A-5 20 Magnumum

[CraigThompson]

I picked up a circa 1969 Browning A-5 20 gauge Magnum from a friend about six months ago . Decided today to pattern factory #2 buck at 25 yards . Gun has an IC barrel so I wasn’t expecting much . Only shot it twice and offhand not from the bags .

[CraigThompson]

I need to find Belgian barrels for this thing in modified and or full . As I have two flats of 20 gauge 3” #5’s for pheasant shoots . And it looks like I’m not gonna be getting a VH/VHE 20 with 2 7/8” chambers and 30 or 32 inch barrels .

[Randy G Roberts]

I need to find Belgian barrels for this thing in modified and or full . As I have two flats of 20 gauge 3” #5’s for pheasant shoots . And it looks like I’m not gonna be getting a VH/VHE 20 with 2 7/8” chambers and 30 or 32 inch barrels .

That can be had but you left out the 1 frame part of the configuration which is making it challenging. I assume you still require a 1 frame? I've been looking for you but I'm a failure so far but I haven't given up. I said the same thing about a 34" 20 and then bingo :)

[CraigThompson]

That can be had but you left out the 1 frame part of the configuration which is making it challenging. I assume you still require a 1 frame? I've been looking for you but I'm a failure so far but I haven't given up. I said the same thing about a 34" 20 and then bingo :)

You've got a 1 frame already with 2 7/8" chambers correct ? Not trying to get yours just asking .

Yes sir a 1 frame preferrably 32" would make it more to my liking and a straight grip lol's !

Tell you the truth I could almost be talked into taking a 20 gauge 1 frame 32 inch with 2 7/8" chambers into the pigeon ring . Next year I may try the 16 gauge 2 frame 32 inch gun in the ring .

[Randy G Roberts]

You've got a 1 frame already with 2 7/8" chambers correct ? Not trying to get yours just asking ..

Yes but unfortunately there are no records available for this gun. Surprisingly the 34" 20 on a 1 frame letters with 2 5/8" chambers for both barrel sets. now that would have been a nice magnum configuration.

[CraigThompson]

Yes but unfortunately there are no records available for this gun. Surprisingly the 34" 20 on a 1 frame letters with 2 5/8" chambers for both barrel sets. now that would have been a nice magnum configuration.

So you have a pair of 34" a Parker and the Fox :cool:

I think I got a 28" 20 gauge 3" full choke Belgium A-5 barrel a couple minutes ago I'm playing email/voicemail tag with the gentleman at the moment .

[CraigThompson]

I picked up a 28” A-5 20 magnum full choke barrel from a Mr.Bowman on GunsInternational last week and it arrived here Monday . Just got around to trying it today on my pattern boxes with the same Federal copper plated #2 buckshot . Twenty five yards again and 11 of the 18 pellets hit both boxes . Not great but not horrendous either .

[CraigThompson]

I suppose I need to shoot a couple patterns at 40 yards with the Browning 20 gauge 3” loaded with #5’s and see how they do out of the full choke barrel .

[Joe Dreisch]

Your gun should accept a Japanese Invector choked barrel, I believe. Then you could tweak away until you find what it likes.

[CraigThompson]

Your gun should accept a Japanese Invector choked barrel, I believe. Then you could tweak away until you find what it likes.

I’m kinda anti Jap Browning . Not disagreeing as you have a valid point . Just I like it better if it says made in Belgium . The IC barrel oughtta be plenty good enough for buckshot . The full choke barrel oughtta be fine for a tower shoot . I have several boxes of Federal 3” TrueBall coming and I’ll try a two shot groups from both barrels .

[charlie cleveland]

that should make a fine deer gun and with 5 shots....I wonder what a 3 inch buckshot will do...charlie

[CraigThompson]

that should make a fine deer gun and with 5 shots....I wonder what a 3 inch buckshot will do...charlie

I’ve never shot at a deer with 20 gauge buck , however we may find out soon . These 20 3” are loaded with #2 . I have killed a deer with handloaded #2 in a 2 7/8” 10 gauge and wasn’t overly impressed but I didn’t take a broadside shot either actually shot the buck bedded on the ground .

[CraigThompson]

Tried two different slugs in both the IC barrel and the full barrel all at 25 yards . First the two from the full choke then the two from the IC barrel .

[Joe Dreisch]

Craig, Try Brenneke slugs. They were very accurate in my old 12 gauge Auto 5. They also shot well out of my Jap 20 gauge Buck Special (smooth bore rifle sighted) barrel.

[CraigThompson]

Craig, Try Brenneke slugs. They were very accurate in my old 12 gauge Auto 5. They also shot well out of my Jap 20 gauge Buck Special (smooth bore rifle sighted) barrel.

I think I’ve got Brenneke 20’s . Know I have them for the 12 , 16 and 28 . The WIN 2 3/4” slugs I can work with . The Federal 3” I should shoot off the bags rather than offhand I suspect part of that is me not holding the gun well .

[charlie cleveland]

them 3 inch slugs are killers on both ends....charlie

[CraigThompson]

them 3 inch slugs are killers on both ends....charlie

Not bad I thought . Now the Hastings 20 gauge 3 1/2” slug thumps you a pretty good lick even in those heavy damn H&R single barrels .

[CraigThompson]

I was looking for Brenneke slugs which I found as well as some other stuff. Well I knew I had 2 3/4” #3 buck but I’d forgotten I had two different brands of 20 gauge #1 buck . Might try them Sunday after church let’s out across the road .

[CraigThompson]

Don’t think I’ll fool with the full choke barrel this time . Although it might do better with the Brenneke slugs .

