Browning A-5 Questions

[ErnieA]

Hello All,

I'm new to this forum (see my intro for who I am) and want to start my first thread with my father's Browning A-5 shotgun. I lost my dad 13 years ago and inherited all of his rifles and hand guns. My safe is needing some thinning out and I am going to start with the A-5. But before I list it I would like to know more about it. I've never fired it personnally as when I was a kid we had a Remington 12 Ga pump that I used (which he sold years ago without asking if I wanted rights to first refusal :-( LOL). He outfitted it with a Hasting's steel barrel and choke so he could shoot steel shot and boxed the full-choke OEM barrel. It is a nice looking firearm. What can you A-5 owners (or former owners) tell me about it? How can I find out the year (I tried looking it up by Googling the serial number and didn't get far).

Thanks in advance for your comments.

Ernie A
Milwaukie, Oregon

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[doninoregon]

browning.com/support/date-your-firearm/auto-5-semi-automatic-shotgun.html

 

[ErnieA]

browning.com/support/date-your-firearm/auto-5-semi-automatic-shotgun.html

Thank you, Don!

 

[Joe13]

Hello All,

I'm new to this forum (see my intro for who I am) and want to start my first thread with my father's Browning A-5 shotgun. I lost my dad 13 years ago and inherited all of his rifles and hand guns. My safe is needing some thinning out and I am going to start with the A-5. But before I list it I would like to know more about it. I've never fired it personnally as when I was a kid we had a Remington 12 Ga pump that I used (which he sold years ago without asking if I wanted rights to first refusal :-( LOL). He outfitted it with a Hasting's steel barrel and choke so he could shoot steel shot and boxed the full-choke OEM barrel. It is a nice looking firearm. What can you A-5 owners (or former owners) tell me about it? How can I find out the year (I tried looking it up by Googling the serial number and didn't get far).

Thanks in advance for your comments.

Ernie A
Milwaukie, Oregon

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This isn't what you asked but I would be remiss if I didn't say it.


Save up (if you have to) and buy another safe to compliment or replace your current one.


The only non-variable and unanimously heard opinion on this forum that I have seen is from people who sold heirloom firearms and regretted it later. Yes, MOST of the time (but who knows at this point) you can buy the same model but it isn't the same gun.



Thankfully I never got to the point where it was my house or my inherited guns but I would walk thru fire to avoid selling guns that I am 99% likely to never shoot again or maybe a couple of times over my lifetime because they came from family before me.

I have sold guns I bought and was unhappy about doing so to get my wife the rest of the way thru her degree but those were almost all guns I can and mostly have replaced with similar models.


Just my 2¢ and something I would think long and hard about unless you are seriously strapped for cash, but a dedicated heirloom safe. Your kids might not care but I am in the position that I hope my grandkids will someday..

 

[uberguy]

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For an idea of going prices, link is for Browning A5 12ga. Shotguns.

Have to admit I'm surprised to see this many this listing high. I inherited one from my father-in-law quite a few years back and priced it out then at $500-600.

Your S/N shows it to be produced in 1950. That's vintage, so might attract some buyers.

 

[ErnieA]

This isn't what you asked but I would be remiss if I didn't say it.


Save up (if you have to) and buy another safe to compliment or replace your current one.


The only non-variable and unanimously heard opinion on this forum that I have seen is from people who sold heirloom firearms and regretted it later. Yes, MOST of the time (but who knows at this point) you can buy the same model but it isn't the same gun.



Thankfully I never got to the point where it was my house or my inherited guns but I would walk thru fire to avoid selling guns that I am 99% likely to never shoot again or maybe a couple of times over my lifetime because they came from family before me.

I have sold guns I bought and was unhappy about doing so to get my wife the rest of the way thru her degree but those were almost all guns I can and mostly have replaced with similar models.


Just my 2¢ and something I would think long and hard about unless you are seriously strapped for cash, but a dedicated heirloom safe. Your kids might not care but I am in the position that I hope my grandkids will someday..

What an outstanding idea! I think I will investigate buying another safe or a larger one and sell the one I have.
Thank you.
Ernie

 

[Flintlock Tom]

I had a Browning Auto-5 in 16 ga. but I could never get it to run reliably. I had a gunsmith look it over a couple times but still no joy. Finally sold it but regret it none-the-less. It was a four digit gun made in the 20s.
I loved the look and feel of the gun but if I can't shoot it it's just taking up room in my safe.

If it had been a family heirloom I never would have let it go.