browning Auto 5 barrel???
i have a 1972 browning auto 5 30" vent rib full choke shotgun. i have shot less than a box of shells thru this gun and it in excellent condition to say the least. i want to get it out and start using it, probably with some steel shot. it seems i have three options. 1. have the original barrel modified to use choke tubes. 2. buy a japanese barrel with invector tubes 3. buy a hastings barrel with tubes. the second two options will cost about the same. what say you???
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I'd buy a non-toxic shot other than steel, like heavi shot or bismuth, which is fine to shoot out of a full barrel.
I would not alter the original barrel.0 -
As above - if you have to. ,, use another barrel but do not alter yours , imo 0 -
I suggest a Browning Jap barrel.
Like almost everything Browning they tend to hold their price or increase over time.
I have a Jap Barrel for my Belgium Auto 5 Mag 12, a number of spare barrels(including a Jap barrel) for my Belgium Auto 5 Mag 20, and just today bought a Jap barrel for my Belgium Light 20 Auto 5.
I am invited from time to time to a fancy hunt club for pheasants and they require and supply steel shot.
I truly enjoy hunting with my old Auto 5's.....
Good luck,
Ed0 -
if you shoot steel shot in your 72 browning bbl, youll ruin it.
order a hastings bbl and ask if its chrome lined.0 -
Buy another barrel or use another shotgun 0 -
another vote for a chrome lined replacement barrel with tubes..no need in using non-toxic shot if the barrel is chromed. modern steel shot/wad set-up is safe for modern barrels...hastings or possibly Mossberg makes a lot of replacement barrels for various guns 0 -
I went down that road once upon a millenium. Steel shot was an aggravation because it often doesn't have enough oomph to reliably cycle the action if you set the rings to 3" (or heavy loads). Well, if you set them for "light" loads it will hammer you and the gun, but it will cycle. Each gun is different, it sounds as though your gun may not even be "broke in" and still tight, thus your mileage may vary.
Kent is now making a Bismuth load, which won't harm the barrel but will cycle just fine, and will give the wallop of lead. Macks Prairie Wings has the best price right now, www.mackspw.com
I've tried one box of the new Kent and shot several 10 round boxes of the original Bismuth, both good stuff.
Supposedly Bossman ammo is making a good Bismuth, and you can get #6's and 2 3/4" and other unique loads. (only available from their website) I've not tried their ammo yet.
Ammo is far easier and cheaper to tinker with than going the barrel route.0 -
If you reload, or are interested in starting, give this stuff a try.
https://www.ballisticproducts.com/ITX-Original-10-Shot-1-lb-Trial-Size/productinfo/TXS/
I seldom need non-tox and just by the trial size and load the few I cartridges I might need. Absolutely love that shot.0
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