Old Browning A5 vs Browning A5 Light?

What's broken/not working...

They made light 12 and light 20. The light guns are 2 3/4. The magnum 12 and 20 are 3 inch.

I believe it would have had a one piece carrier. That said, I've read posts where 2 piece carriers were retrofitted. If i recall correctly, it's a drop in replacement.

The carrier is different between the early 12 and 12 mag...One piece BTW...

Numrich appears to have them both in stock:

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/gun-manufacturer/browning/auto-5/parts-list-auto-5

ADDING:

I do believe that the 'new' style 2 piece carrier indeed is a drop-in retrofit...

I have an ’89 Auto 5 (Japan) and a “47 Model 11. The Auto 5 has the two piece carrier, which apparently came in about the mid-‘50’s. I have fitted the parts necessary for the conversion of the two piece carrier to the Model 11. I haven’t taken it to the range for the final test, but it appears to work fine.

Parts needed:

50440-B1111064 – 2 Piece Carrier Assembly 12ga

50467-B1111107 – Carrier Spring

50537-B1111269 LOCKING BLOCK LATCH, 12 ga. (FOR 2-PIECE CARRIER)

50540-B1111277 LOCKING BLOCK LATCH Spring


I didn’t need the carrier spring for my Model 11 and when they sent me the wrong locking block latch spring, I made my own. The hardest part may be removing all the screws necessary to disassemble the gun. In addition, the gun seems to have been designed like a Chinese puzzle box; not for the faint of heart.

Forget about the Magnum, you have a standard model. The Light Twelve debuted in 1946. It was a lightened version of the standard model, saving about 6 ounces. All parts interchange between the two guns. However, the Breech Block (Bolt), Locking Block, and left Extractor were modified in 1958. The new parts work in the older guns but if you need to replace the Locking Block, you’ll need to buy a new Bolt also. The new extractor will need filing to fit in an old bolt.

I buy my new parts from Midwest Gun Works:

https://www.midwestgunworks.com/browning-auto-5/parts.html

They also have a free Field Service Manual you can download.

Old parts I get from Numrich or eBay. Be careful with eBay — many sellers don’t have a clue what they’ve got. I’ve seen Remington and Savage parts advertised as Browning.