I'm the only person I've ever seen in a duck blind or woods with a real Belgium A5. DU will sell you a nice picture of one to hang on your wall though......
What's so special about the a-5's?
I've noticed quite a few people tote these guns around, what's so special about them? I've noticed browning is going to be re-introducing them next year, with a 5 year warranty...Ive told my buddies I'm done with auto's but these things look sexxxy.
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I'm the only person I've ever seen in a duck blind or woods with a real Belgium A5. DU will sell you a nice picture of one to hang on your wall though......
Go find another thread to play in, I know of a few people that hunt with them....
Well you can ask them or put up with me as A5 users are mostly long gone or moved on to a SBE. Do you have a specific question about the A5 as it pertains to duck hunting?Go find another thread to play in, I know of a few people that hunt with them....
Also the new Browning gun has nothing to do with a real A5. Just a marketing ploy to name it the same thing.
Well what made it special? Strictly tradition? You say Belgium, what other types were there?
They go bang every time you pull the trigger.
The Browning A5 was made in Belgium by a company called FABRIQUE NATIONALE from the early 1900's till the 1980's.......later versions were made in Japan into the 90's. Collectors only want the Belgium guns, but some of the last guns manufactured in Japan had the option of synthetic stocks and invector choke systems.....they fetch a premium on the used market (if you can find one)Well what made it special? Strictly tradition? You say Belgium, what other types were there?
The A5 was the only functional auto on the market for 50 years and was the gun of choice for the serious waterfowler up to the steel shote era....... An A5 3" magnum was a true status symbol in the duck hunting world prior to 1985 or so.......
They are dead reliable if you know how to set them up, tougher than nails, and NOTHING sounds/feels like the bolt going home on an A5. They are also heavy, don't point like other shotguns, hard to clean, and require manipulation of the friction rings to shoot different loads.
I grew up shooting an A-5. I've still got it, and you couldn't give me another one. But I say that about all Autos.They are dead reliable if you know how to set them up, tougher than nails, and NOTHING sounds/feels like the bolt going home on an A5. They are also heavy, don't point like other shotguns, hard to clean, and require manipulation of the friction rings to shoot different loads.
Remington also produced a less refined version of the gun as the model 11 (most of these will show signs of hard, hard use) until it was replaced by the cheaper 11-48 that also worked off the Browning long recoil action. Savage also made a version for some time........never laid eyes on one.
Nothing special. Just traditional. Got a 3" special steel Belgium in the closet. That's where it went when benelli came out with sbe. Good gun,recoil operated.
Both my A5's sit in the safe. I have been thinking about getting the mag out for some hunts but it's in perfect condition and I'm rough on guns.
The only gun I'd take over my A5 is a SBE.... and that is mostly because it takes 2 A5's (a light and a magnum) to do everything that one SBE will do (and the A5 won't shoot 3.5's)Nothing special. Just traditional. Got a 3" special steel Belgium in the closet. That's where it went when benelli came out with sbe. Good gun,recoil operated.
But IMO an A5 will outlast a SBE by a long shot.......... I've seen some shot out SBE's, I've seen some beat to death A5's but never one that was shot out.
I shoot my light twelve a5 belgium browning from time to time
Prices have double on nice A5's in the past few years....... they'll likely go ballistic as time passes.Both my A5's sit in the safe. I have been thinking about getting the mag out for some hunts but it's in perfect condition and I'm rough on guns.
Got 3. Sweet 16, belgium magnum and a jap magnum. I hunt with the belgium,jap magnum about half the time I hunt. Other gun I use is a SBE. You can not hurt these guns. By far will shoot dirtier than any other auto ever made. When it gets too dirty, spray it out with gun scrubber, one drop of oil on each rail and back to work.
I've been looking at getting one and missed an opportunity at getting one off here.:smack:
The friction rings also tend to like a drop of a heavier lube like 3-in-one oil.....Got 3. Sweet 16, belgium magnum and a jap magnum. I hunt with the belgium,jap magnum about half the time I hunt. Other gun I use is a SBE. You can not hurt these guns. By far will shoot dirtier than any other auto ever made. When it gets too dirty, spray it out with gun scrubber, one drop of oil on each rail and back to work.
They pretty much will shoot unless froze shut, under lubed, or set up wrong.
I just happen to have one of the Savage A-5's in pretty nice shape. Visit my tables at the Hot Springs gun show at the end of January and I'll put you in the Savage A-5 owner's club. For a nominal fee, of course.Savage also made a version for some time........never laid eyes on one.
They are classy. Not a dork with a SBE II.
I just happen to have one of the Savage A-5's in pretty nice shape. Visit my tables at the Hot Springs gun show at the end of January and I'll put you in the Savage A-5 owner's club. For a nominal fee, of course.
I'm a user, not a collector
Did the savages have the magazine cutoff? Was the fit comparable to the Browning or the Rem 11?
The Remington's I've handled were not nearly as well made as the brownings........sloppy barrel fit and such.
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