I could use just a little help with a browning Auto 5 Corona / IE

[five.five-six]

OK, that’s a lie. I need a lot of help with a browning auto 5. In the run up to the fascist california shipping restrictions gun parts, and in an effort to spruce up my vintage auto 5 with an inventor choke, I ended up with all the major components required to build another auto 5. Specifically, I had a spare barrel, furniture set and stripped receiver. The original plan was to cannibalize rusted up A5 with no furniture. Well, midway through the cannibalization, it became obvious tat the donor A5 was a burn victim and I did now want to build a house on sand. I’ve been collecting parts and as soon as I can get to my FFL to pick up my shipment of Cartridge Stop/Carrier Latch/ Mag. Cutoff Pins I should have all the parts to make the gun…. But I’d love to get some help from someone who has a few apart to put it all together. Your place or mine, I’ll buy pizza and ammo and tokens to try it out.


some photos of progress

stock photo of my stripped receiver

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top: my old A5
bottom the “burn victim” mocked up with new Boyd’s furniture and Jap invector barrel, also a complete spring rebuild kit and surecycle kit

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the beginning of my collection of parts

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all the bits and pieces have been soaking in CLP for weeks, I hit them with a brass or steel brush once a week or so to loosen up any residual rust. They are starting to look pretty good. I did learn a lot about rust removal in my journey to cannibalize the abandoned fire victim. Removing lite to moderate and even sever rust is easy. After I had found my way to evaporust, I found this formula on the you tube and it is fantastic.

[five.five-six]

I got more responses to a post about a dog liking peanut butter off ….. than this thread.. Calguns is dead.

[DenverDuck]

Hey stranger.... It has been a LONG while... I can't help you with the assembly since I'm not in Irvine any longer and 2,000 miles away up in the Minnesota woods but if you end up needing any more small parts shoot me a message. I have a couple of gallon bags of them laying around somewhere in our bunkhouse....

[five.five-six]

Hey stranger.... It has been a LONG while... I can't help you with the assembly since I'm not in Irvine any longer and 2,000 miles away up in the Minnesota woods but if you end up needing any more small parts shoot me a message. I have a couple of gallon bags of them laying around somewhere in our bunkhouse....

Wow! You are a true success story. You actually retired! You really kept be flush with reloading components for years. I’ll tell twisted_one2 you made contact with me.


I will say this, putting an A5 together looks a lot more complicated than a military rifle such as an AR or AK. The other thing that I fear is going to make this challenging is the almost 100 years of improvements and subtle changes between gauges and magnum non magnum varieties. Not everything is backwards and forwards compatible. I think I did my homework and bought all compatible parts but I’m not ruling out several rude awakenings once I start clicking parts together.

I’ll take pictures as I go. It will be a slow go. I’ve had all the parts soaking in CLP, most for over a month. When part arrives, I scrub it, steel wool it if needed and go through the oily bucket weekly.


Great news, I’m starting assembly this weekend. Yesterday I went to my FFL and filled out the forms to pick up my last parts. 3 each 1” roll pins. Thank god we have the government to protect the children. Without proper government over-site, a child could have choked on them or something.


In the top photo, the first auto 5 brought this home on Saturday:


Wife hate s it but I promised her it would be gone in a year (assuming I don’t defend it in 2027)


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[five.five-six]

All the parts I have accumulated (excluding furniture and barrel)

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[ar15barrels]

Are you bringing those parts over Sunday before we go to the range?

[five.five-six]

Are you bringing those parts over Sunday before we go to the range?

I don’t know if we’ll have time to put it together but I’ll bring them.

[MeatyMac]

Looking forward to seeing how it turns out 👍

[five.five-six]

Looking forward to seeing how it turns out 👍

It’s going to be my children’s problem when I die. I haven't started putting it together yet. At this point, the only part I’m concerned about is the carrier spring. There are two types. One for earlier models where the spring fixtures to the receiver and another spring for later units where the spring fixtures to the FCG. I do believe I have later/later. It will be a miracle if nothing else pops up during assembly. It’s one thing to buy a complete parts kit from a gun that was all in one piece. In this instance, I’ve been researching all the parts and sourcing them from a myriad of suppliers (about 50% eBay). The net result, if it runs, I will have invested about $1,600 into a gun that might be worth $800. Fallow, like and subscribe for more cost saving tips!

[MeatyMac]

I’ve lost count of the firearms I’ve assembled and/or had assembled that will never be worth the cost of the parts and labor to build them…If the end product was for resale we’d all be best picking another end product to devote or time and energy towards.

I’ve taken apart AND reassembled a few A5’s over the years, they’re one of the more complicated shotguns to get back together correctly and my understanding is that the Auto 5 was a hand fitted assembly when built new. I would assume knowledge and experience with the process are keys to success especially when fitting used part into a workable assembly. It is not an easy endeavor you’re attempting, most on CGN don’t understand your undertaking, I do and I wish you success.

[ar15barrels]

I’ve taken apart AND reassembled a few A5’s over the years, they’re one of the more complicated shotguns to get back together correctly and my understanding is that the Auto 5 was a hand fitted assembly when built new. I would assume knowledge and experience with the process are keys to success especially when fitting used part into a workable assembly. It is not an easy endeavor you’re attempting, most on CGN don’t understand your undertaking, I do and I wish you success.

He does have a support team with a full machine shop that can re-fit parts that need re-fitting.

[five.five-six]

Comments on photos later. I’m tired. IMG_0642.jpg
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[five.five-six]

3ch
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[five.five-six]

Range report: It shot fantastic!

[Dirk Tungsten]

Very nice! I've been eyeballing those FN police receivers at Sarco myself. They're a bargain, but sourcing parts may be a pain in the rear due recent laws going into effect.