Post by: Ellensburg on December 02, 2011, 10:30:38 AM
The 20 gauge says " special steel-20 guage - shells 2 3/4""
Im guessing that this means that they can shoot steel shells? I just question it because these guns are quite old. Probably the 60's.
My girlfriend wants to kill a duck, so I am hoping that this is the shotgun for her to use.
Good to go on steel?
Post by: AWS on December 02, 2011, 11:05:17 AM
If you don't expect to do a lot of shooting with it RST, Bismuth, Kent and Hevi(classic doubles) make non-toxic ammo for the old shotgun. It is expensive at $2-$3 per round but kills ducks very well. I have an old Browning Superposed that I like to hunt with on specia occasions and use the above shells.
AWS
Post by: Cascade_fisher on December 02, 2011, 11:11:46 AM
Remember steel chokes down one more than normal but my citori chokes show both a steel rating and a lead rating.
Enjoy the gun and good luck with the ducks.
Post by: Buckmark on December 02, 2011, 11:16:04 AM
The Cockerill name was first used on Browning barrels stamped "cockerill steel". The steel was a very strong quality that met the proofing requirements of guns that were shooting smokeless powder. Eventually the Cockerill name was dropped from the barrels and "special steel" was used instead.
The FN guns that were not sold to Browning in the US, uses the barrel stamp of "acier special" which means special steel in the French language.
Post by: CP on December 02, 2011, 11:19:31 AM
If you have a full choke it will not pattern steel very well and the barrel will most likely develop a bulge just before the choke. If you have a Mod or looser you should not have a problem shooting steel. I have 2 A5s that have put 100s of rounds of steel through and there are no ill effects at all, but I’ve had the chokes on them opened up.
Post by: brokenvet on December 03, 2011, 01:42:01 PM
But that depends on who made the barrel. Belgian or Japanese. If Japanese it most likely will have a screw in choke, if so then your good to go to shoot steel. Just make sure that it is mod or imp cyl choke.
You can shot steel out the Belgian barrels if it is mod or imp cyl or cyl bore, you just risk gouging the bore and A5 barrels are about $450.
Take the serial number and got to this site and search which A5's you have.
http://www.browning.com/customerservice/dategun/detail.asp?id=13
I had my Belgian barrel re choke by Carlson's choke. I think I paid $175. they cut about 1.5" off the barrel and threaded it to fit a screw in choke and they gave me 3 chokes of my choice.
Post by: mebco09 on December 04, 2011, 01:43:11 PM
If the guns are really from the 60's, I would not shoot steel out of them unless they are in 70-80% condition already. Browning did not make very many 20 gauge A-5s before they got into bed with the Japanese at Miroku in the mid 70s.
A perfect A5 in 20ga from the 60's is worth over $1,000 wholesale, (around $1,500 retail-at places like Cabelas) That same gun in 70-80% is worth around $400, so shoot away.
More information is needed, like serial #range, condition, choke etc. before you shoot any "old gun". Im all for using classic guns in the field, just know what you have before you beat up or misuse a collectible gun.