The Shooter’s Companion

Shotguns·makers·models·history

An independent reference on sporting shotguns, for shooters, collectors, buyers and sellers.

Browning
Auto-5

A long-recoil semi-automatic for game and wildfowl

Auto-5 · USAutomatic-5 · USA-5 · US

Drawing of a Browning Auto-5 from the right: one barrel, a squared humpback receiver with a right ejection port and bolt handle and one trigger.
Drawing: 12-gauge Light Twelve, 26 in, right side

he Auto-5 is Browning’s , used for game and wildfowl.1, 2, 3, 4 The modern A5 later kept the outline of its humpback receiver.5 The magazine cut-off sits at the front left of the receiver.2

The bolt locks into the barrel, and recoil drives both rearwards together.1 The bolt then unlocks and the barrel returns ahead of it, extracting and ejecting the spent case.6 As the bolt returns, it feeds the next .6 Light and Magnum versions arrange their friction components differently.7, 8

Specifications

12-bore · game

LockingBreech bolt locks into the barrel1, 6
LockworkRecoil recocks the as barrel and bolt travel rearwards together1, 6
EjectorsEjector in the barrel extension; ejection occurs as the barrel returns forwards1, 6
Introduced19029, 10, 11
Bore12-bore
Barrels26 in
Chokesfixed
Weight3.515 kg (7 lb 12 oz; measured, 26 in)

12, 13 Compare specifications

Specifications

ConfigurationBoreChambersBarrels, inGradeChoke systemYearsWeightMarkets
Light 1214, 1512-bore70 mm (2¾ in)Light 12US
Sweet 1614, 1516-bore70 mm (2¾ in)Sweet 16US
Light 2014, 1520-bore70 mm (2¾ in)Light 20US
Magnum 2016, 1520-bore76 mm (3 in)Magnum 20US
Stalker1712-boreStalker1992US
Game
Game12, 1312-bore26Light Twelvefixed19693.515 kg (7 lb 12 oz; measured, 26 in)
Game3, 1816-bore26Sweet Sixteenfixed19602.948 kg (6 lb 8 oz; measured, 26 in)
Wildfowl
Wildfowl2, 16, 1512-bore76 mm (3 in)Magnum 12US

Scroll for more columns.

Identify and date

On most guns the serial number sits underneath the receiver, ahead of the loading port.19 Remington-made guns of 1940–1946 carry it on the side of the receiver, with A, B or C for 16, 12 or 20 .20 The side of the barrel gives the length and designation.21 Serial numbers of 1976–1997 place a two-letter year code between the sequence and the model code.15 In Browning’s example, 01001RT151, the letters RT stand for 1976.15

WhereMarkings
Underside of the receiver, just ahead of the loading portSerial number19
Side of the receiver on Remington-made guns of 1940–1946Serial number with an A, B or C gauge prefix20
Barrel sideChamber length and choke designation21
Barrel inscriptionPlace of manufacture; Browning refers owners to the barrel22

Browning serial date code

Two letters encode the last two digits of the year of manufacture. Browning gives this key for the Citori in 1976–1997 and from 1999, the Superposed in 1976–1986 and the Auto-5 in 1976–1997. The Superposed places the type code first, as in 213RT01001. The Auto-5 example 01001RT151 and the later Citori example 01001NN131 place the serial sequence first. The Superposed and Auto-5 examples denote 1976, and the Citori example denotes 1999.23, 24, 25, 15

CodeYear digit
Z123
Y223
X323
W423
V523
T623
R723
P823
N923
M023

Before you buy

  1. Check that the friction pieces and rings are set as the instructions direct for the chamber and load; missing or misplaced parts can damage the barrel guide ring and batter the mechanism.14, 26, 27, 16
  2. Inspect the rear of the for cracks; Browning warns that squeezing it during assembly can crack it.28
  3. Match removable tubes to the barrel; Standard Invector and Invector-Plus tubes do not interchange.29
  4. Check where the barrel was made before using steel shot; Browning rules out Belgian- and American-made Auto-5 guns but allows a Belgian receiver fitted with a Japanese Invector barrel.30
  5. Read the chamber stamp before choosing cartridges; never fire a three-inch cartridge in a 2¾-inch chamber.21

