[KC]

Hello all,

1st time poster here. I have already read several posts and this looks like a great forum...

I have a question about the carrier assembly of an A5 (belgium).
This last weekend I picked up an A5 at a fair price and was surprised to find out that the gun was manufactured in 1934 based off of the serial # and the book they had at the store.

The gun is in excellent condition (by my standards) especially the barrel. But after purchasing the gun I quickly noticed something that threw me for a loop. The carrier assembly on this gun is of the "one-piece" design. Meaning that you cannot load the magazine without pushing the button on the side of the action. Pushing it in, will then allow the carrier to release and then you can load.. All my other A5's have the two-piece carrier.

My question is, when did they go from the one-piece to the two-piece. And can I install a two-piece carrier without any signifigant modifications.

 

[Worc]

The two piece carrier is to facilitate the speed load feature. Not sure when they started with the speed load. You would have to replace the whole trigger assembly with the two piece carrier. I'm not sure if they interchange. Since you have both styles, see if they will and let us know.

 

[KC]

If I had the guts I would. But not ready to tear into it right now right before pheasant season...

I can buy the two piece carrier assembly, but worried about any other modifications that may be needed to make it work.
The guy I talked to at Midwest said it can be done but "may" need some gunsmith work... What that means I don't know...

 

[Jeff Mull]

The speed load feature was introduces in late 1953 with some old model guns shippen in early 1954.

I own both kinds and you will be surprised how quickly you will get used to the "slow load" guns. Give it some time, I think that keeping the gun original makes more sense than a little convenience. I

If I was going to upgrade an old A5 I'd put in a cross bolt safety long before I'd mess with speed loading. The old style safety will save the lives of a lot more game than the slow loading....

Jeff

 

[rer]

since I started with the 'non' speed load A5, I still load my newer A5's the older way about half the time. Since the bolt is open anyway. I guess I could see how it would seem slow if you are very used to the speed load. Probably one trip to the skeet range would get ya used to it and then you wouldn't ever worry about it again.

 

[Jeff Mull]

The real advantage to the speed loader is not the automatic chambering of the first round, (though it is really cool) it is that you don't need to hold the button down with one hand while you feed the shells with the other.

Jeff

 

[Grizer]

Hi Kc, go to MGW, Browning parts, auto -5, service & info, download field service manual. The installation of two piece shell lift is covered for older Brownings. You need complete two piece shell lift, lock block latch and spring, in some instances you will need lift spring, (kinda costly, about 130.00). It also explains how to check lock block latch operation and how to adjust it. Trigger assy is not involved except when lift spring is attached to it, then only new type spring is changed.
I also like speed load feature and have put two piece lift in model 11 remington's, takes a little machineing, not as easy as Brownings.
I need a stock for model 11 twenty, (can I slip this in?).

 

[KC]

Thank you all.

I don't know what I'm really going to do...
I do hate to mess with it's original condition..But since I have 3 other A5's with the two piece carrier, I'd like them all the same.

I did shoot the gun the other day and it performed great.

 

[Jeff Mull]

Where is the fun in having them all the same?

Viva la differance!

 

[Grizer]

Hi again & good morning.

Download the manual, lot of good info. If you have proper screwdrivers to fit Browning screw slots, (Brownell's). Can you or have you completely stripped a A-5 down? If you can, the change wont be hard. The manual gives step by step instructions, you are just swapping parts. On the ones i've changed latch block latch did not need to be adjusted. If you change lift, keep old parts, they can allways be put back just like it was.
Mr. Mull is right on safty, (safer and harder on game) complete trigger assy can be bought on E-Bay occasionly, Remington had three or four different tang lenghts, not a problem with Browning. (still need twenty stock)