Browning Expands A5 Series, Adds Shotguns with Magnum Chambers (VIDEO)

Browning is adding several new models of A5-series shotguns to their catalog, all with 3.5-inch magnum 12-gauge chambers. These premium shotguns come in a variety of finishes and patterns for just about every kind of shotgun work.

Shotguns are already the most versatile firearms today, and expanding the A5 to accept an even greater range of shot shells makes this shotgun particularly well-rounded.

The company created the A5 series to replace and celebrate the Auto-5 shotgun, a firearm John Browning considered his best achievement. The Auto-5 was in production for almost a century and was eventually replaced by more modern semi-automatic shotguns.

While the A5 retains the look and feel of the Auto-5, internally it is a completely different machine. Unlike the original’s long recoil operation, the new A5 uses Browning’s “Kinematic Drive System,” which is an inertia-operation system common to many Benelli and Franchi shotguns.

Inertia operation is fairly self-regulating and allows firearms to cycle a wide range of payloads, from very light bird shot to the heaviest 3.5-inch magnum loads.

These are definitely premium semi-automatic shotguns and their prices reflect that. Although these are recommended prices and are significantly higher than what buyers can expect to see in stores, a new A5 with the 3.5-inch chambers will run quite a bit over $1,000.

• A5 Stalker, $1,600
• A5 Hunter, $1,700
• A5, Realtree Max-4, $1,700
• A5, Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Blades, $1,700
• A5, Mossy Oak Break-Up Infinity, $1,700

The A5 Stalker is their most basic model with a simple black synthetic stock. The Hunter has a classic wood furniture set and the Realtree and Mossy Oak models are polymer with a camo finish. They all have vented ribs and are threaded for Invector-DS chokes.

All 3.5-inch-chambered A5s will be available with 26-, 28- or 30-inch barrels and come with Browning’s “100,000 rounds or five years” warranty.

Even though the A5 is a relatively new gun it’s built using a proven action and has already been marked as a quality reliable shotgun that doesn’t care much what it’s loaded with, it will cycle anything you give it.

If you’re looking for a solid, premium semi-auto no matter what your shotgun needs are, you might want to consider the new A5s, especially the magnums.

For all the details check out Browning’s A5 product page.