16ga.com ~ View topic - need a good, functioning 2.5" load for my A-5

Friends, I have an A- dating back to 1920. This is a Belgian model so technically it's an FN not a Browning. Anyway, I need a good functioning load, anything between 7/8 - 1 oz. Longshot is out. It just won't function the gun at reasonable pressures.

I have a boatload of once fired Federal hulls I can cut down. Likewise, I have plenty of Cheddite hulls I can cut. I need a suggested powder and wad combo. I can roll crimp of I can fold, whichever is needed. I just want a load that will cycle the gun.

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1844 Location: Central ND

Having owned an Auto-5, forget 7/8 oz. You may get one to work, but it may be a struggle. Although I am sure there are some folks that have been successful using a light load in an Auto-5.

What powder you use has nothing to do with cycling the shotgun. You have to use a load that provides enough velocity and payload to cycle the action. Chamber pressure isn't a piece of cycling an Auto-5. Recoil is.

IMHO you want to use a load at minimum 1 oz. @ 1200 FPS. 1,250 FPS would be better and setting the rings to light loads with a drop or two of light oil on the magazine tube will get it done. If you must use a 7/8 oz. load the velocity will need to be closer to 1300 FPS and maybe higher.

Hodgdon has plenty of 1 oz. loads using Universal and W572 that will get the job done easily. I would use a standard 2 3/4" 1 oz. load with the hull cut to 2 1/2" and roll crimped.

Please understand that the old Auto-5's were meant for hunting. 7/8 oz. loads in the 16 weren't an option back then. Those old guns were meant to be fed stout 1 oz. - 1 1/8 oz. and even 1 1/4 oz. loads.

Understand that light recoil and Auto-5 shotguns don't go together. It's the recoil that makes them work.

If it is an older shotgun that hasn't been apart in years, a complete disassembly, cleaning and fresh lubrication will help.

Joined: 26 Apr 2010 Posts: 3178 Location: NCWa

It's been several decades since i fired an A-5, but I recall the cycling could be adjusted by various treatments to the magazine tube and the ring on it- I forget the name. One way for the ring was for mag loads, flipped around was for target loads, but also a slick lubrication on the tube would ease the cycling for light loads.

With 1911 ACPs the cycling was adjusted by having different strength recoil springs. I wonder if anyone makes a light target load spring for the A-5?

Joined: 27 Jan 2016 Posts: 490 Location: Oswego, Kansas

I can agree with MSM on using 7/8oz loads in a A-5. I have a Rem M11 16ga that I have shot a bunch in the past and it needed 1oz loads to cycle reliably. I have used Federal Hulls cut down and roll crimped and they work well.

Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 1310 Location: Western WA

OK hold on everyone. Yes a 2 1/2” A5 can be fussy with 7/8 oz loads…IF IT HASN’T BEEN CLEANED IN A HUNDRED YEARS!!

I’m just saying that after I dissembled the cranky old filthy dirty beat up gun show 2 1/2” A5 down to the tiny pins and springs and needles, and soaked everything in solvent then wirebrushed everything until my eyes hurt from the reflection, and then scooped out huge globs of grimy black gunk jam packed inside the receiver and then hosed down everything inside and out, the gun happily gobbles up little 7/8 loads like candy and that’s with the new stiff mag spring setting on HEAVY, and the recoil STILL stings my middle finger!! It’s crying for even LIGHTER loads!

Have fun, they are AWESOME guns,
B.

POST EDIT: Seriously, the problem is the grit gets forced into the tiny cavities, holes, slots, hollows, etc. which must be thoroughly cleaned out and polished with dental picks, pipe cleaners, copper wires and the like. It takes time and patience.

Joined: 21 Mar 2019 Posts: 523 Location: Texas

Member Joined: 09 Jan 2013 Posts: 2170 Location: Florida

Joined: 30 Jul 2012 Posts: 318 Location: Central, ND

Joined: 22 May 2020 Posts: 268 Location: Ky

All mine cycle the 7/8oz universal load posted in hodgdon load data. Good load!

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1844 Location: Central ND

We can argue over the 7/8 oz. loads, but the OP is looking for what 2 1/2" loads to use.

Joined: 26 Apr 2010 Posts: 3178 Location: NCWa

Gentlemen, as usual, you managed to jog my gray cells into action. I hadn't even thought about the power adjustable feature of the A-5. I quickly tore mine down and found the resistance rings set at "heavy" I have corrected that and will be checking to see if my present loads work. However, I will be cutting some of those purple federal hulls down to 21/2" and using Universal.

I'm thinking that since I shoot mainly skeet, I'm going to load #9 shot. My other lead shot is all reclaimed 7.5 and 8, none of which is very round. Seeing as skeet is shot up close, I'm not thinking that will be much of a problem.

Thanks for your thoughts.

BTW, the gun was immaculate inside and out.

Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 1310 Location: Western WA

Thank you. I had been loading 1oz ahead of 20.5 grains of Longshot. I was concerned though, that the long burn time of longshot might not cycle the gun. then I discovered my friction ring was set up for heavy loads. I have found that with the six petal crimped Fiocchi hulls in 2.5 I cannot use the SG12 wad but have to use a Remington wad. If I roll crimp I can use the SG16. I have not tried the SG16S wad. I guess I'm going to have to give it a try.

I have Cheddite hulls (new, primed) and a gazillion of the Federal Purple hulls and about the same number of Remington Game Hulls. I have been trimming those down to 2.5".

I have Universal and International. I was given 8 lbs of 800X I'd love to use that even though I have to weigh each charge due to its crappy metering tendencies.

Member Joined: 09 Jan 2013 Posts: 2170 Location: Florida

The use of Longshot and the Remington wad will have powder migration issues in any straight walled hull except for the Remington hull.