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< 16ga. General Discussion ~ Can an A5 be TOO CLEAN? |
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Posted:
Fri Apr 19, 2019 11:02 pm
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Joined: 08 Feb 2009
Posts: 1322
Location: Western WA
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Our venerable 2 1/2" Browning A5 has of late experienced some indigestion with trap loads so I took it upon myself to administer a thorough cleaning. Disassembly was a challenge as some of the set screws were frozen but a friend machined a fitted bit for them and a 20V impact driver walked them out like new.
The guts of the action were totally covered with a thick black hardened sludge, as the last cleaning was evidently pre-Pearl Harbor. The bolt looked like it had been soaked in asphalt.
The pieces slowly came apart with a steady scrubbing and drenching with Liquid Wrench and eventually a gleam of steel appeared. The design is amazingly simple and elegant and all the carriers, latches, plugs, springs, etc were cleaned and lightly lubed. The action grooves received a spot of graphite grease. The parts slipped back together in textbook fashion and off to the range we went with a diet of 1 oz 7 1/2 at 1230 fps.
Then came the surprise.
Previously the gun was the easiest softest shooting firearm in the cabinet...when it worked. Now, PowKaWHACK it stung every appendage touching it. The pad of the trigger finger smarted for hours. Flipping the friction ring to the heavy load setting helped...barely...making it almost tolerable with shooting gloves. 4 rounds of trap cycled without a glitch and all the empties flung several feet away in a small pile.
I have to wonder if this is the way the A5 is supposed to operate...fast smooth loading, quick reliable cycling, but with whiplash on the hand, face and shoulder. I guess nothing comes for free. Did we miss something?
TIA
B. |
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Posted:
Sat Apr 20, 2019 4:58 am
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Joined: 20 Jul 2011
Posts: 625
Location: Ohio..where ruffed grouse were
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Perhaps something was not replaced according to Hoyle, perhaps something was broken, perhaps there was an unsuspected load issue in some fashion and/or, perhaps you missed the oft-times fallacy of the shade tree.
The later is my guess.
Hard to imagine a new Auto 5 arriving with the issues you describe and then, more selling.
Good luck with repair. |
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Posted:
Sat Apr 20, 2019 8:26 am
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Member
Joined: 08 Oct 2006
Posts: 1395
Location: Tappahannock, Virginia
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Coat all the receiver internals with a healthy layer of grease and see if that helps?? Time for a new action spring? |
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Posted:
Sat Apr 20, 2019 9:31 am
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Joined: 30 Dec 2012
Posts: 269
Location: Chocolate City, Florida
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16'er wrote: |
Coat all the receiver internals with a healthy layer of grease and see if that helps?? Time for a new action spring?
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+1 new springs. |
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Posted:
Sat Apr 20, 2019 10:10 am
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Member
Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 9472
Location: Amarillo, Texas
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Posted:
Sat Apr 20, 2019 11:09 am
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Joined: 08 Feb 2009
Posts: 1322
Location: Western WA
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Thanks for the inputs. The mag tube is clean and lightly lubed, and the rings are in proper place.
New springs might be needed. The gun feels worn and loose like an old car with bad springs and shocks going down a washboard road.
B. |
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Posted:
Sat Apr 20, 2019 11:45 am
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Member
Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 9472
Location: Amarillo, Texas
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Here is some more things that you might try
Use lighter fluid to clean off the oils on the magazine tube.
Add an additional friction ring to the rear of the spring to, in effect, make it stronger.
Mike |
_________________
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USAF RET 1971-95 |
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Posted:
Sat Apr 20, 2019 11:46 am
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Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2817
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa
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Gentlemen
A little Singer Sewing Machine oil goes a long way.
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man |
_________________ "L.C. Smith America's Best" - John Houchins
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers |
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Posted:
Sat Apr 20, 2019 4:23 pm
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Joined: 04 Oct 2015
Posts: 280
Location: Clemson
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A new action spring if the recoil is too harsh. It is amazing how well they shoot with minimal care. |
_________________ There is no substitute for winning! |
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Posted:
Sat Apr 20, 2019 4:29 pm
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Joined: 20 Jul 2011
Posts: 625
Location: Ohio..where ruffed grouse were
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Goodness, surely with all the notice on the Internet and general info out and about, all springs would have been replaced as Job #1.
Each to their own but, I would never start stacking additional recoil components to short fix an issue.
Could lead to damage to old wood, at the least.
Be careful with old souls. |
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Posted:
Sat Apr 20, 2019 4:57 pm
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Member
Joined: 26 Oct 2007
Posts: 141
Location: Kentucky
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If you have not replaced the action and recoil springs your just abusing your action for no reason. The springs that came in your gun were not designed for the loads we use today. Even if a dry magazine tube cures your problem you still need both new springs.
Tom |
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Posted:
Sun Apr 21, 2019 5:29 am
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Member
Joined: 09 Jan 2013
Posts: 2177
Location: Florida
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tdnathens wrote: |
If you have not replaced the action and recoil springs your just abusing your action for no reason. The springs that came in your gun were not designed for the loads we use today. Even if a dry magazine tube cures your problem you still need both new springs.
Tom
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+1 and clean the graphite out of the rails and lightly oil . |
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Posted:
Sun Apr 21, 2019 5:38 am
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Joined: 04 Mar 2019
Posts: 1854
Location: Central ND
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Springs are a maintenance item, they do not last forever. Even if they aren’t broken they fatigue, causing the action of any semi-auto to act a bit harshly. |
_________________ Mark...You are entitled to your own opinion. You aren't entitled to your own facts. |
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Posted:
Sun Apr 21, 2019 8:18 am
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Member
Joined: 09 Dec 2005
Posts: 989
Location: Las Vegas
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Unfortunately, Browning is no longer making springs for the older A-5's.
This, according to Arts Gun Shop.
Matt |
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Posted:
Sun Apr 21, 2019 10:52 am
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Joined: 30 Oct 2013
Posts: 23
Location: Va
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midwestgunworks.com has the A5 recoil springs in stock |
_________________ my 16's
1930 Western Arms-mod/full
1936 Remington Sportsman-imp cyl
1937 Standard A5-poly
1947 Ithaca model 37-full
1956 Remington Wingmaster-imp cyl & mod
1960 "Sweet 16" A5-mod
2015 Browning Citori "White Lightning" |
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