Pardon me for starting with my A5 story. I am 72 and an old farm boy who has hunted since I was 10. In all those years I have owned most popular shotguns except an A5 and Winchester 21. Should have bought a 21 years ago but with A5's I always thought they were a pleasing gun to pick up but when I pulled the trigger the recoiling barrel turned me off. However, a couple years ago I borrowed my friend's Sweet 16 for my annual Kansas Pheasant and got my limit both days with only 2 misses. That did it so I decided to keep my eyes out for an A5 16 and here is the part of the story that will make you sick. A church buddy told me he wanted to buy a new 870 and had 2 guns for sale so I told him I was interested. One was a Mossberg pump and the second was a mint A5 16 made in 1927. I asked him what he wanted for them and he said "how about $125 for both". I immediately told him that was not enough so I said I would give him $200 and we settled at $170. Story gets better-my brother is an auctioneer and he sold the Mossberg for $240. I took the gun to Art's and had it modified to 2 3/4 and bored to Modified and now my questions: 1. If I wanted a shorter barrel I assume I would have to buy that vintage of barrel and have it modified or will a sweet 16 barrel work in this gun? I remember Art saying something like it depends and I didn't pursue the details with him and maybe I misunderstood his answer. 2. I am not in love with the safety and I assume the proper use is to keep your finger in the guard then shove forward to release and hope you don't rebound and fire too early? OOps! Just noticed I posted a similar story in 2013. Sorry, that what happens when you get old.
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Since your gun was modified to shoot 2 3/4" shells a modern Sweet Sixteen barrel should work. But in 1927 the barrels were serial numbered to the gun and I believe that means they were hand fit. So it's possible that even another 1927 barrel might give you trouble. I have a pre First War Auto-5 in my collection that has a 1929 barrel, so the chances are good that you'll be OK. If in doubt -- call Art. As for your safety, it's similar to those on the M1 and M14 rifles. I hear a lot of complaints about them from shotgun shooters, but have never heard a negative remark from the riflemen.
I can't guarantee that any barrel will fit your gun, but over the years I have purchased several used bbl.s for all my A5's and every one worked without modification. Even a Japanese 12 mag. with choke tubes for my waterfowl/turkey gun. I figure if it doesn't work, I'll have it altered or dump it on eBay. As for the front safety, I lost a match with my race gun because of it before I bought a cross bolt/beam trigger group on eBay and swapped it out. This was on a 1938/39 standard 12. That front safety had to be a good thing because the "Master" designed it, but I didn't like it just because it was different. All hail JMB! I am new to this forum, but am an avid Browning fan, thanks for having me, jomax
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Actually, JMB didn't design the front safety. The prototype safety and the first year's production had the safety inside the trigger guard. FN modified it in 1904.
