1954 Twenty Mag Browning A-5

[DanM]

First Post.
A few years back I inherited a Browning A-5 20 ga. from my father when he passed. I didn't pick it up until this year after giving it a thoruogh cleaning and replacing springs and friction rings I took it up to my property and shot several boxes of shells at clays. This shotgun is a real shooter and a fine firearm with one exception, it's a full choke and I like to hunt my property and it's primarily quail and a few dove and bandtail when they're in season. I was thinking to have it turned into a modified choke. Any suggestions in how to go about this since there aren't choke tubes like my other shotguns? Can you machine it? I have no concern about affecting the value as it's not something I'll ever sell and I don't have collector guns/rifles, I just want to use this old humpback!

[Thefeeder]

A5

I would always keep the barrel with the original choke on an old Browning, especially if it is the same serial # as the gun. I understand that you don't care about losing the value in altering the A5...but your son will when it is passed down and it is a 100 year old A5 in original condition. Buy a Japan made barrel with chokes and put the original in good storage or buy a Mod choke barrel

FYI...Do not shoot steel shot in any Belguim made Browning barrel.

[DanM]

I would always keep the barrel with the original choke on an old Browning, especially if it is the same serial # as the gun. I understand that you don't care about losing the value in altering the A5...but your son will when it is passed down and it is a 100 year old A5 in original condition. Buy a Japan made barrel with chokes and put the original in good storage or buy a Mod choke barrel

FYI...Do not shoot steel shot in any Belguim made Browning barrel.

Thanks for the advice, and if I had a son or even a nephew to pass it on to I would probably feel differently, but as it is I am the last man standing. Plus I'm a fan of old school craftsmanship, it is one of the best feeling shotgun I have ever picked up. Thanks for the reminder on steel shot, I read that before but it doesn't hurt to hear it again. Anyone else?

I did manage to shoot a quail on the wing from about 30 yds away ha ha

[Thefeeder]

A5

If that is the case, any gunsmith can ream the full into Mod choke for a small fee.

From the pic...are you sure it is a 1954 and a 3" mag....something do'nt fit ..... 20 mag was not made until 1967 and the 54's had a round pistol grip

Does the serial # have a 7x in it or 68x------76X that would be the year + "x" for mag. Or "Z" for standard?

[DanM]

well I was sure it was a 1954 but by your information I will have to recheck the serial numbers and see when it was made, it is stamped belgium on the barrel. I have a 12 and a sweet 16 gauge as well but I have to bring them back from Montana on my next trip back. I am certain its a magnum as I have cycled both 2.75 and 3.00 shells as well as reset the friction rings for both. so now I'll find someone to ream it. I just figured out there is a plug in the magazine and thats why it will only hold two shells + 1.

[Thefeeder]

You have to leave the plug in to be legal hunting in Cal. 3 shell max...or pay the fine!

[m1match]

I have a Browning A-5 Light 12 that my father bought sometime around 1957. I am leaving the original barrel alone so I can pass it on to my kids in it's original condition. Years ago, I was able to buy a Hastings barrel for it with choke tubes, but to my knowledge, they didn't make aftermarket A-5 barrel in 20 gauge.

Do a google search for Browning A-5 barrels, I did and found this:

http://www.midwestgunworks.com/page/mgwi/PROD/browning-auto-5-barrels/111001705

[joepamjohn]

Diablo Valley Gunworks in Pleasant Hill will open the choke up for $75.00

If that is a 1954 gun then the stock has been changed. The went from the Round knob to the flat knob like yours in 1968