Browning A5 Maintenance Series: Disassembly

The Browning Automatic 5, better known as the A5, was the first successful semi-auto shotgun design and was decades ahead of its time. In this Brownells’ maintenance series video, we'll show you step-by-step how to disassemble your Browning A5 and its variants. Learn more here www.brownellsvideos.com

[@alanpassat6759]

The Auto-5 is my favourite firearm. I have an old FN. People say Browning was a genius. But after stripping an A-5, you really get an appreciation of that genius. A very satisfying activity and I can enjoy my Auto-5 even more now. It's never let me down in the past 30 years and is good for another 30 at least.

[@zenjon7892]

I just stripped, cleaned and reassembled a Winchester Model 50... You can't scare me!

[@paulis7319]

Thank you for this, it really helped a lot! A family member recently entrusted me with a few of his antique firearms to properly clean and service so I can get practice for my upcoming gunsmithing career, and the A5 is one of those. What an interesting piece of engineering!

[@Dixielinemuzik]

Recieved a Pre '39 16 gauge Browning A5 today. Beautiful gun.

[@BDTrr]

Great Videos. All 4 of your A5 maintenance videos are fantastic. Very concise, to the point, with great closeups and without unnecessary talking.

[@brownells]

Thank you for the feedback! We appreciate it!

[@russbrown4436]

Can you give me a link to your screw driver set, I cant seem to locate it on the WS. Thanks.

[@markfrance9924]

Brownells, Inc. Saw the half hour version from that “under the gun” foul mouthed one then yours. A world of difference. Thanks for your concise professionalism.

[@diegobxr]

Ok, from this video I learned that I am not disassembling any Auto 5. Damn, that was complicated!!!

[@mikey-nm3od]

yup definitely bringing mine to a gunsmith

[@alanpassat6759]

It's really quite simple. Trigger group out, mainspring out, lifter spring out, unscrew lifter screws, lifter out. Bolt pin out, bolt out. Done!

[@martialman.4563]

The dedicated A5 screwdriver set is absolutely necessary. Not all that hard with youtube. I broke mine down as far as I could, much more than this video before the days of Internet. Needed to buy a book to put it back together.

[@michaelfreehoffer1160]

this is a great site, I have a 1947 16ga. I've been told the model name is (Browning standard 16ga. A-5 humpback) and it is made in belgium, gun does not have a ventilated rib barrel has a front safety shoots extremely well I have had it for thirty years and it has never jammed. I only fire Brenneke. keep it super clean. love this weapon

[@jerrydavis7372]

CAUTION! Do not remove the second, smaller screw on the stock tang! It hold the trigger spring in place and is tough to reinstall.

[@Masaki-1334]

Thank you!

[@bisleyblackhawk1288]

I’ve said this in the past “Saint” John Moses Browning loved himself a puzzle (sometimes involving some special screws…I’m endeared to all my Brownell’s screwdriver sets)…keep these “Smith Buster” videos going…the newer generation needs them, and the old assed generation needs to remember when we actually had Calab’s hair 😂😂😂…thank y’all 👍

[@L2fish]

That old A5 looks as cosmetically worn as my dad old 65 Light 12 Browning. Still shoots like a dream

[@thor-dx8sz]

Thank you I was looking for a detailed auto 5 Strip :)

[@gebeme11]

Tank you for these videos! I just picked up what I think is a 1949 model for cheep. Now I can hopefully service it and give it new life.

[@brownells]

Our pleasure! Thank you for watching! Good luck!

[@mikestapp1124]

Does anybody have a video out there that shows how to get the extractor out of a Browning A5

[@dhmig88]

Great video, I've taken my old A5 to a gunsmith for a good cleaning like this every few years or so. I'm not brave enough to take it apart like that.

[@Tyanmax99]

My dad gave me this beauty just before he passed away. It's been in my gun safe ever since. I'm pretty confident taking apart modern firearms, but like you I may have to take this one to a gunsmith to be cleaned.

[@pistolero486]

Great video. It's not really that difficult. You just need the right tools like he says.

[@jacksigman7156]

That sums up half of all gunsmithing right there- you need the right tools.

[@Daddy53751]

Good old John Moses. Genius he was, but things like the Winchester 1894 were absolutely NOT designed for mere mortals to disassemble, but I’ve only cursed him once. Very early 1894’s, at least through 1916, we’re made with the cartridge guide screw heads on the INSIDE of the receiver! Talk about a total nightmare.

