Review: Browning A5 Wicked Wings - After Hunting it for a season
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2025
- Review: Browning A5 Wicked Wings - After Hunting it for a season
I hunted with this gun for a full season pretty hard as well as shooting hundred's of clays. I love the gun but it didn't come without it's issues.. here's what I found it....
Check out my Channel - www.youtube.co...
Watch my favorite hunt! - • 2018 River Hunt on ICE...
Follow me on social:
Insta -
Facebook - www.facebook.c...
Insta - / duckgunchronicles 
Спорт
Thank you for an honest review. It seems like most reviews never address the negative no matter how big or small.
I appericate the honesty.
35 times for ducks! You, sir, have your priorities straight! I'm going to try to catch up. Keep doing it. Thanks for the review.
Thank you for your detailed assessment. You highlighted the issues you experienced, without harping too hard on the gun. Great review. Thanks for sharing!
Awesome glad to share!
I’ve been watching several gun reviews because I’ve been in the market for a new duck gun. I can honestly say none of them are perfect. If they work for you then you’re good.
That bolt sound crunchy af
Also thanks for that honest review. I have a hard time believing semis of that price aren'T working during cold weather. Thanks for the feedback
I bought a new browning Maxus in full bottomland about 5 months ago. Not a wicked wing. Got it home and noticed in the barrel there was two little gouges in the inside of the barrel. Called browning and they wanted me to send it in. Would take possible 8-10 weeks to get it back. No thanks! Just got it in two weeks after opener so hunted the season. The bolt closing cost me multiple ducks through the season. Several markings on the bolt and deep wear in some spots. Kept my gun in a case on the boat and really tried babying it. Lots of chips and scratching on the finish already. Sold my beretta xtrema 2 to buy this one. Maybe it was a mistake. The beretta never jammed in the 9 years I had it with any load but with that being said the browning fit me way better and I shot extremely well with it. Absolutely love the gun. Hopefully they can fix the issues. Now that season is over I’m sending it back. Thankfully I have an additional turkey gun.
Nice honest review! I think cold weather and water don't mix with many semi autos. My Beretta will have a "slow" action if I get moisture in there and it is in the teens and low 20s outside. It helps when I spray a little rem oil in there if it is acting slow. However I haven't had any issue shooting the 2 3/4" shells.
Somewhere In Wisconsin Thanks! Ya I’m keeping oil in my blind bag this year for sure.
I got one last year and was having similar issues with it not wanting to cycle dove loads and with the bolt not seating all the way! So I did some research and ended up ordering some synthetic gun oil that has done amazingly well for me. It’s called 80below gun oil. Didn’t completely solve the not seating problem but it has cycled everything I’ve put through it since using this oil.
Thx for the tip!
I love my A5. The only malfunction I have had was when the shells froze together in the mag, during a freezing rain. LUBE! LUBE! LUBE! This thing loves to run wet!!!
Appreciate the video - was 99% on going to get either the maxus ii or A5 wicked wing, and now multiple people have complained about the cerakote fading. Pretty sweet gun, but not paying $2k for something that the coating is gonna fade after a season
At 4:09 the speed load isn't working because you aren't inserting the shell all the way in and the lifter is stuck in the up position because of the shell. Notice that once you insert the shell ALL the way in that the speed load works at 4:21.
Yeah i noticed the same thing
The one thing that I did notice on mine is that it wouldn't feed 2 3/4 shells. It would keep jamming after each one. I called browning and they knew and told me that they were having extractor issues so they sent me a whole brand new extractor front end for the bolt carrier at no charge. Haven't tried it yet but they said it should fix the issue. One other thing that you mentioned is the gap. I have the same thing and it has caused issues maybe once or twice. Drives me nuts as I believe it should be a fully closed and seated chamber. I try to make sure that it constantly slams forward so I don't run into that issue. Good review on the shotgun though.
Was thinking of buying a more expensive shotgun but after seeing reviews I just can’t beat my $650 Stoeger M3500. Never fails and isn’t picky about ammo or cleaning. Thanks for your honest review!
U could definitely upgrade to a sx4 or franchi
I wish that was the case for my stoeger m3500 i hung her up for the beretta a300 ultima after various stove pipes & clicks w/ m35
My stoeger m3000 cycles without issue as well. If you want to dip your toes into a semi auto you can do alot worse. I hunt upland with a Franchi Affinity 3 20 gauge and Stoeger m3000 12 gauge to hunt water fowl with. I don't hunt ducks or geese much so I didn't want to spend a lot. The Franchi is more refined but the Stoeger is a well made gun. It goes boom when I pull the trigger and cycles as reliably as my Franchi.
