Hey Guys. I recently received a Browning Auto 5 20 gauge Magnum for a wedding present from the future MIL. I just wanted to see what you guys thought on this gun as I have ever only owned Benelli, Berretta, and Remingtons before.

I also want to try and find the age and hopefully decode the serial number but have not had much luck on that. The serial # is 71X #####. I think the 71 might indicate the year but not certain. Thanks for any help or opinions you can provide.

http://www.browning.com/customerservice/dategun/detail.asp?id=13

And great gun ...

Those old humpbacks are awesome guns. I have two of the Remington versions (Model 11 Sportsmen) in 12 and 20 gauge, and they are fun to shoot. Recoil really isn't bad (even on the 12) because the action absorbs a lot of it.

You should have yourself a solid semi auto shotgun there.

Does the future wife have any sisters?

Ha! No sisters, but there are a few more guns in the family! Hopefully some of those join the new family too...

Also, does anyone know what the X means in the serial number above? From the link provided, there doesn't seem to be an 'X' code for this year model?

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Also, does anyone know what the X means in the serial number above? From the link provided, there doesn't seem to be an 'X' code for this year model?

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You are correct - it was made in 1971. I think the 'X' means it is a Magnum Twenty - I know 'Z' was the Light Twenty (similar to the 'M' and 'G' for 12 gauges listed on the Browning website above).

Edit to add: I shoot the heck out of my 1976 A5 Light Twelve, and I'd LOVE that 20 - you've got a heck of a piece of history there. I originally opened this thread really hoping you were selling.

[This message has been edited by Ark03 (edited 2/25/2013 11:49a).]

Ark

Thanks for the info there. Glad to know that it is such a great gun and I totally plan to shoot it a lot. Sorry, I won't be selling it {would definitely lose the future wife}

And thanks to everyone else who has posted. If anyone else has any experience with these guns, I would love to hear about it. Excited to try it out.

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If anyone else has any experience with these guns, I would love to hear about it.

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Biggest mistake newbies to the A5 make is the friction ring setting - you screw this up and your shotgun won't eject well. Go here for the manual for the Magnum Twenty: http://stevespages.com/pdf/browning_auto5mag.pdf - see page 9 for the settings (thanks to Notafraid for the link to every gun manual in the world on his OB post).

Actually, many veteran shooters make that error as well - I wouldn't be surprised if 9 out of 10 A5's are assembled incorrectly.

Belguin or Jap A-5?

Belgium for sure!

One more question. The gun is marked for a 3" shell but can these guns normally shoot a 2 3/4" or should I stick to the 3? Not sure if it is historically a problem with this one.

It's a 12 gauge...btw.

nope. It is a 20 gauge

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One more question. The gun is marked for a 3" shell but can these guns normally shoot a 2 3/4" or should I stick to the 3? Not sure if it is historically a problem with this one.

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You can shoot 2-3/4" all day long in it. Just make sure you visit the website above and ensure the friction ring is in the proper configuration for the load you are shooting.

I would treat all high brass, regardless of length, the same with respect to how you set up the friction ring. Same with light/skeet/target loads in both sizes. If you notice there are issues with ejection, swap the configuration and see how it works.

I've personally never had an issue with different loads operating or not operating on my 20 gauge, but that gun was built in 1918 or so and has had about a half million rounds pushed through it, so it's well broken in. My 12 gauge didn't have any issues with some skeet loads, but I had it set up specifically for the lighter recoiling loads.

I have 3 of the Belgian guns. Love them. I have 2 12s and 1 20. They are choked very tight so I'd pattern test your him to see how it shoots.

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They are choked very tight so I'd pattern test your him to see how it shoots.

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If I recall correctly, there should be stars or symbols on the barrel (near where it says "3 inch") that will tell you what size the barrel is.

I'll have to look it up for other combinations but I know two stars is modified.

Not sure on the Brownings, but on the Remingtons the barrel choke is stamped near the chamber on the underside of the barrel. You need to remove the forearm to find it.

Both of mine are full chokes, and reaching out to 60 yards with the 20 gauge isn't unheard of. In fact, a childhood friend of my grandfather downed a goose with it at 90 yards (+/-) - a single pellet hit the elbow in the wing. Lucky as hell on the shot.

I was young and dumb once and fired a slug through it - and my shoulder paid the price. The poster above that mentioned tight chokes is 100% correct.