Browning A5 Improved Modified Barrel (IM)?

[XxWINxX94]

As you probably know, chokes are fixed for these older A5s, and to switch them you need a different barrel. Most of the Belgian and Japanese barrels are interchangeable, some require minor fitting. I have a mid 1950s A5 that I use all the time, and love. I have the original full choke barrel and have since acquired a modified choke barrel. The chokes on each barrel were marked using the following:

* designates full choke (F).
*- designates improved modified choke (IM).
** designates modified choke (M).
**- designates improved cylinder choke (IC).
**$ designates skeet (SK).
*** designates cylinder bore (CYL).

I have personally never encountered a barrel (or a complete gun) in person or on the internet with an improved modified (IM, marked *-) choke, and am wondering if these are extremely rare, maybe not produced certain years or ranges of years, etc.

I would be interested in hearing from anyone who owns, or has shot an A5 with an improved modified (IM)(*-), or knows anything regarding the production numbers or rarity of IM barrels. I would be especially interested if anyone happens to have one for sale, but that sounds like wishful thinking if they are as rare as they appear to be.

 

[Rudolph31]

I collect Auto-5’s, and I’ve never seen an IM barrel. Most of the guns seem to have Full or a Modified chokes. Cylinder is uncommon, as are Skeet and even IC.

It could be that an IM barrel was a special order. For those who measure with a micrometer and cut with an axe.

 

[Jim Watson]

I have no information on A5 but the Broadway Trap in the next room is Improved Modified in the bottom barrel, Full in the top.

 

[I6turbo]

I have a 1954 model with IM choke. But it screws in.



I've never seen an early factory barrel in that choke, but I haven't seen a huge number of Auto-5s.

 

[XxWINxX94]

I collect Auto-5’s, and I’ve never seen an IM barrel. Most of the guns seem to have Full or a Modified chokes. Cylinder is uncommon, as are Skeet and even IC.

It could be that an IM barrel was a special order. For those who measure with a micrometer and cut with an axe.

This is what I'm thinking, and it seems like it wasn't a very popular special order item. I see Cylinders on eBay now and then but skeet and IC aren't common at all and typically fetch $200+, potentially even more if it's a shorter barrel with solid or vented rib.

 

[XxWINxX94]

I have no information on A5 but the Broadway Trap in the next room is Improved Modified in the bottom barrel, Full in the top.

Interesting. I have heard that Browning chokes are comparatively tight and I would be curious to see a pattern of both barrels.

 

[XxWINxX94]

I have a 1954 model with IM choke. But it screws in.

View attachment 958570

I've never seen an early factory barrel in that choke, but I haven't seen a huge number of Auto-5s.

Nice looking guns, both look really clean! I have seen poly, Cutts and screw-ins put on these but I am a bit of a collector and like to keep things original. If original A5 barrels weren't so expensive I would reconsider getting a throw-around barrel and having screw-ins installed.

 

[I6turbo]

Nice looking guns, both look really clean! I have seen poly, Cutts and screw-ins put on these but I am a bit of a collector and like to keep things original. If original A5 barrels weren't so expensive I would reconsider getting a throw-around barrel and having screw-ins installed.

I grew up (from about 9 years old to 14 or so) shooting a Model 11, and then a good shooting friend had an Auto-5 that I shot some from about 15 - 20 years of age. I always admired the design and build quality of the guns but they weren't my favorite for the miscellaneous shooting that we did (and did quite a bit of). I had a semi-automatic (1100) and a couple of pumps, but gravitated to a side-by-side and then an O/U when I was able to afford a Remington 3200. I liked the SxS and O/U better and used them for all of my shotgunning for decades. Then a few years ago I bought the '54 model Auto-5 above (for $281 off of GB) to make an HD type gun out of it. I cut the barrel (which had a Cutts Compensator on it) to 18.25", sent it to Michael Orlen for screw-in chokes, refinished the stock and removed the thick rubber pad that it had when I got it. The gun was transformed for me with the short barrel. Nowadays, my O/U and SxS rarely get out of the safe because I just love shooting the short Auto-5. Then I picked up the '52 model 37 and did about the same treatment to it. They are two of the last guns I'd voluntarily get rid of, especially the Auto-5. So, if you find that spare barrel and decide to install screw-in chokes, I suggest you consider shortening it as well (if that's not heresy to you).