Browning Auto-5 Problem

[RKO]

One of my favorite shotguns, a 1954 vintage Browning Auto-5 12 gauge, has suddenly, right before the start of dove season here in Texas, has developed a failure to cycle. The first shot does not exist completely, leaving the open end sticking out of the breech opening with the brass end still inside.

The gun is very clean, and lightly oiled. It make me believe one of the following may be the problem:

1. The extractors are not grasping the fired shell firmly enough.

2. The second round is not being fed into the breech properly, perhaps because of a weak magazine spring.

3. The light dove loads are not generating enough recoil to cycle the action (never had this problem before!, and gun is properly set up to handle light loads.)

With the dove season opening on Tuesday morning, 1 September, can anyone suggest a quick fix, other than going out and buy a new shotgun?
(Actually, I have several others, but I like this one best for doves.)

Thanks,

RKO

 

[butchd]

Try the application of one of the grease products available now to the tube. Browning used to supply a can of tallow to help in breaking the new gun in. Maybe yours has dried up somewhat in the off season. Felt recoil may be a little more noticeable but it's worth a try. Good luck on your hunt.

 

[handejector]

Has it, by any chance, been disassembled for a complete cleaning since it was last used? I ask because you mention it being very clean.
Are you familiar with how the friction rings work? I am thinking one got reversed when it was cleaned.

 

[Centenniel]

Has it, by any chance, been disassembled for a complete cleaning since it was last used? I ask because you mention it being very clean.
Are you familiar with how the friction rings work? I am thinking one got reversed when it was cleaned.

Yes, a quick check of the reassembly of those components may reveal the problem.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Keith are you sure your friction rings are set correctly-That sounds like you have them set for heavier loads-or you need to perhaps put a touch of lube on the magazine tube.
Nevermind...I see those have been covered,shoulda read the entire thread first.

 

[m1gunner]

There are 3 springs that can lead to this problem.

The first is the main recoil spring around the magazine, not likely the problem.

The second is the magazine spring. If you have never replaced it, do it now, they are very easy to find.

The third (and most likely culprit) is the main spring (or bolt return spring). This is at the back of the receiver, in a tube going down the buttstock. These take a beating, and tend to break.

My hunting partner has a broken one right now in one of his A5s. Will probably be replacing it for him this week.

BTW MGW is the place to get A5 parts.

 

[Lubbock Louie]

I also like my Auto 5 for dove. Good luck on getting yours fixed and have a successful hunt.

LL Cary

 

[tennexplorer]

I had a similar problem last year. At the end of the barrel extension is the ejector. If the ejector rivet comes loose, which is what happened in mine, the shell will partially eject and the fresh round will come up and jam. Take the barrel out and if the ejector is missing, then you know. In mine the ejector fell down into the gun and rattled around. Also, the suggestion regarding the action spring is good. There is an action spring follower that can break. If it breaks and shifts around, the timing of the gun is then off. Hope this helps.

 

[84CJ]

I have an uncle that used a dry lube on the friction rings on his A5. The same dry moly for locks from ace hardeware. He also used pencil lead he would sharpen the pencil and rube the mag tube with it. Not sure if this is proper but he would not use anything else on it. BTW never seen it jam miss feed or anything else, and he seldom missed.

Right or wrong it worked for him.

The chamber on my 11-87 has to be spotless or it will not extract fired hulls. Ribbed shells work best in it. I may have other problems with it causing this problem. I replaced the o-ring which didn't fix it (helped a little). Maybe shotgun shells are just to cheaply made now days.

 

[s&wchad]

http://www.browning.com/customerservice/qna/detail.asp?id=105http://images.google.com/imgres?img...en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&sa=N&start=80&um=1

 

[m1gunner]

If you suspect a bad ejector, the easiest check is try another barrel. You should have no problem finding another A5 owner close by, these are very popular shotguns.

 

[RKO]

Thanks for all the good advice.

Thanks for all the good advice. I think it must be the magazine spring. I won't be able to find one until Tuesday afternoon, after the first morning's dove shoot. Meanwhile I will plan on using my Citori o/u which is just as effective. I like the Auto-5 because I cut my wisdom teeth on my grandfather's Remington pre-1911 auto, after I graduated from my first shotgun, a H&R 20 gauge single shot, at the age of 14. Buying my first Browning Auto-5, new, when I was 19 was a step to maturity, a real grown-up's gun, comparable to being allowed, to occasionally carrying my dad's Colt 1911AI, or driving his Packard Clipper Delux on a date, but not at the same time.

RKO

 

[bullseyebill]

RKO
You might find this link helpful.

Keep Our Browning A-5 Shotguns Running!

Bill

 

[RKO]

Auto-5 Problem Solved!

After meditating on the all the good advice, I took my Auto-5 down one more time, and found all was as it should be. I then used Gun Scrubber to remove all oil and residue from the breech area. Once dry and clean, I sprayed a coat of Gun-X (Corosion-X in a smaller container) inside the breach. Then I found the original barrel, a 26" Belgium made improve cylinder barrel, sprayed it well and then re-assembled the gun.
The next day,yesterday, 1 September, was opening day in Texas,
somewhat akin to the second coming of the late JC. Sure enough, the old Auto-5 worked marvelously well. I downed eleven birds (4 short of the limit.) Towards the end of the day, I happened to see that one of the small vertical screws, the one just under the magazine cut-off lever, was
potruding out 1/4". I screwed it back in with the small screwdriver of my
Victorinex pocket knife, and went on shooting.

I don't know what cured the failure to eject or stove-piping problem, the
second thorough cleaning and lubrication or the original barrel.(Both barrels' ejectors were in place.) It wasn't the loose screw, as I had fired the gun at least 21 times to get the 11 doves. Must be just clean living and the right attitude.

Going this afternoon to bag a few more.

RKO

Thanks to everybody.

 

[Porterb123]

Glad you worked out the problems. I also went out yesterday morning with my new to me 64 Auto 5 in 20 gauge and limited out. I grew up on my Dads A5 in 16 gauge and shoot these guns better than almost any other. Perfect pointers, even for a lefty.

 

[jframe]

My Dad has an A-5 too, a Light Twelve non-vent rib that he bought new in 1957. It is still immaculate, with only the face of the gold trigger showing wear. He pheasant hunted in Michigan for years with this gun. I've never shot it and it hasn't been shot in years, but I'm sure it would be as good as ever. Previous poster was right, it DOES point good, and I'm a lefty too. Just one of those guns that will be with me forever.

 

[perrazi]

rko- your dad had a 1911 and a packard? you are a lucky guy. would love to have a packard clipper like i used to see years ago.

 

[m1gunner]

John Browning was a firearms genius. The A5 design is 100 years old, but it is still one of the best autoloading shotguns ever made.

It points as naturally as does a 1911 (another one of his designs, of course).
The speed feed feature is only found on one other autoloader even today, and once you use it, you can't go back to the two-step loaders.

For those that have never owned or hunted an A5, you owe it to your self to burn a box of shells in one.

 

[tennexplorer]

My dad had a friend who had huge hands. He could hold two shells in his left hand and shuck them into the gun using the speed feature. You'd hear bam-bam-bam - bam - bam. The game wardens checked him constantly. He was consistently legal - if not moral, but he sure kept the game wardens jumping.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Shot my A-5 for opening day this year. First time in years I had shot the gun. I had forgotten how well I could shoot this thing!!! Scary accurate. I had also forgotten how much it kicks compared to the SBEII or even my fixed breech guns. Still have a bruise on my shoulder after a week. Something about that square backed gun together with that CHA CHANG sound it makes when it cycles