[@warrentphillips87]

Im about to clean my grandfather's shotgun and I do not want to damage it. It has some small pitting on barrel and receiver I have put a coat of some brand of CLP or brakefree I had lying around. It was in the original soft sleeve at least 40years old probably longer. Problem is I do not own a rifle with wood furniture and am unsure how to care or maintenane it without damaging the original rifle finish since I know that clp and the like will buble up the epoxy or what ever is on the wood. So what do you guys use and how do you store your old firearms with wood furniture without getting the lube on the wood stock? Someone told me to find flower or potters cloth since it's lint free for alternative to microfiber. But I cannot find it anywhere on Google and thinking I heard him wrong. I am thinking about buying a dehumidifier to put in room.

[@a.tasseff4016]

Quick Question: If I were to invest in a longer barrel for my A5 (currently 20"), what replacement parts are available or at least compatible with this shotgun? I've been reading up on the history of the Browning A5 and the Remington Model 11 and how they are nearly identical. Would another barrel from a Model 11 be compatible?

[@patholding7191]

My FN Belgium version of A5 Light has no hole to push the pin of locking block latch out. Can you please explain how I can go about how to remove the bolt block out of the receiver?

[@daviddurbin9802]

Just received a Remington 11 so will it disassemble the same way?

[@guitarbeaver9819]

Does Brownells ships parts to Canada ?

[@monikkecummings]

Hello Brownells Inc, My son-in-law asked me to google any info I could find on the removal & tightening of the stock on his Browning A-500R. The stock is loose but has no screws in the stock or in buttstock to remove it. Any info & help would be greatly appreciated! He said he brought it to a local gun shop but the owner himself was unsure about how to remove the stock beings there were no screws present or in eyes view.

[@joshualoyd3775]

What if I do not have a cut on the lower end of the ejection port for the pin to line up with?

[@salty1355]

I have one of these but it looks like the end of the barrel is damaged, is there anything that can be done about that short of replacing the whole barrel?

[@Jack-sn5xv]

Exactly which war are you referring to when you say “pre war”?

[@aparmory2354]

doesnt automatically load the next video in the series. had to search for it.

[@KowboyUSA]

JMB can be excused for this design. It was so revolutionary for it's time the fact it's a tad difficult to disassemble/reassemble is certainly excusable.

[@blabelle89]

I just recently came into possession of a 1954 year of this particular shotgun, and I was curious if it were possible to purchase replacement barrels? For instance, if I were to want to switch to a barrel with a choke, is that possible for this year?

[@Lonewlf7676]

+Primegen I looked at this video to ask the same question about my 1949 Auto-5. I'd like to be able to shoot steel shot out of it. I've seen that factory choke barrels can be reamed and threaded for screw-in chokes, but I'd rather not do that to the original barrel if possible. Something I've been seeing, but am not sure if correct, is that the A5 invector barrels will fit the Auto-5. Either that or there were Auto-5 barrels produced with the invector screw-in choke system.

[@guchypoo]

Primegen hastings makes those barrels also

[@nlmb921]

Buy a japan made a5 barrel and you can shoot steel

[@brandonbean2748]

Pardon me sir I know we don't know each other but can you do a savage model 720 12ga variant gunsmith cleaning and maintenance video? -Fellow beginner gun lover

[@PurpleTrumpet66]

I recently inherited this very gun. (Browning Magnum A5 12 gauge shotgun.) I'm a total nubie to gun ownership, so this was extremely helpful. One other question I have is whether the pad at the end of the butt is screwed on, or glued on. Mine is dry-rotted, so it does not absorb any of the kick from shooting. If it is screwed on, what size/type of screw driver to do I need to remove it to be replaced? I figured it was from before the big switch to Philip's head screws, but I can't see the screw head to be sure.

[@brownells]

The pad should be screwed on if it was installed by the factory but the screw holes are usually concealed after the screws are installed due to the nature of the rubber. Look for a small pin hole in the pad and take a long thin blade standard and probe around trying to locate the screw and see if it will engage he slot. If not, use a long shank #2 Philips screwdriver and repeat the procedure. Please be aware that since installation of the new pad will require a gunsmith to grind the new pad to fit the gun, it will be best to take the shotgun to a qualified gunsmith to remove this pad to avoid possible damage to the stock.

[@machinist_kwt]

l would to get like this stock ? Where can l find one ?

[@Milkmans_Son]

Mine is a 1951 but doesn't have the two piece carrier for some reason.

[@stevewhite2530]

My model 11 Remington does not have a notch in the ejection port to drive the pin out from the left to the right. I am trying to remove the breech block for cleaning , what is the procedure for this?

[@brownells]

1. Move breech bolt until locking block latch pin aligns with hole in left side of receiver to rear of shell stop. Then, using straight pin drift, push pin clear through breech bolt and receiver from right to left; then, withdraw pin drift slowly at same time holding down locking block latch against force of latch spring. When drift is removed, ease latch upward and remove latch and spring. 2. Swing rear end of link downward to clear operating slide, and move breech bolt forward out of receiver with the link attached. The operating slide will slide out of the breech bolt as it moves forward and the handle of the slide strikes the forward edge of the ejection opening in the receiver. Good Luck!