[CraigThompson]

Took the 20 Mag back out and tried the Brenneke slugs and each of the #1 and #3 buck from the IC barrel at 25 yards .

[Joe Dreisch]

Unless I'm missing something, the buckshot seems unpredictable. The Brenneke slugs may bring home the bacon, however. Were you shooting from a rest or offhand?

[CraigThompson]

Unless I'm missing something, the buckshot seems unpredictable. The Brenneke slugs may bring home the bacon, however. Were you shooting from a rest or offhand?

The Federal 3” #2 copper plated will work , I can make the WIN 2 3/4” slugs work and yes the Brenneke will work . Those euro #1 buck loads have never patterned worth a darn in anything . I wanna try the Federal 3” slugs again from a rest as I’m not sure my offhand was that precise . I shot today off an MTM AR rest that was sitting on the seat of my ATV . When I’m perched in a tree I pretty much always shoot from a rest .

[CraigThompson]

Well good or bad I was perusing EBAY last night and found a A-5 20 MAG slug barrel rifle sights etc . So I made the guy an offer that I thought reasonable for him and myself , and wouldn't ya know he accepted . So I should have a Belgium A-5 20 3" slug barrel in my hands sometime next week .

[Joe Dreisch]

If yours shoots anything like mine did, you have Found your new deer gun of choice!! Congratulations!

[CraigThompson]

If yours shoots anything like mine did, you have Found your new deer gun of choice!! Congratulations!

I've got an A-5 Mag 12 also with uh several barrels of which one is a Belgium rifle sight slug barrel .

My deer hunting is a little on the absurd side . I'm not required to use a shotgun and generally when I sit a tree I carry a rifle and a shotgun . The shotgun thing is more of a "I like using my buck/slug loads" but rarely if ever do I shoot at a deer over thirty yards with a smoothbore shotgun . I do however have a Savage 220 bolt action fully rifled 20 gauge and a Hastings fully rifled barrel to fit the A-5 12 Mag . I used to use the Savage on the Blackwater NWR in Dorchester County MD but I gave up hunting there a few years back . The Hastings barrel hasn't made it anywhere except the range to put holes in paper .

[CraigThompson]

The A-5 20 Mag slug barrel arrived today after a couple hiccups on the part of the USPS (seems to be the norm now). I was a little worried about this barrel after I bought it as the pictures weren’t the best , but the barrel far surpassed my expectations ! And yes it’ll be test fired this weekend . Matter of fact I ordered five boxes of Brenneke 2 3/4” to shoot in it today .

[Joe Dreisch]

The A-5 20 Mag slug barrel arrived today after a couple hiccups on the part of the USPS (seems to be the norm now). I was a little worried about this barrel after I bought it as the pictures weren’t the best , but the barrel far surpassed my expectations ! And yes it’ll be test fired this weekend . Matter of fact I ordered five boxes of Brenneke 2 3/4” to shoot in it today .

Now I'm getting excited!!! Do post your results!

[CraigThompson]

Now I'm getting excited!!! Do post your results!

After those pics I scrutinized the barrel a bit more and got out a piece of 000 steel wool and a bottle of Hoppe's and lightly cleaned the outside . I a bit of crud in a few spots you wouldn't initially see . Also let the buffing wheel lightly touch some discoloration on the unblued part of the barrel that goes inside the reciever . I suppose before I give up chasing the Man Eating Virginia Whitetail I need to lay the smack down on one with a slug from the A-5 20 Mag and possibly another from the A-5 12 Mag . Just so happens both are in my possesion as we speak . Slug barrels for both I might add !

[Mike Franzen]

You’ve got a nice set up!

[CraigThompson]

You’ve got a nice set up!

I’m not the consummate professional at making money , but I’m definitely a pro at wasting money ! Guns , steam engines , antiques , cars , women and last but not least booze :rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf:

[CraigThompson]

Tried the slug barrel with two slugs two shots each and a single Brenneke as I only had three left before firing the one and a load of Federal 3” #2 buck . First a pair of Winchester 2 3/4” Foster slugs , second a pair of the Federal 3” Tru-Balls , third a single 2 3/4” Brenneke (looks like two but that slug knocked the tape off the hole beside it and lastly a very poor pattern of Federal 3” #2 buck .

[CraigThompson]

Shot the slug barrel the other day with a pair of the Brenneke 2 3/4” slugs at about 32 or 33 yards .

[charlie cleveland]

them brenneke slugs shot well....I ve got to try out my brpwning a 5 slug barrel hope it shoots as good as your gun does...I ve been looking for a factory beligum made 20 ga slug barrel I found some but were more than I wanted to pay...one was a new one in the box at 1000 price tag the other barrel was used at 700....charlie

[Ken Burgess]

My 12 A-5 liked Remington slugs. It shot very good groups.

[CraigThompson]

My 12 A-5 liked Remington slugs. It shot very good groups.

I’ve got an A-5 12 MAG also with a Belgium slug barrel and a Hastings rifled slug barrel . It shoots nicely but would do a hell of a lot better at 100 yards with a scope .

[CraigThompson]

them brenneke slugs shot well....I ve got to try out my brpwning a 5 slug barrel hope it shoots as good as your gun does...I ve been looking for a factory beligum made 20 ga slug barrel I found some but were more than I wanted to pay...one was a new one in the box at 1000 price tag the other barrel was used at 700....charlie

I screw with this slug/buckshot stuff far more than any sane individual needs to :whistle:

[charlie cleveland]

I also like fooling around with loads that I need to leave alone...I believe I have more fun now fooling with these loads than I do hunting...one things for sure I aint had to skin none of these dr pepper cans I shoot or any of those paper plates...charlie