DANA

The (Hump Back) is one of my favorate using shotguns

DANA

I bought it

DANA · 01-10-2005, 03:18 PM

You will have started a LOVE fest for life. Each time you use it you will wish you had not waited so long. The BROWNING design is tops even if it was designed a 100 yrs ago.

DANA

ScottD · 01-10-2005, 03:55 PM

Yeah, way too cool. It's a shame that they have dropped it from normal production runs.

01-10-2005, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logansdad

I saw a beautiful Browning A-5 shotgun..12 gauge recoil operated (wonder how hard it kicks ?) made in Belgium in 1957..kind of expensive..but looks like it's worth it

it is beautifully made..the patina is pretty..almost like faint case coloring..wasn't as expensive as I thought it would be

01-08-2005, 11:33 AM	#1
Logansdad Guest Posts: n/a	1957 A-5 shotgun I saw a beautiful Browning A-5 shotgun..12 gauge recoil operated (wonder how hard it kicks ?) made in Belgium in 1957..kind of expensive..but looks like it's worth it

01-08-2005, 11:44 AM	#2
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,073 Blog Entries: 4	Don't know about the 12 Ga but I've got the Browning Sweet 16...and it's kick isn't bad. Of course, it's recoil operated and holds five in the mag, too. Bought it used in 1961 for $100. __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".

01-08-2005, 05:16 PM	#5
ScottD Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Evanston, IL Posts: 1,020	Couldn't get any better. Have 2 and one is worn down to where it is silver from many trips in the marsh. KicK? Not any different then any other semiauto 12ga. Was my first gun and I have hunted all kinds of birds and deer. I could not tell you how many shells have gone through that gun, but if I was to make an educated guess it would be 1/2 million shells. I have two barrels, a full that came with the gun and modified. I have had to replace the wood once on the older one, it was just worn out and split, repaired, split and repaired again. Killed my first deer with it. About 6 yrs. ago the firing pin broke and created an unsafe condition. Bought a new one and put in without any problems. That has been the only mechanical problem what so ever. One thing I would point out is don't press the bolt release without the barrel being in place. It dings the receiver. __________________ "Some people can not live without wilderness"-Aldo Leopold

01-08-2005, 06:52 PM	#6
jerry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 11,117 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 1	my first gun too. long story why I still don't have it. John Browning design, say more? A beautiful shotgun. __________________ Joe the plumber is screwed

01-09-2005, 12:03 AM	#10
Apollyon67 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 2,238 Images: 17	Logansdad, Sorry, I meant the difference between the guns, not the money All things being equal, I would choos the A5 personally. __________________ "To err is human, to repent divine; to persist devilish." Ben Franklin

01-08-2005, 12:01 PM	#3
DANA Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: WAITSFIELD VERMONT Posts: 1,602	The (Hump Back) is one of my favorate using shotguns DANA

01-08-2005, 12:27 PM	#4
Logansdad Guest Posts: n/a	30 inch barrel..full choke..beautiful antique could take it deer or turkey hunting

01-08-2005, 10:53 PM	#7
Logansdad Guest Posts: n/a	it costs almost as much as a brand new Wingmaster

01-08-2005, 11:46 PM	#9
Logansdad Guest Posts: n/a	not apples and oranges..$450 isn't very far from $550 at least not as far as I'm concerned

01-09-2005, 12:21 AM	#11
Logansdad Guest Posts: n/a	I think I'm going to buy it nobody said anything bad about them

01-09-2005, 12:37 AM	#12
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,073 Blog Entries: 4	That sounds like a good investment. :nod: You won't be sorry...because you can always get your money back if you choose to sell it later. Prices of those old Browning's keep increasing. __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".

01-09-2005, 01:56 AM	#13
Arby Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Smith Lake,Alabama Posts: 117	Humpbacks! Not whales !!!!it! If it's in good condition, it's still a weapon you can pass to your grand children. I cut my teeth on an A-5, and I own at least a couple of dozen. Regardless of the fads, I still hunt with my humpbacks, and I've never gotten a bruise I didn't ask for. God bless John M. Browning, and I'll shoot them tilll thr day I die! __________________ "Anyone willing to sacrifice essential liberty for temporary security, deserves neither!" Ben Franklin

01-10-2005, 09:51 AM	#14
G Hollingsworth Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 227	I own a grade 3 sweet 16 that I bought years ago for a $100.00 and have added 3 barrels. too bad no one is making 3" mags in 16. I would have the reamer tomorrow.The orig barrel was 16/60 and no import marks.but was reamed to 16/70 which is 2 3/4" background was built in the 30s and more than likely brought back during the war. very nice piece.

01-10-2005, 11:54 AM	#15
DANA Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: WAITSFIELD VERMONT Posts: 1,602	You can get a Rem Mod 11 for about 150 -350 which is the same. DANA

01-10-2005, 12:02 PM	#16
jerry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 11,117 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 1	The model 11's Iv'e seen have been nicely built :right: Oh, I foregot, yes they do recoil a bit heavier, than compared to a gas gun. Also have to remember to change friction rings between heavy and light loads. This is frought with controversy in itself. Some claim you can cycle the light loads with a heavy set up. I'd not reccomend the other way around. My dad's will shoot soup cans at 50 yards with the standard barrel with BRI slugs. It is definitely a gun you use a can of gun scrubber on to clean the action. I would be leary about taking it all the way apart & I'm fairly mechanically inclined. Mabe I haven't studied it enough, but on the surface it looks tricky. __________________ Joe the plumber is screwed

01-10-2005, 03:18 PM	#18
DANA Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: WAITSFIELD VERMONT Posts: 1,602	You will have started a LOVE fest for life. Each time you use it you will wish you had not waited so long. The BROWNING design is tops even if it was designed a 100 yrs ago. DANA Last edited by DANA; 01-10-2005 at 03:24 PM.

01-10-2005, 03:55 PM	#19
ScottD Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Evanston, IL Posts: 1,020	Yeah, way too cool. It's a shame that they have dropped it from normal production runs. __________________ "Some people can not live without wilderness"-Aldo Leopold