[@darrylcarden1851]

Is there a trick to getting the bolt retaining pin out at the 3:50 section on the vid if it just doesn’t want to budge? I’m not able to get it to come out in my ‘56 sweet sixteen.

[@nickbagot7981]

I'm having the same issue with my '57 A5. Did you find a solution?

[@elisutphin6002]

I have a 2016 model A5 and wanna put a 9 round ext tube and can't figure out how to take the spring and stuff out. Can you help?

[@ethanmartin2245]

Would the process be the same for a "Sweet Sixteen" model?

[@brownells]

Yes, the process sure is the same. :)

[@TheChadthornton]

I have one of the late 50's models from my grandfather, when I remove the cap from the magazine, the spring immediately pops out, is this normal in the older models or is there a problem?

[@brownells]

It sounds like you are missing the magazine spring retainer. You will need either the retainer for the 12 gauge or the 16/20 gauge depending on which one you have. bit.ly/2gcZcW1

[@Citizen-pg8eu]

The A5 I inherited (a 1907 serial number) holds only 3 shells, one in the chamber and two in the tube. I seem to remember hearing, as a kid, that Wisconsin limited shotguns to only 3 (perhaps to spare the ducks!). Is this common? Can it be changed?

[@zenjon7892]

I think 3 is the limit for upland birds. Not sure about changing it

[@nationsenemy]

Plugged?

[@jmiller561950]

How much disassembly is needed to remove the magazine tube to replace with new tube i have My dad's 1947 A5. Thank You

[@brownells]

Please do not attempt to remove this as damage to firearm will most likely result. It will require a qualified gunsmith to remove that and install a new one.

[@jmiller561950]

Thank You

[@vincenttschida8849]

I am having some trouble finding a recoil spring for my Rem 11 5-shot 12guage(the spring that slides over the mag tube). Will a Browning A-5 recoil spring work on a Remington 11?

[@brownells]

Unfortunately the Browning A5 recoil spring will not work with the Remington Model 11. That will need to be sourced from Ahlmans [phone].

[@vincenttschida8849]

I called Ahlmans and they didn't have any. Could a person buy 2 model 11 sportsman springs and trim one of them down then add them together to equal the length of a 5 shot spring?

[@brownells]

No, that does not work! Please do not attempt it as it may result in damage to your firearm and or injury and possible death to the shooter. Please check listing of used and obsolete parts distributors. www.brownells.com/aspx/General/Links.aspx?sourcelist=y#used

[@cesaraguilar7870]

I own a browning A5 16gauge,but im having a problem when i use high velocity shells it works fine but when i use low velocity,the first shell gets jamb, i already did the maintnace on it and it keeps getting jumb exept for the high velocity shells,is that shot gun made only for high velocity,can any body help me with that.

[@cesaraguilar7870]

I own a Browning A5 shotgun,but im having a problen with it when i use low velocity shells,when i fire the firs shot the emty shell stays jamb,it dosent let the other shell go up,but when i use high velocity it works fine,can any body help me with that,i will apreciate the help or coment,thank u.

[@joewrasman2841]

What is in the white pen are you loading 5 Brown you can see it when it's full and sometimes if it broke

[@CharlestonSharkTeeth]

What size thread is on the "action spring tube" please?

[@brownells]

Newer A-5 Browning shotguns do not use a threaded action tube as they are silver soldered. The older models tubes are .466 x 50, but they were factory discontinued 8 years ago.

[@CharlestonSharkTeeth]

I have a 1908 Remington Model 11. Does Brownells sell the .466 x 50 Tap? What is the likely hood a Gunsmith would have this size screw cutting Tap?

[@lon242]

3:00

[@doncox1451]

Once again they didn't show how to dissemble the magazine tube. I had to clean it because the shells would not feed due to a buildup of alkaline powder build up. Another video done half-assed.

[@user-ne7gg8jj3r]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏👍👍👍👍👍👍🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹💘💘💘

[@seanwelchko5256]

My stock won’t come off

[@Milkmans_Son]

How did you end up getting the stock off?

[@FuckGoogle502]

Tried to leave a comment. Absolutely not sure what I said that was offensive.

[@kevincrawford7439]

Engages safety. Alec Baldwin takes notes vigorously

[@68PointBuck]

My carrier sticks, and will not allow me to load shells with pushing the bolt release button. Any suggestions?

[@brownells]

This sounds like the carrier latch may need adjusting. Please refer to the Browning A-5 Field Service Manual for instruction, or contact your local gunsmith for assistance.