Man that action sounds rough too. Lube it up.
I had a Gold I bought in 1995 (LOVED THAT GUN) upgraded to a MAXUS wicked wing, neither has an issue with the auto load...
Friend greetings from Greece!
Nice and honest review...I saw also other a5 owners have issues,and some maxus owners (with terrible dirty guns after few shots).I was about to buy this exactly a5 but after digging in RUclips I decided not to give 1600€ for this.in my country the most popular hunt goes with n8 shell and not bigger than 33 grms.so I decided to take the BREDA ASTRO and I'm perfect with that.waiting from you another review from your gun.
No problems either of my 2 3.5in A5. You can’t shoot 1oz target loads and expect it to fire. The min requirement to cycle it is a 1 1/8 oz load. Thats 3 or 3 1/4dram. If you haven’t pulled the recoil spring out from the buttstock and cleaned it try that as well. It’s easy drift roll pin out and unscrew the end cap. You will be amazed how much gunk gets in there that maybe not letting your gun cycle all the way. With the speed load, you have to push the shell in alittle further to pass the carrier latch..it’s not as easy as the old guns but my 2 are fine. Mine did what yours did and just figured out that if you push it in alittle further it won’t get stopped on the shell lifter
Friend of mine in trap league got one about 3 years ago. It needed two trips back to Browning to sort out an issue (which I can't remember). Since then it has worked very well for him.
Been shooting my Belgium Browning 16 ga. For years.....put her up until I came across bismuth and began hunting her again....brownings are great guns. Sorry to hear about your issues..
That’s funny you are having the same issues I have with my browning a5 that is 4 yrs. old. Rust on ribbing and some cycling issues. No speed loading problems luckily. Great video. I’d still buy mine all over again like you said. Buddies have Benellis and they have way worse issues
Ya, weird. I still love browning.. but i'm not happy with this issues.
Duck Gun Chronicles: Citori Over Under = Problems Solved.
Essential Do-it-Your-Selfer Haha very true
What issues are your buddies Benellis having????? What models ???? What issues ???? Many thanks in advanced
@@tdrinc1 Not sure what issues he is talking about but I was super disappointed with my SBE3. Love the weight of the gun, love the feel of the gun, super durable finish, no problems with the bolt not fully engaging - they almost hit a home run with the SBE3 except for one really serious problem. They shoot ridiculously high - to the point its a super sweet useless gun. There is a design flaw that is not repairable despite what they tell you. Mine shot over 2 feet high at 30 yards with a 100/0 pattern. I sent it back to have the 'barrel stop ring' adjusted. It came back shooting just as high and I got my money back. They make some excuse 'oh we meant to do that, you need to learn to float the bird'. Sorry its not documented to shoot hella high anywhere and at 40 yards it 3 feet high, 50 yards 4 feet high. Not a quality you want in a waterfowl gun. Not even a trap gun shoots a 100/0 pattern. Benelli jumped the shark on this gun and won't admit it.
i have had a problem with my safety getting stuck and also my switch to eject the shells gets stuck
Thanks for the video ! would browning cover the rust issues? their website says 5 years 100,000 round warranty?
It’s been a few years but I’m guessing by the sound of the bolt it just needed a very through cleaning. Also cleaning the spring in the stock helps a lot for anyone reading these comments later.
I have the same gun and the very first hunt I took it on was a turkey hunt. the bolt wasn't closed all the way and ruined my chance at a bird at 30 yards. My bolt does the exact same thing as yours. If you let the bolt close easily it doesn't close all the way. I also was not impressed with the cerakote and it didn't want to cycle well in really cold weather.
Bought my a5 2013 got the stalker first one had the duratouch coating grip start to come off. took it back got another stalker and it had factory blemishes. got sick of the stalker issues went to the hunter model loved it. however it didn't cycle 3 inch mags so i sent it in and they fixed it in a month and now i have no issues except it doesn't cycle 3.5
update on the a5 hunter it works great just had the walnut stock start to wrinkle. like cmon browning get it together
I have a Browning 425 waterfowl 30 inch barrells. 3 inch chamber.great waterfowl gun.
Mine has the same issue with the speed loader and bolt not closing. It's irritating. Works better with a good spray of oil before use but the gun is tempremental.
