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<  16ga. General Discussion  ~  Can an A5 be TOO CLEAN?
Brewster11
PostPosted: Fri Apr 19, 2019 11:02 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 08 Feb 2009
Posts: 1301
Location: Western WA

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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tramroad28
PostPosted: Sat Apr 20, 2019 4:58 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 20 Jul 2011
Posts: 625
Location: Ohio..where ruffed grouse were

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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16'er
PostPosted: Sat Apr 20, 2019 8:26 am  Reply with quote
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Joined: 08 Oct 2006
Posts: 1393
Location: Tappahannock, Virginia

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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PRONGHORNSOUTH
PostPosted: Sat Apr 20, 2019 9:31 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 30 Dec 2012
Posts: 269
Location: Chocolate City, Florida

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?


+1 new springs.
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skeettx
PostPosted: Sat Apr 20, 2019 10:10 am  Reply with quote
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Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 9455
Location: Amarillo, Texas

And dry magazine tube

and

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/475930

Mike

good reading



https://www.browning.com/support/frequently-asked-questions/how-do-i-change-the-rings-on-my-auto-5.html


Last edited by skeettx on Sat Apr 20, 2019 11:45 am; edited 1 time in total
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Brewster11
PostPosted: Sat Apr 20, 2019 11:09 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 08 Feb 2009
Posts: 1301
Location: Western WA

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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skeettx
PostPosted: Sat Apr 20, 2019 11:45 am  Reply with quote
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Location: Amarillo, Texas

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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Pine Creek/Dave
PostPosted: Sat Apr 20, 2019 11:46 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2786
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa

Gentlemen

A little Singer Sewing Machine oil goes a long way.

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

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Beagleman
PostPosted: Sat Apr 20, 2019 4:23 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 04 Oct 2015
Posts: 280
Location: Clemson

A new action spring if the recoil is too harsh. It is amazing how well they shoot with minimal care.

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tramroad28
PostPosted: Sat Apr 20, 2019 4:29 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 20 Jul 2011
Posts: 625
Location: Ohio..where ruffed grouse were

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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tdnathens
PostPosted: Sat Apr 20, 2019 4:57 pm  Reply with quote
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Joined: 26 Oct 2007
Posts: 141
Location: Kentucky

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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fn16ga
PostPosted: Sun Apr 21, 2019 5:29 am  Reply with quote
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Joined: 09 Jan 2013
Posts: 2165
Location: Florida

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


+1 and clean the graphite out of the rails and lightly oil .
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MSM2019
PostPosted: Sun Apr 21, 2019 5:38 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 04 Mar 2019
Posts: 1819
Location: Central ND

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.

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CitoriFeather16
PostPosted: Sun Apr 21, 2019 8:18 am  Reply with quote
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Joined: 09 Dec 2005
Posts: 989
Location: Las Vegas

Unfortunately, Browning is no longer making springs for the older A-5's.
This, according to Arts Gun Shop.

Matt
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Woodduc
PostPosted: Sun Apr 21, 2019 10:52 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 30 Oct 2013
Posts: 23
Location: Va

midwestgunworks.com has the A5 recoil springs in stock

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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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