help needed; browning a5 shell ejection

truegger

Hi

I recently bought a 1964 Browning a5 light 12 gauge shotgun. It is designed for 2.75 inch shells. I've used it to shoot a couple rounds of trap and it appears to automatically eject the spent shells only about 10% of the time. I've checked the positions of the bronze friction piece and the friction ring and they are in the correct positions for "light loads". I've tried both 1 oz and 1 1/8 oz loads and had the same result with both. I've oiled the action with proper gun oil and still have the problem. I'm not that familiar with A5s and would appreciate any help you can offer.

Tony

duckhunter

Your loads are to lite. Take off the friction ring if you want these lite loads to work

truegger

I tried five rounds with the lower friction ring (the one closest to the receiver) removed and all five shells failed to eject automatically. The A5 instruction manual says to never remove the upper friction ring.

asphalt cowboy

Have you cleaned and lightly oiled the magazine tube?

Use a coarse rag and bore solvent to scrub it clean. You can tell it's clean if you can rub it with a white paper towel with no dark smudges. To oil it use three or four drops of quality gun oil on a bore patch and then use another clean patch to wipe off any excess.
You will need to do the same with the bronze friction piece.

And yes, to much oil will affect function also.

btw, what is the dram equivalent of the load you are using? Is it a true trap load, or a field load such as a dove and quail load?

edit: I just had a thought.
Just as the 1911 will fail if "limp wristed" the A5 will fail to function if not handled properly. It must be held firmly into the shoulder pocket. Some of the softer recoil pads will also compound the problem.

edit: since there seems to be some confusion.

Depending on the load used the friction ring is not just flipped but also moved.
For high pressure loads it goes between the end of the spring and the friction piece with the flat face to the spring. The reason for this is so the inner bevel will ad more compression to the friction piece.
For low pressure loads the friction ring goes between the spring and the receiver face where it will have no effect on compression of the friction piece.
YYMV, but this is my thoughts on how it is placed against the receiver as to bevel toward or bevel away.
Since the steel of the spring is harder than the steel of the friction ring I place mine with the bevel toward the receiver to prevent the spring from damaging the surface of the bevel which could affect it's action on the friction piece. Again, YMMV.

260

mite try reverseing the rear ring. the bevel should be towards receiver for light loads

spas12

Does the bolt lock open after the last shot?

truegger

Thanks to all for the input. I wiped down the magazine tube and quite a bit of black gunk came off. I've oiled the tube per the instructions above and am hopeful. The action does not lock in the rear position after a shot. I imagine it is going back part of the way and then going forward again. I checked the A5 manual again and it is clear the lower ring should have the flat surface, not the beveled one, against the receiver.

I'll try it again next weekend and post the results. Thanks again to all for the inputs.

Hawk Carse

It probably hasn't been fully disassembled and cleaned since 1964, either. I once lived next door to the town repair gunsmith and he did a regular business cleaning years worth of powder fouling, mud, grass, and dog hair out of shotguns.
Caution, the A5 is a fairly complicated gun.

260

for heavy loads, the flat side does go to the receiver. FOR LIGHT LOADS..... THE BEVELED SIDE GOES TOWARDS THE RECEIVER....i have done this ENUFF to know

truegger

quote:Originally posted by 260
for heavy loads, the flat side does go to the receiver. FOR LIGHT LOADS..... THE BEVELED SIDE GOES TOWARDS THE RECEIVER....i have done this ENUFF to know


Yes, you are correct. Don't know how I wrote the opposite above. I have the lower ring positioned for lighter loads.

260

well enuff... tear it down. clean the action spring n tube that runs thru the stock. also, check the inside of the mag tube to be sure it is clean. now, if it is made for magnum rounds, it will not function reliably with standard 2-3/4