[Grunt]

I remember growing up a few of the old time duck and goose hunters were using the old Browning humpbacks. Are these pretty much one in the same design? I may be wrong but I thought the A5 and Remington 11 had a recoiling barrel while the Auto-5 did not. Do I have this right? I remember them saying that while they were reliable, the packed a bit more recoil because of the barrel also adding momentum in addition to the recoil from the shell. So can anybody educate me about these old elegant autos? Thanks

[TexasRifleman]

Remington made the Auto 5's for a while for Browning and kept making them after that contract expired under their own name. I have no idea of the actual dates.

Both models use the moving barrel. In fact they seem to be identical guns lying side by side. I don't know if parts interchange though, I never tried that.

I have one of my grandfathers shotguns, a "Remington Sportsman" that is almost identical to a A5 16ga I also have.

I started hunting with them when I was 12 or 13 as hand-me-downs and they are still my favorite shotguns. Yes there is a little more recoil with that barrel slamming into your shoulder :)

Here's a good article on keeping these things running. The friction ring should be replaced regularly. Spring too according to these guys, though I admit I have not done that one.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/browning_A-5_running.htm

Auto-5:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/Browning_Auto-5_20g_Mag.jpg/800px-Browning_Auto-5_20g_Mag.jpg

Model 11:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/6f/RemingtonMd11.JPG/300px-RemingtonMd11.JPG

[rcmodel]

packed a bit more recoil because of the barrel also adding momentum in addition to the recoil from the shell.That's open to speculation.

If the friction rings are adjusted properly to the load being used, they soak up /slow down a lot of recoil energy that would otherwise go to your shoulder in a solid whack. When adjusted to the load, the barrel is almost out of energy before it comes up against the receiver and starts back forward.

In my experiance a Benelli kicks way harder / sharper then an A-5.

But neither are as soft shooting as a gas-operated gun.

rc

[earlthegoat2]

All the A5s, 11s, and 720s I have shot have been quite soft recoiling. I set the friction rings myself and I know I did it right. I wish Benelli could figure out to tame down their recoil.

[Virginian]

Quote:
rcmodel wrote:
"But neither are as soft shooting as a gas-operated gun."

The Lord loves an honest man.

[Capstick1]

The Browning Auto5 and the Remington mod 11 are pretty much the same gun with one exception. The Auto 5 has double ejectors whereas the the mod11 has a single shell ejector. A remington mod 11 barrel will not work on an auto 5 reciever and an auto five won't work on a mod 11 reciever.

[rbernie]

All the A5s, 11s, and 720s I have shot have been quite soft recoilingThe recoil on my A-5 feels less than that of my 870 but more than that of my 1100. I don't find any of them objectionable, at least with field loads.

[earlthegoat2]

The A5s have magazine cutoffs as well and the 11s and 720s do not.

[MCgunner]

As I understand it, a derivative of the A5.....

http://www.franchiusa.com/firearms/48al.php

To you knowledgeable fellows, I know they don't make 'em like they used to, but how does the Franchi measure up to the A5?

[earlthegoat2]

Ive looked at those Franchis extensively but have never shot one. For the price they better come close to the A5 performance wise. It is interesting they arent made in 12 ga. not that I care as I dont use 12s but it is kind of worth noting. The 28 ga is offered as well. Franchi must be trying to steal the upland crowd.

[cat9x]

my dove gun is a '63 A5 with a factory Browning recoil pad and a cutts. It has recoil similar to a 20ga

[CZguy]

my dove gun is a '63 A5 with a factory Browning recoil pad and a cutts. It has recoil similar to a 20ga

It that because it is a 20 ga. :D

[cat9x]

It that because it is a 20 ga.

HAHA I wish because it would be worth more $$. Just a pretty Light 12 :)

[bowfin47]

Accordinng to my Browning books, Browning A-5's did not come with recoil pads. However, a number guns had pads added at the US Browning headquarters.

Recoil depends upon the "set up" of the friction and compression rings... and very, very few are set correctly. Mine weren't even when two other owners of this gun "fixed" it for me!

First - Never oil the "friction rings", the bronze friction ring and spring steel spring, or the magazine tube upon which they slide. Remember that these work by "friction"!! In this case, a little oil between the magazine and the bronze friction rings is NOT your friend! ( I have the bruised shoulder to prove this!)

Second - According to my research, when assembled for shooting all but very light loads, the solid steel compression ring should be placed forward of the spring, between the spring and the friction rings, with the beveled side abutting the friction rings and the flat side abutting the spring.

Third - The brass and steel slotted friction rings bronze friction ring and spring steel springs should be set so that the slots of both are set together. That is to say, so that with the rings on the magazine, you can see the magazine through the open ring slots.

Bowfin47