I just bought a browning hells caynon. Little worried about the coating now. I like your gun but, with the rust I probably will not be buying it for simply that reason. Now I am unsure what to buy. If it wasn't for BS3 shooting high and left it would be a no brainer that I would buy the BS3 but it is not the case
I was super disappointed with my SBE3. Love the weight of the gun, love the feel of the gun, super durable finish, no problems with the bolt not fully engaging - they almost hit a home run with the SBE3 except for one really serious problem. They shoot ridiculously high - to the point its a super sweet useless gun. There is a design flaw that is not repairable despite what they tell you. Mine shot over 2 feet high at 30 yards with a 100/0 pattern. I sent it back to have the 'barrel stop ring' adjusted. It came back shooting just as high and I got my money back. They make some excuse 'oh we meant to do that, you need to learn to float the bird'. Sorry its not documented to shoot hella high anywhere and at 40 yards it 3 feet high, 50 yards 4 feet high. Not a quality you want in a waterfowl gun. Not even a trap gun shoots a 100/0 pattern. Benelli jumped the shark on this gun and won't admit it.
I own 2 of the new a5’s and love both of them. I have the wicked wing in bottomland Camo and the stalker in black synthetic. I haven’t experienced any of the issues that you are experiencing bud. I think your gun should cycle the 2 3/4” shells just fine now after shooting all of the high brass steel shot during duck season. That internal spring needs to be broken in to cycle really light shells. It shouldn’t be a problem for you this dove season.
The bolt thing happens with mine as well. Mine isn’t a wicked wing version, which doesn’t make that much of a difference but it’s worth noting. I think it’s a non-issue for me personally, but when hunting I can see why it would be frustrating
I believe the 3” model is the best option for the A5. Not as long of a stroke for the action. 3.5” chamber has to pull back another 1/2” to cycle the shells. If I was to buy the A5. It would be the 3” model.
I was thinking of adding one to my collection but with these issues and what it cost I'll keep researching.
I though I had the same problem with the speed load but then I realized that if you push the shell directly in and out it does not load the shell.... to get it to speed load every time you have to drag your thumb downward when you load the shell, if you do that it will work every time
Hmm I’ll give that a try
i have mine for 3 years now, never had a issue made in Portugal. black 3.5inch chamber
The European model is better believe it or not
Mines having all of the same issues and started seeing rust after about 10 times using it. My gun also has the same issue with the bolt if i pull back on it a little.
Hey guys the bolt issue you guys are having is not a browning a5 issue.....its a rotating bolt intertia driven shotgun issue..... Benilli franchi and stoeger all have the same issue....we have come to call it the benilli click........and If u call benilli about it....they say yes there is a fix.....the fix is " let the bolt fly home and dont try to close the bolt slowly / quietly".....its ben a known problem with all rotating bolt inter9 driven systme since benilli designed them years ago.....right up to the new inertia plus system retay uses on there masi Mara
@@codyrivenburgh2926 also I’ve become very conscious of NOT setting it down on the recoil pad too hard - like when you prop it up in the corner of the blind or something . I have found if you plop it down like that, the inertia of setting it down can make it come out of battery. My opinion , this engineering and design flaw that has probably cost that company a fortune in sales opportunity. When a gun gets a slogan like “Benelli Click” hung on them it hurts. But know what? They deserve the bad PR for this fuckup.
damn i was about to purchase a Maxus 2 Wicked Wing, and that finish is now making me think i wont go with the Wicked Wing version UGGGGGH
Sorry to hear about your issues, I don’t recall having any issues with the “benelli click” on my A5. I also have had the speed load problem you experienced, I am gonna work on my loading and see if it’s operator error as another comment suggests. The one issue I had was not ejecting shells after being fired. Called Browning about this, the person I spoke to said he’s seen this before. He thought perhaps the extractor wasn’t “hard enough” he said maybe during manufacturing the metal wasn’t made well or something. Sent my gun in had it back in 3 weeks-no issues anymore with shells ejecting. This was not during hunting season though. I assume if you sent your gun back during the season or right before the turnaround time would be longer.
FirePirate099 Thanks for the feedback and info. Unfortunately.. actually I take that back ha ha.. fortunately it’s hunting season again but I think I will send mine back next off season have mine looked at. Thanks brotha 👊👍
Duck Gun Chronicles- been working on my “feed mechanics” with the speed load feature. I have to say I’m not having any issues since I’ve been pushing the shell ALL the way into the mag tube. Just thought I would share that
I have a5 stalker 26” with about 2k rounds through it (went through hell) but no issues like that.
