Belgian Browning Light 12

[DAdams]

I was in the man cave yesterday cleaning some long iron, reminiscing, listening to some Neil Young and Crazy Horse.

I was living in Idaho during the mid 70s. Lots of bird hunting going on and I mean LOTs. The upland game hunting in Michigan had about dried up by then (remember pheasants in SW MI in the heyday?) When I came back to visit I would scour the newspaper (Kalamazoo Gazette) and buy Brownings at some decent prices; take them back to Idaho and make some money. Those were my "gun running days"

This is the only one I kept. A light 12. The last one I sold was a Sweet 16 :banghead: I wanted to keep a 20, 16 and 12, but back in those days it was too much $$ to invest and keep, (my wife said ). I kept a 12.

I'm guess this is about 40 years old. I didn't hunt with it too much as I think I knew even back then I should keep it pretty.

My 870 Wingmaster in 20 ga, 3 inch full choke took care of about anything we hunted with the exception of geese and allowed me to put the Browning away.

 

[oneounceload]

Looks brand new! Very nice - now go shoot it

 

[Got_Lead?]

Beautiful classic. They dont make em like that any more. I Just cant get into the Mossberg 500's.

I've got a model 11, that I treasure. When I found out how old it was, (built in 1911) I treated it much more reverently. I used to drag it all over creation with a rope tied around the stock and barrel for a sling! 100 years young and still going strong.

 

[welldoya]

Those old A-5s are absolutely classic. Beautiful lines.
I've got a Light 12 that I bought back in the 80s that I've used for birds quite a bit and a Mag 12 that I've never shot.
Browning is coming back out with the A-5 but if you look at the pics on their website, it's in name only. Kind of like the new GTO has no real connection to the 60s GTO. They are just hoping to capitalize on the name.
What I don't understand is why do manufacturers feel like they have to "improve" over the old model ? If everybody wants the old model, what's to improve ?

 

[wgp]

I bought my first A5 (Light 20, Japanese) when I noticed that guys I would hunt with, who could afford any gun, were frequently shooting well-worn A5s. Later I picked up a Belgian Light 12. I bought the last new A5 20 I saw in a store, for my son.

They aren't my favorite shotgun these days but they are not for sale. They're great guns -- hearing the bolt lock up on these all-steel guns is still a great sound.

 

[sedona]

I have a light 20 that i quail hunted with for years.Its my favorite shotgun,the montefeltro and franchi AL 48 aren't too far down the line.

 

[sedona]

On the subject of A-5s, a friends Dad bought one in 1956 for $140.00.He shot 100 shells through it, cleaned it then put it away.

 

[RNB65]

That's a beauty! My dad has a Light 12 he bought around 1960. Sadly, he had a Polychoke installed on it and those things are butt ugly. Otherwise, it's in good shape and had never been fired much. I love old Brownings.
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[PabloJ]

'Light' Auto-5 is a myth. If you want inexpensive light one seek out 12ga Savage 725? with light weight plain and alloy receiver barrel. One in top shape goes for about $250.