Browning Auto 5

[TONTO]

 
  OK, I have a Browning Auto-5 that belonged to my uncle purchased in 1958. I looked up the #'s and it is mid production 1952, #361***. 1952 is the year production went back to FN (Belgian) afer being interupted by WWII. From 1940 to 1946 production of the Auto-5 was turned over to Remington. Serial number is on the side of receiver. "ABC" for American made Version. (A=16 gauge, B-12 gauge, C=20 gauge). Who built these guns from 46-52? My serial number is on the bottum of the reciever, and the bbl is stammped,"Browning Arms Co. St. Loius, MO". It does have the magazine cuttoff that Remington, or Savage mod 11's wouldn't have and mod 11 production stopped in 47.
   The guns fore stock has a hairline split, I heard this had to do with the friction rings being set too light. So I looked up how to set them, sure enough they were not just too light but one was backwards, ok thats fixed and I will glue the stock. I still haven't fired this gun myself, looking foward to busting some clays with her.
   Then I noticed in the online manual I was reading the loading instructions. It says to first open the slide and it will lock back, then introduce the first shell and the gun will accept it and close slide , then top off mag tube. Here's my problem, the flore plate will not open with the slide locked back. The only way to open the floor plate is by first pushing the release button, which of course releases the slide ( this hurts like hell if your finger is in the way trying to figure out why the plate won't open). I can load with slide closed by pushing the release button as I feed each shell, then cycling the slide and topping off the mag. The loading procedure in the manual seems alot easier, and one of the advantages of the design. My gun won't do it . Is there something wrong with this gun(broke, jammed....),  was it built without this option ( and by who), am I looking at the wrong manual, just doing it wrong. Should I even be worried about it? Any auto-5 educated advice or info would be appreciated.

[Huntbear]

Anywhere on the barrel does it say "made in Belgium"  

[TONTO]

 No Belgium stamp anywhere, only FN marking is on the center of butt plate.

[tbotts]

Your gun was made in belgium.  It should say this on the right side of the barrel.
 You are reading from a later edition manual, it is referring to the speed load feature which was not introduced until 1953 production guns.  It was phased in and eventually all Auto-5 guns were produced with this feature.  But your shotgun is a year early.
 With the speed load, you can lock back the bolt, insert 1 shell into the tube and the carrier assembly and bolt will automatically work to bring the shell from the tube, into the chamber, ready to fire.  Then load your tube.
 For your gun, you will have to load like you have been doing:  insert shell into tube and manually work the bolt, load tube.  Or you can lock back the bolt, insert/throw shell thru the ejection port, onto the carrier assembly, REMOVE FINGERS, and then press the bolt release button, which will chamber the shell.  Then load your tube.
 You obviously have the non speed load, but for anyone else reading this:  How to tell if you have an Auto-5 with the speed load? 
 Turn the gun upside down and look at the carrier assembly.  It will be in two pieces and you can press the larger piece up with your finger(without touching the bolt release button).  On an Auto-5 without the speed load, the carrier assembly will be one piece and won't move when you touch it, unless you press the bolt release.

[TONTO]

 OK found the Belgium stamp, barrel right side just above the stock. Wonder if they could make that any smaller.Thank you, yes I was looking at the online manuals from the Browning web site apperantly a later model manual.

[CP]

If you have problems fixing that forearm, Ramline makes a pretty good synthetic replacement that may interest you.  About $60 for the stock & forearm set.  Also very nice for hunting if you don’t want to beat up the original wood.


http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=536689