I recently inherited my grandfather's, then my father's, now mine, Browning A5 Light 12. It is Belgian made in 1951. 90% condition on blueing and wood. I installed new action spring, recoil spring, and magazine spring and it runs great. Engravings are sharp. I would of love for this to be my dove gun that leaves the safe twice a year under ideal conditions, the only problem is it has a fixed full choke. Should I "molest" this thing and have it reamed to modified or IC or just leave it be. I will never sell it so value doesn't matter, but I also don't want to screw up some American history and a family heirloom either.
My dad had one and I had a little later made one. You can buy an aftermarket barrel for hunting and keep the original. Dad did that and went with a slightly shorter barrel for upland shooting. His Light 12 had the blueing worn off and the metal has so much mickel in it, it almost looked like chrome. Great shotguns for upland and dove hunting.
I don't normally tell people to mess with heirlooms but the gun was made and bought for hunting. If you'll enjoy it more after a little modification, do it. You have no plans to get rid of it and it's value is all sentimental to you. Tough choice you got there. Sent from my moto g power (2022) using Tapatalk
Seams like a no brainer to ream it out so you can use and enjoy it. Realistically it just adds to the story. You'll probably always be able to buy a nice unmolested one if that's the goal. Personally, if you can't use it.... what's the point of owning it? (Obviously sentimental reasons in this case)
I would opt for an additional barrel, that would have swap-able choke tubes. Reaming those old barrels out can be quite the chore. I also have one that was my dad's ( 12ga 2.75" 30" no rib. full choke), I also had a 16 Ga. unit but sold it years ago (had a poly choke on it). Back in the day the Auto 5 was the unit choice through out the family. When the gov. started mandating the steel shot for waterfowl the initial 2.75" shells were pretty dismal so other more steel shot friendly units were employed capable of 3" and 3.5" 12ga. Family farms were right on or adjacent to Big Muskego lake WI. Course those Auto 5's were/are heavy being all steel construction, if pounding around after upland game all day. I could write a novel about all the escapades of the Auto5 and that area in the 50's-70's.
Like others have said, I would look for another barrel either with changeable chokes, or the fixed choke you want. Personally, no way would I modify it, especially due to the family history, and due to what gun it is. If it was some random run of the mill gun you'd picked up, then maybe...
Steel shot duck hunting led me to buy an A500 to run the longer shells. I still prefer the Auto 5 for quail and pheasant hunting. If I'm going to hunt in the brush or otherwise tight shooting, I'll pull out the Sweet 16. Love those old Brownings! What all have you hunted with your Auto 5's?
I pulled off a lucky? shot with my 16 auto 5 60+ yards on a pheasant going full bore with my 2 brits in full pursuit. Witnessed by my 3 hunting mates, sadly all 3 have left to the ultimate hunting grounds, along with that brace of Brits, circa 80's.
A rich high school friend's father had a whole cabinet of Belgiums. He was an avid waterfowler in the early 80s. 3 12ga, 3 16ga and a couple 20s. He also had an older Hi-Power pistol and a 7mm auto Mag from Belgium. Unknown what happened to them all. I got to fondle a few of them and got to shoot the 7mm.