History

FN began making the Auto-5 in 1902.10 Remington made it from 1940 to 1946.20 Browning added the 20-gauge model and the Magnum 12 in 1958, and the Magnum 20 in 1967.31, 32 The 16 gauge left the line in 1976, and the Sweet Sixteen returned in 1987.33, 34 The regular line ended in 1998; Final Tribute distribution began in 1999, and the model was discontinued in 2000.9, 11

DateChangeObservable feature
1958A 20-gauge model and the Magnum 12 join the range3120-gauge designation or 12-gauge three-inch chamber
1967The Magnum 20 joins the range3220-gauge three-inch configuration
197616 gauge leaves the line; production moves to Japan late in the year33, 22The barrel inscription gives the place of manufacture
1987The Sweet Sixteen returns34Sweet Sixteen designation
1992The Stalker joins the range1712-gauge Stalker designation

Related models

  • Browning A5successor

    The modern gun takes the Auto-5’s name and humpback outline.5

Sources

  1. Auto-5 Magnum, passage-2. Browning. manual · Archive
  2. Auto-5 Magnum, passage-5. Browning. manual · Archive
  3. Browning's Sweet Sixteen: Still Sweet After All These Years?, passage-3. Gun Tests. magazine · Archive
  4. Browning's Sweet Sixteen: Still Sweet After All These Years?, modern-and-original-mechanisms. Gun Tests. magazine · Archive
  5. Today's A5 — Come Hell or High Water, passage-1. Browning, 2011-09-29. maker website · Archive
  6. Auto-5 Magnum, passage-3. Browning. manual · Archive
  7. How do I change the rings on my Auto-5?, passage-3. Browning. maker website · Archive
  8. How do I change the rings on my Auto-5?, passage-8. Browning. maker website · Archive
  9. Browning chronology: Auto-5 model dates, year-1998. Browning. maker website · Archive
  10. Auto-5 Semi-Automatic Shotgun: dating guidance, production-and-final-tribute. Browning. maker website · Archive
  11. Auto-5 Semi-Automatic Shotgun: dating guidance, final-distribution. Browning. maker website · Archive
  12. Browning's Sweet Sixteen: Still Sweet After All These Years?, passage-1. Gun Tests. magazine · Archive
  13. Browning's Sweet Sixteen: Still Sweet After All These Years?, passage-7. Gun Tests. magazine · Archive
  14. How do I change the rings on my Auto-5?, passage-2. Browning. maker website · Archive
  15. Auto-5 Semi-Automatic Shotgun: dating guidance, letter-key-and-example. Browning. maker website · Archive
  16. How do I change the rings on my Auto-5?, passage-7. Browning. maker website · Archive
  17. Browning chronology: Auto-5 model dates, year-1992. Browning. maker website · Archive
  18. Browning's Sweet Sixteen: Still Sweet After All These Years?, passage-4. Gun Tests. magazine · Archive
  19. Auto-5 Magnum, passage-1. Browning. manual · Archive
  20. Auto-5 Semi-Automatic Shotgun: dating guidance, remington. Browning. maker website · Archive
  21. Auto-5 Magnum, chamber-marking. Browning. manual · Archive
  22. Where are Browning firearms manufactured?, barrel-inscriptions. Browning. maker website · Archive
  23. Citori Over/Under Shotgun: dating guidance, letter-key-and-scope. Browning. maker website · Archive
  24. Citori Over/Under Shotgun: dating guidance, later-format-and-example. Browning. maker website · Archive
  25. Superposed Over/Under Shotgun: dating guidance, letter-key-and-layout. Browning. maker website · Archive
  26. How do I change the rings on my Auto-5?, passage-4. Browning. maker website · Archive
  27. How do I change the rings on my Auto-5?, passage-5. Browning. maker website · Archive
  28. Auto-5 Magnum, passage-4. Browning. manual · Archive
  29. Auto-5 Magnum, passage-9. Browning. manual · Archive
  30. Browning steel-shot FAQ — Auto-5 exclusions and replacement barrels, recommendation. Browning. maker website · Archive
  31. Browning chronology: Auto-5 model dates, year-1958. Browning. maker website · Archive
  32. Browning chronology: Auto-5 model dates, year-1967. Browning. maker website · Archive
  33. Browning chronology: Auto-5 model dates, year-1976. Browning. maker website · Archive
  34. Browning chronology: Auto-5 model dates, year-1987. Browning. maker website · Archive

Revised