Browning A5 Choke tubes. UPDATE WITH PICS!

[Mongo Hunter]

Hey guys so I got one for ya.

Recently my Grandfather in-law passed away. He left some firearms to the family, but unfortunately he passed away rather sudden and some finer details of some things passed with him. one of the firearms was an old Browning auto 5 (Belgium made I believe) and it has a screw in choke tube in it. while cleaning out some other items around his work bench we found 2 additional choke tubes. now my initial thought was that they might be for the Browning, but there was a second shotgun that has a adjustable choke on it. Also I thought I remember my Grandfather in-law telling me that he had the A5 tapped for chokes.

So I guess my question would be is there any way to know for sure that these chokes are for this gun? is there a danger of cross threading if I try to test fit (I wouldn't force it of course)? can a gun smith maybe tell me?

like I said I think he had chokes threaded for this gun so I cant just look to see if they say Browning on them.

any Ideas would me very helpful. thanks guys.

[Firedogg]

 Is there a choke currently in the shotgun? If so take it out and check the threads and length against the other ones. If it is close try to gently screw them in. The shotgun with the "adjustable" choke is most likely a fixed system (something like the Polychoke) that cannot be removed or changed out to put in another choke.

[brokenvet]

If it is not labeled, it maybe harder to identify without trying it in the gun.

Like you said don't force it in.  Good idea to take it off anyways to clean and place antiseize on the threads.

My guess is that your GP had chokes put in so that he can shoot steel shot shells.


Is it a magnum or a light twelve, sweet sixteen, 20?

[Mongo Hunter]

Is there a choke currently in the shotgun? If so take it out and check the threads and length against the other ones. If it is close try to gently screw them in. The shotgun with the "adjustable" choke is most likely a fixed system (something like the Polychoke) that cannot be removed or changed out to put in another choke.

Good call, there is one it. maybe I can find some markings on it that show its part of the same set.

Did the old Belgium Browning's come with screw in chokes? I know the new ones do but I thought I read that the old ones you had to buy separate barrels. 

[brokenvet]

fix chokes

[Mongo Hunter]

fix chokes

So it is entirely possible that these are a custom job and definitely might be specific to this gun? that might make things easier actually. thanks guys!

[wadu1]

Adding tubs was common back in the days. Most gunsmiths used available tubes like Thin-wall, Win-Choke etc., Polly-Choke did come with a screw in system, I've only see one or two most are fixed to the barrel. ost of them can still be purchased through Truelock or Colonial, you most likely will need to send them a choke that fits. Personally I would call Truelock, George or one of his sons will get you on the right path ( they have great customer service).
 

[brokenvet]

fix chokes

So it is entirely possible that these are a custom job and definitely might be specific to this gun? that might make things easier actually. thanks guys!

Could be.

Look at the barrel again,  if it says made it Belgium, then yes it is specific.  Could be a Japanese barrel as well.

As wadu1 said it could Truelock, Colonial,  however it could Carlson's or Breiley too. 

[AWS]

Take a picture of the tube that was in the gun, take all the measurements and email Carlson's, they will tell you what it is so you can get extras.  I had to do this with an old Marrochi combo gun that had the shotgun barrel tubed with unknown tubes.

[brokenvet]

Carlson's should be able to help. 

Man your A5 is ready for duck season.

[Mongo Hunter]

So I double checked some stuff. The gun barrel says "steel shell 3"" and I took out the choke that was in it and it says "Briley inv full". So it looks like it was tapped for briley chokes so I'll check the other two I found and see if they match.

I'm trying to find info on some of these guns cause the family kinda knows me as " the gun guy" but I only know some basics about Auto 5's and people customize things over the years and sometimes detective work is needed.

[Firedogg]

 Hopefully that barrel on the A5 is thick enough to really support an added choke when using steel shot. Wouldn't go much beyond a modified or even improved cylinder, blowing the end off the barrel would be no fun. Have a gunsmith take a good look at it and find out if shooting steel out of it is safe.

  Had chokes added to a Beretta AL2 (colonial) I have, but no way I would put steel shot through it because I know it has a thin barrel.

[Mongo Hunter]

Hopefully that barrel on the A5 is thick enough to really support an added choke when using steel shot. Wouldn't go much beyond a modified or even improved cylinder, blowing the end off the barrel would be no fun. Have a gunsmith take a good look at it and find out if shooting steel out of it is safe.

  Had chokes added to a Beretta AL2 (colonial) I have, but no way I would put steel shot through it because I know it has a thin barrel.

It probly would never get used for water fowl. Too much family sentemental value to risk not only the barrel but rust and waterlogging the stocks. But it will definitely get used for deer and upland bird if needed.

[brokenvet]

I use my 1960 magnum A5 for waterfowl after I had Carlson's install screw in choke on it.  The ammo I buy are at or below 1450 FPS, just to minimize or eliminate damage.   

