What! No Browning A5 in 20ga?

Japhy

Recently I gave away 2 vintage shotguns both 12s. They went to my nephews and are now in good homes. 

Thought was to go with a new A5 20ga. To my horror Browning stopped making the A5 in 20

I want a light auto in 20. 26in barrel improved, rib, and I love walnut. Am I just out of luck?

GunNut

A lot of REALLY nice used A5s out there!  Lots of folks selling them to buy Glocks and ARs.

Elk creek

GunNut said:

A lot of REALLY nice used A5s out there!  Lots of folks selling them to buy Glocks and ARs.

This! 

Jayhawker

Japhy said:

Recently I gave away 2 vintage shotguns both 12s. They went to my nephews and are now in good homes. 

Thought was to go with a new A5 20ga. To my horror Browning stopped making the A5 in 20

I want a light auto in 20. 26in barrel improved, rib, and I love walnut. Am I just out of luck?

You're really out of luck since Browning discontinued the A5 in 1999...The only way you're going to find one in any gauge is the used market

Japhy

https://www.browning.com/products/firearms/shotguns/a5/current.html

A5s are still here just no 20s 12 and 16 only

I dont mind buying used, just havent for a very long time and then only locally where I could see and hold the merchandise before buying.

GunNut

Japhy said:

https://www.browning.com/products/firearms/shotguns/a5/current.html

A5s are still here just no 20s 12 and 16 only

I dont mind buying used, just havent for a very long time and then only locally where I could see and hold the merchandise before buying.

I’ve always had great luck on Gunbroker as long as I’m patient and willing to look for the right deal.  Look for sellers with high numbers of A+ transactions and you’ll be fine.  You’ll find the guns are usually described very accurately and mechanically sound usually with lots of pictures even ones showing any flaws in finish.  I’ve never gotten burned.

Bigslug

Japhy said:

I want a light auto in 20. 26in barrel improved, rib, and I love walnut. Am I just out of luck?

Here ya go, Sport!

https://www.benelliusa.com/shotguns/montefeltro-shotguns?eid=99

The 20 gauge Montefeltros always seemed to me like they were made of helium and spiderwebs.  SLICK handling shotguns.

Japhy

@Bigslug GunNut
Thanks for the input and advise. The Benelli looks nice. recoil operated a big plus

 I gave away a 1960s Browning (Belgium) the duck and turkey gun and a Franchi 1970s vintage the quail and pheasant gun

At under $1200 the Benelli might fit the bill. I’ll try to find one and check the fit. and check Gunbrokers also for an A5 which I know fits. 

breamfisher

That A5 you linked and the classic Auto 5 aren't the same animal.  

Bigslug

breamfisher said:

That A5 you linked and the classic Auto 5 aren't the same animal.  

Bream is very correct on this, and your link had me MASSIVELY puzzled. . .

A NEW 16 gauge????  Wasn't that round killed off by the same meteor that took out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago? They might as well open up a shop to sell sand in Western Libya for all the market appeal that will have.

Japhy

Looks to me like the differences between the current A5 and the Auto 5 are no reciprocating barrel, no swapping friction rings, shorter operating stroke all a plus to me.  I don’t know if the current A5 is any more mechanically complex or if Browning went to an aluminum receiver?  The Franchi used an aluminum receiver with light loads that was never an issue and the weight savings was significant.

I shoot rifles and shotguns left so a reversible safety or left hand safety is required. That doesn't seem to be an issue with any current models Ive seen.  I also hope Browning didn't abandon the speed load feature claimed to be dangerous, but was never an issue for me.

Uncle Fester

The new A5 is an entirely different design from the Auto-5.  In the Auto-5, the hump was required because the barrel moved as part of long recoil design.

The current A5 has the hump for cosmetic reasons.  The new inertial system doesn’t need it.  On the positive side, the new system is very reliable if it does kick more than a gas system.  I like mine.

I assume there is no 20 gauge because it would mean scaling everything down.  Browning has that space well covered by other options. 

snake284

Well eveything that I could add here as to your question has been added. Yep the current one is a different animal than the classic.

About 4 years ago I stumbled on a classic Sweet 16 in a pawn shop. I bought it strictly for its aesthetic value to me. But I found I liked shooting it. I remembered as a kid my great uncle had one and he was hell on quail with it. I paid $400 for it and probably would have given $500 but only because of sentimental value. But like I said the thing shoots remarkably well and the recoil is quite manageable if I remember to put the ring in the right position.

I do plan on getting me a Mech reloader in 16 ga. and find some hulls. It's not made for steel shot and I have water fowl hunting covered with a couple of 12s. I just want it for a dove gun and for shooting clay birds.

I also have a model 12 Winchester which also is not conducive to using with steel shot. Both of these guns are just special to me and I won't be taking them after ducks.