User Guide

Serial Number Initial Cleaning
The serial number of your Automatic-5 shotgun
is found on the underside of the receiver, just
forward of the loading port.
Ammunition
and function with factory 2 3/4” lead and steel
shot loads. However, Browning can assume no
the use of cartridges of nonstandard dimension
or those developing pressures in excess of stan-
dards established by the Sporting Arms and Am-
munition Manufacturer’s Institute (SAAMI).
General Operating Procedures
The Browning Automatic-5 shotgun is a recoil
operated, semi-automatic shotgun. The breech
bolt locks into the barrel. Upon firing, recoil
causes the barrel and breech bolt to travel rear-
ward, recocking the hammer. After full rearward
Various exposed metal parts of your new Auto-5
have been coated with a rust preventative com-
pound for protection.
Before assembling your Auto-5, clean the anti-
zine tube and the action-chamber areas. Brown-
ing Oil is ideal for removing this compound and
However, any quality gun oil may be used.
Assembly Procedures
Automatic-5 Light Models are designed to shoot
rust compound from the barrel, receiver, maga-
responsibility for incidents which occur through
for giving your new gun its first lubrication.
CHECK YOUR GUN CAREFULLY TO BE
ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT THE CHAMBER,
FEED MECHANISM AND MAGAZINE CONTAIN
NO SHELLS.
The Auto-5 is delivered, in the box, with the
barrel removed and the forearm assembled on
the magazine tube. Perform the following steps
to assemble your Auto-5 and make it ready for
shooting.
travel, the breech bolt unlocks from the barrel,
The barrel begins forward movement an instant
before the breech bolt begins forward travel.
This split second delay lets the barrel “get
ahead” of the breech bolt, which is holding the
spent shell with dual extractors. This accom-
plishes extraction. Ejection occurs when the
ejector, located in the barrel extension, strikes
the rim of the spent shell during forward travel
of the barrel. During forward travel of the bolt,
a fresh round from the magazine is fed into the
chamber. After the last shell has been fired, the
breech bolt locks open, instead of returning
fully home. This facilitates speedy, convenient
reloading.
This operation is semi-automatic; the trigger must
be released and pulled to fire each successive shot.
1 Pull rearward on the operating handle and
draw the breech bolt rearward where it will
remain locked back. Rest the butt end of the
stock firmly on any convenient rigid surface.
With the left hand, pull rearward on the fore-
arm to counteract the forward thrust of the
recoil spring around the magazine tube. with
the right hand unscrew the magazine cap.
Slide the wooden forearm forward off the
magazine tube.
DO NOT SQUEEZE HARD ON THE OPEN
REAR END OF THE FOREARM. TOO MUCH
PRESSURE COULD CAUSE THE WOOD TO
SPLIT.
2 The Automatic-5 is delivered with the maga-
zine adaptor in the magazine which limits the
gun to three shots total (to comply with Fed-
eral migratory bird regulations), If you do not
want your gun to be so limited, merely take