[AWS]

If the barrel is marked "3" Steel" either it has a replacement barrel or it isn't really and "Old" Browning A5, but then your idea of Old and mine might be a lot different, pre-WW-II I call old , pre-Y2K might be old to you..  If the choke is marked "Briley INV FULL" it is more likely a Browning Invector tube made by Briley and not a Briley system choke tube.

Briley photo of Browning Invector tube.

http://www.briley.com/browning.aspx

[brokenvet]

Mongo can you post pics of the gun.

[Mongo Hunter]

Mongo can you post pics of the gun.

Sure later tonight ill take some and get them up tomorrow. Curious of how old it is? I'm not even sure I should run the serial and check.

[brokenvet]

On the Browning north America website they have a chart, check there to see the manufacture date.  It's under support / date your firearm

[Mongo Hunter]

Here's some pictures. I checked the serial and it has an 8V prefix so it was made in 1958 and is a Magnum. Sorry for the PDFs I can't get this place to upload jpegs.

[Mongo Hunter]

also new mystery. I took the shotgun apart last night to check for function and make sure it was safe, clean and well oiled. after I got the forgrip off I notice the recoil springs...yes 2. All the research I have found so far on the magnums and rebuild kits only show 1 spring but 2 brass compression rings.

so in short I have 2 recoil springs, 1 brass compression ring and 1 beveled compression ring.

now I'm really confused. luckily all the other firearms were strait forward.

[brokenvet]

My A5 has 2 recoils springs as well, so that is good to go.  On the rings, you should have 2 brass & 3 of the beveled steel compression rings.  Your gun is set up for dove or light target loads at the moment, for the magnum or duck loads you will need the rest of the rings.

I just got back from shooting slugs out of mine.  Winchester BRI Sabot slugs, FPS is 1350, 1 oz.  out of a Hastings Paradox rifled barrel, at 70 yards I got 1" groups with open sights.

You can obtain the rings from Numrich gun parts or Midwest Gun Works (MGW), MidwayUSA 

[Mongo Hunter]

Choke tubes fit! good call guys. I now have mod choke and a turkey choke.

[CP]

I've never seen 2 recoil springs, interesting.

Here's the ring setup FYI -

[brokenvet]

I think that the second spring is a replacement and instead of discarding the old spring the gun owner just added the other spring thinking that it may help with the recoil, especially if it is an older gun and shooting magnum loads.

Bought my Auto-5 with two springs and I just left it there.

[CP]

Maybe a modification to cycle light loads?  My A5 mag will not cycle anything lighter than what they used to call “high brass” duck/pheasant loads ( 1¼ oz shot).  Wasn't designed to do so.

My A5 light does just fine with loads down to 1 oz.

[Mongo Hunter]

I've never seen 2 recoil springs, interesting.

Here's the ring setup FYI -

I have never seen it either but from what I have seen this does appear to be a mod. I was unable to find the other rings for while I was digging around. my guess is this is what you did if you lost the "magnum" set of rings. Ill have to research more however.

[Mongo Hunter]

Alright so after a little research, what I have come up with is that the recoil system with 2 springs is wrong. I contacted Randy Wakeman whos with an outdoor and shooting website who did an article on the A5. Don't know how or why people did that but its not right. I went ahead and got on Mid West Gun Works mailing list to let me know when a Magnum rebuild kit becomes available. for $65 its a good piece of mind knowing the gun will be operating like it should and I wont be "that guy" that destroys a family heirloom.

[CP]

 

That's the right move.  Keep them properly tuned and they are sweet shooters.  You might try Brownells for the parts:

http://www.brownells.com/shotgun-parts/receiver-action-parts/recoil-spring-parts/recoil-springs/recoil-spring-sku149005375-3839-9414.aspx

[brokenvet]

Went to Browning website and sent them a question regarding the two recoil spring.

On other forums, people say that older Auto 5 magnum 12's should have two recoil springs. 

Let's see what Browning says on this.

[huntinguy]

I know where there is an A5 has two springs. It also has one bronze that is about a half inch wide and one that is about 1/8th.

I have talked to more than a few A5 aficionados and they all say that none of the A5's ever had double springs. But, I have talked to several folks who have the older Belgium made guns and on the 3" guns it doesn't seem to be uncommon.

I wonder if it was a European thing and the double spring guns were not made for the U.S. market?

[brokenvet]

You may have something there about a European preference.

According to Browning customer service, one recoils spring is correct.

Hello Arnold,
 
Thank you for the email.  Your A5 should only have 1 recoil-spring.  It might be a good idea to take your gun to a local gunsmith to find out why you have 2.
 
Best Regards,
Browning Customer Service
www.Browning.com
800-333-3288
TR