[spitfire_er]

I was wondering if anyone could help me out here. I have a Browning A-5 16 Gauge that was originally a (16-65) or 2 9/16 chamber. Then someone rechamberd it, and made the barrel accept the 2 3/4 in shells as the 2 3/4 stamp on the side. Now It was shooting the 3/4's fine, until it wouldn't fire them anymore. Took a closer look at it and the barrel was set forward whenever the conversion was done to allow for the ejection of the longer shells. I ended up putting a bushing back in the forearm and set the barrel back to it's proper position.

Only problem... it won't eject.

Does anyone know if they did some smithing on these to make them work properly back in the day. I'm at a loss here. I searched the internet but seems the consensus is to hang it on the wall or find some none existant 9/16" shells, or hand load, or single shot.

It's my uncles gun so I have been trying to get it working properly for him.

 

[jjk308 In Memoriam RIP]

My Gun Digest Book of Shotgun Gunsmithing, 1983, has an article on Modernizing the Older Sixteen. It has the full A5 conversion process.

It does not include "setting the barrel forward"
Beyond reaming the chamber (it must be smooth, polished, not rough) you should:
grind a slope on the open end of the barrel extension so the fired shell doesn't hang up
replace the fixed ejector with a sliding type by opening up the ejector recess - Browning may have conversion type ejectors, modern "Sweet 16" ones wont fit.
lengthen the ejector port
take 3/32 in. off the inner rear section of the breech bolt/ action spring link
cut the rear shoulder of the shell carrier back 1/16 in for the longer shell, maintaining its original lines
cut the front of the shell stop back by 3/32 in.
cut the forward ledge inside the wooden forearm forward by 3/32 in. - you have to make a tool from a piece of pipe for this.
replace the recoil spring with a modern one if the old one is too weak

And first try it with a heavy recoil setting. Make sure the magazine tube is smooth and DO NOT OVER OIL

A lot of conversions ignored some or most of the provisions for functioning with longer shells and they may work at first, most of the time, but will break down.

 

[spitfire_er]

Thanks a bunch, I'll have to run through your list and see if I can get it working properly!

 

[jjk308 In Memoriam RIP]

You really need the full Gun Digest Shotgun gunsmithing article. used online booksellers should have it pretty cheap.

 

[spitfire_er]

I'm going out to my fiancee's grandfathers place tomorrow, he's been a gunsmith for 50+ years, I'm sure he has it!

 

[spitfire_er]

Well, Thanks again, I took it out today and we worked on it for a couple hours taking minimal "shaves" out numerous times and test firing. After about 6 tries we got everything down to absolute minimums to just allow the 2 3/4" shell to function properly in this shotgun. Fired a couple different manufactures shells throught it to make sure they all worked.

Glad I got this classic 80 year old shotgun fixed, and it should last another 80 years!

 

[wvcruffler]

Would anyone happen to have a reprint of this article? I have an early FN A5 in 16 ga. 2 9/16 and I would really like to be able to use 2 3/4

 

[Clyde]

Would anyone happen to have a reprint of this article? I have an early FN A5 in 16 ga. 2 9/16 and I would really like to be able to use 2 3/4

I would suggest just buying the book - shouldn't be that hard (or expensive) to find.

 

[jjk308 In Memoriam RIP]

http://webferret.search.com/click?w...bbs/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=80166&start=0,,msn,1

This post has a method with pics. Check against the list of steps I posted from the Gunsmithing article first.