[dak0ta]

Hi,

My uncle just gave me a Japanese A5. Is it any good and how does it compare to the Belgium made ones? What's the collector value for this 12 Ga? Is it better than Browning's current autoloaders i.e. Maxus, Silver, Gold?

[f4t9r]

I love the A5. Its a great shooter and made just as well as the belgium.
It is not as much a collectable but still a fine gun.
I sold one recently that was mint for $800 really wish I would have not sold it.
It is a different action then the current autos and will be worth more in the long run is my opinion.

[kentucky_smith]

Great guns. Invector choked?

[earlthegoat2]

Make no mistake about it the Japanese A5s are every bit as good as the Belgian ones. The long recoil action is one that could use a reintroduction as there are hardly any produced nowadays. The long recoil action is far superior and far more recoil reducing than the grossly misnamed Inertia system. (physics anyone)

[dlzigjr]

the miroku made A5 for years after my Dad passed it on to me....love it!

[jamesb]

I believe you will not find a better auto on the market. I have a 53 belgium in 16 ga that I only retired last year because of a crack in the forearm. Did not want to damage it anymore as it is an heirloom given by my grandfather. Most older A5s will show a hairline crack in the bottom of the forearm from shooting heavy loads with the gas rings set wrong. I still bring it out every now and then and shot a few rounds of wobble trap with it. I have shot my friends other autos but still perfer my A5. I say you cannot go wrong with a design that was not modified much in its almost 100 year run. Plus you get cool points, remember it is not how good you shoot, it's how good you look. Thats why I shoot SxS's now, if I am going to miss atleast I will do it in style.

[dak0ta]

words of wisdom right there jamesb!

[10X]

The Auto 5 is the highest quality of design. A classic from John Browning's genius.

The Japanese made A5s are of the highest quality manufacture.

A fine, fine gun that points naturally and works very well.

The only pain in the neck is the need to adjust the friction rings for low power versus hi power loads. Make sure you do this so you don't damage the mechanism or crack handguards or stocks. If you don't have these instructions, you can find them on the web. I think the Browning.com web site may have them as well.

[Capstick1]

Hey Jamesb. The forend on my Belgian Autofive also started to crack from all the trap shooting I used it for. The friction rings were set up for the 1 1/8 oz loads that I so frequently use. I went ahead and took the the wood forend off, set it aside, and replaced it with a Bell and Carlson Carbelite forend. It's black, looks ugly, but if you've ever seen a carbelite stock or forend it's pretty safe to say that they're darn near indestructible. Now I just have to get used to all the strange looks I get from people when I tote around a shotgun that looks like "Frankenstein". LOL

[mljdeckard]

That's very good info to have, there is an heirloom in the family headed to my oldest son eventually, it's a gorgeous engraved Belgian, I'd hate to damage it. We'll stick to conventional loads.

[moooose102]

hey guys, watch ebay, i have seen several forearms for sale for auto 5's there in the last few weeks! 2 of them were N.O.S. stocks! at this time, mine is fine, and the price got high enough that i didnt feel the need to part with the cash. but if one comes along that doesnt get to high, i will pick one up for a spare.

[surfinUSA]

These are outstanding guns. Although I have a Belgium 16 gauge, one of these days I'm going to find a Japanese made Auto 5, light 12, so that when the crazy liberals finally ban lead shot I'll still have an Auto 5 that I can shoot trap and hunt using steel shot with.

[Scottww627]

I purchased a shotgun at an estate auction about 10 years ago...On the receiver it say Fabrique Nationale D'armes De Guerre Herstal Belgique. I am guessing by the number on the receiver it was made in 1928, and the last 4 digits match the action. If anyone can offer any information that would be great. Thank you from upstate NY.

[Scottww627]

I have no idea on how to post a new message...so..if anyone has info about my first post it would be welcomed.Thank you

[Brian Dale]

Welcome, Scott. I don't think that you're being snubbed; a lot of folks are busy with family events today. You're describing a Belgian-made Browning Auto-5. While you await their arrival, you might enjoy using the Search function (click "Search" near the top of any page, then click on "Advanced Search" so you can restrict your search for the Auto-5 to the Shotguns area if you want to).

To start a new thread, you'll see a button near the top left on the main Shotguns sub-forum page that reads, "New Thread." You're correct in your supposition that starting a new thread about your gun will make your request more visible to people here.

Edited to add that you'll get results like these (click on the links):

Tell me the bad news... (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=415322)

Belgium Browning A-5 Questions (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=178267)

Used and old Browning Auto 5. Should I buy it? (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=371211)

--and a lot more. That last thread includes a link to the Wikipedia entry on the Auto-5. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browning_Auto-5)