Browning 12 gauge

[Jrfowl12]

Thinking about buying this gun. Don't know alot about it. Any input would be appreciated.

 

[Welldoya]

Browning Auto 5 made in 1936.

 

[Jrfowl12]

How did you get the date? Also do you any idea what it may be worth?

 

[Welldoya]

Just looked up serial number charts.
It’s not worth a lot. Maybe $450 tops, probably less.

 

[Boogan1]

They made a jillion of these, no vent rib, mediocre condition and a poly choke on the end. Maybe $450 on a good day.

 

[stage20]

A price of $450 would be sold in a heartbeat on this forum if it was listed for sale.
It's not in the best of shape cosmetically but I bet it goes bang every time. If you aren't in a hurry I would hold out for a better deal or one in nicer shape. Unless of course youre getting a crazy deal on it.

A step up would go for 6 or 700. You see mint ones from time to time. 900-1200 range.

 

[Welldoya]

I put one on here for $800 and it didn’t sell.
It was a lot nicer than that one.
I can also recall one that was nice dropping to $600 before it sold.
Personally, I love the A5, have used one for 40 years but they’ve fallen out of favor.
All the kids want Benellis.

 

[Southalabama]

I put one on here for $800 and it didn’t sell.
It was a lot nicer than that one.
I can also recall one that was nice dropping to $600 before it sold.
Personally, I love the A5, have used one for 40 years but they’ve fallen out of favor.
All the kids want Benellis.

When I was a kid we all wanted Brownings. Benelli won the recent marketing war. Duck Commander and other waterfowl personalities product placement won the marketing war.

Some don’t like the poly choke. Condition is marginal but it’s 80 years old. I won’t be in that good of condition if I make 80.

All things considered the $450 valuation is fair assessment.

 

[tros6t]

The old humpback! My dad hunted with one in 16ga for 50 years. It’s no longer hunting but it still goes bang! It did stop and when taken completely apart, it was sludged up! All cleaned out and works fine!
I had a chance to buy a very clean 12’gauge 30 years ago for $425! Now it’s double that or more! It’s best to just search for some for sale on gunbroker, guns international and gunsAmerica to see what they are selling for!

 

[big jon]

Never seen one that didnt kick hard 1100 rem or super x win shoot good and dont kick so bad even a 1400 winchester

 

[stage20]

Never seen one that didnt kick hard 1100 rem or super x win shoot good and dont kick so bad even a 1400 winchester

A5 does have some thump. Guys that run them know tricks to tweak them. You still won't want to go out and shoot 100rds out of it popping clays.

 

[Jrfowl12]

Speaking of the kick, this shot gun has a spring loaded barrel that recoils into the receiver. Does that actually mitigate some recoil? I've never shot one of these or any other gun with recoiling barrel.

 

[tros6t]

Never seen one that didnt kick hard 1100 rem or super x win shoot good and dont kick so bad even a 1400 winchester

The entire barrel recoils when shot. There are some metal rings that have to be moved depending on the loads! Old but reliable technology! 1100 is gas operated which dissipates some of the rearward motion! But depending on the loads, I never felt the recoil was excessive! Singles, doubles and pumps have more recoil but the entire rearward force is coming at you! Kentucky Ballistics 4 bore seems to kick a lot-

 

[tros6t]

Speaking of the kick, this shot gun has a spring loaded barrel that recoils into the receiver. Does that actually mitigate some recoil? I've never shot one of these or any other gun with recoiling barrel.

Yes, it does take some recoil and has kind of an odd feel to it but as mentioned, it’s not as bad as a single, a double or a pump. They are also fairly heavy which helps with felt recoil

 

[Welldoya]

In summary, they are great guns but unless you are getting a bargain, I would find one in better condition.
On a side note, I never thought I would see the day when a Remington 1100 would go for more $ than a similar condition A5.
The Browning was a couple hundred more $ when new.
I know I paid either $188 or $288 for my 1100 in 1982 and $475 for my A5 in about 1986.
The exception being 20 gauge. A nice A5 20
gauge will bring $2,000+.

 

[Jrfowl12]

Shot gun is for sale. I decided against it mainly because my shot gun needs are more home defense/toss around truck gun. Don't really feel like this is the one for that. The guy that owns it works for me, kind of an older guy who isn't very phone/computer savvy. If anyone is interested you can message me on here or I can give you his phone number if you are comfortable with that. Guy isn't looking for anything more than it's worth.

 

[Recondo 101]

If anyone is interested in this A-5 suggest you should pull the forend off and look at the rear of the forend, something has apparently been added to it that has the barrel chamber ring set too far back into the action. It should protrude about 1/16" and now by the pictures, it actually sets back inside.the front of the action. The wear and age do not match up. Would guess that a repair was done by someone that missed the mark just a tad. The barrel's normal forward movement stops on the for-end wood so older guns have through use, beat the wood up to the point that the chamber ring sticks out of the action quite a bit, like 1/4".

 

[16gauge]

Barrel may not be original to the gun. This happens a lot with Brownings. The serial number on the barrel on these older ones did match the receiver back then, it is on the barrel ring. It also has the less desirable front to back safety that was replaced later with the standard side to side. Blue Book depreciates because of this safety but it may not matter to someone looking for one. As with any A5 the friction rings must be set correctly for proper function and recoil.