Did u guys cycle 100 rounds of 3.5in first, had a rep at browning tell me u gota put 100 rounds of 3.5 inch to wear everything in properly
hi bro which better browning or benelli = browning maxus vs benelli raffaello and Super Black Eagle 3 vs Browning A5
Fawaz Almutairi benelli
Your old A5 was Belgium made the new one is made in Japan. With new "new innovations " (not the JM Browning) design. I used mine for dove does not like to cycle light dove loads
I have the Exact same gun and if I slowly close my charging handle and then it won’t shut completely. So it’s not a default with Our guns It’s just the way it’s made. It doesn’t bother me all that much though because I never quietly load my gun lol As for the moisture letting it freeze I was pleasantly surprised that my Wicked wing did not. I just got back from five days of hunting in the snow and rain and the first day I went I dropped him again and snow got inside my chamber. I tried to get It’s dry as I could but there was still water in there. It shot fine the entire day and I just took it home cleaned it and dried it out and oiled it up and it was ready to rock ‘n’ roll.
I think my new gun tism is clays and waterfowl. I’ve always liked the A5 and its history, I hope they’ve worked out the kinks in the last 5 years..
Nice job you reviewed the good and the bad..As far as rust goes i think as soon as your done hunting you have to dry and oil the barrel i blow mine off with a air compresser and then oil it..It's hard to keep rust off with the weather we hunt in..
Michael Prevost thanks! Ya I’ll have to make sure to get the oil under the ribs better this season and air compressor sounds like a good idea.
Need to do a complete tear down and clean there is a spring in the stock with a plunger that needs cleaning . I can hear the grit
my Browning clicks as well! the exact same problem!
I have the full max 5 finish on mine with no issues. I did miss out on a nice buck last winter because if the action not fully closing. Since I've been using CLP to clean I haven't had an issue
I got a A5 28 " barrel in max 5 in December of 2020 I heard about the ceracoat issues so I swerved the wicked wing. But I have the same issue with the bolt not closing all the way as well as the speed load option isn't reliable at all I hunted with mine 3 times and picked my Beretta back up to finish the season. It's a good looking gun in the safe though 👌
If you were to buy it again would you go with full camo or the cerakote? I'm gonna buy one for sure! Just not sure if I should go with the cerakote or save my money and get the full camo version...?
I’ve seen where camo ones chip up pretty easy same as the cerakote.. so I’d stick with cerakote there are plenty of places I can get it refinished if I need to
Always go with the full camo unless it’s for show
The A5 Kinetic action is like a benelli, those super light loads are never going to work consistently. As far the dry sounding action, the gun freezing up, not shutting all the way I think your gun is still full of gunk/sand from its trip into the water. You need a pro to clean that sucker and lube the heck out of it
I have both old and new A5s. I have problems with pinching my thumb in the shell door when using the speed load on the new A5. Also have problems getting the shells out of the magazine with the button by the trigger. Never had a problem with the bolt not closing. I had to drop the trigger out a few times in the field if you don't get it back just right after a cleaning. I definitely like the weight of the new gun it's very lite. A buddy has a maxus that also has auto/speed load, if you're not a big A5 fan the maxus seems like the better gun.
I had a CZ 1012 with the same issue of that bolt not seating all that way. After digging through the manual they told me that you have to release the bolt all the way from the rear so it slams down hard enough to lock. They said if I really need to let it down slow they say to push the bolt handle with a bit of force to lock the bolt down
Issues I’ve seen with my A5… (#5 the worst problem)
1- rust/pitting on the visible portion of the bolt.
2- lots of rust all along the ribbing section of the barrel (just like yours)
3- my mossy oak shadow grass camo stock and forearm has “yellowed” and no longer matches the receiver. It looks ugly!
4- a ton of scratching on the cerokote receiver
5- I take my first shot, and the shell does not eject before the second shell starts cycling, which causes a jam. It has happened so many times. I thought maybe I wasn’t shouldering the gun properly and the gun didn’t have enough recoil? (Similar to shooting low brass target shot)?
But yesterday I was duck hunting 20* weather and had the jam happen a few times. It’s so frustrating! Out in the marsh I decided to lube the hell out of the whole inside… using my finger I even lubed the inside of the barrel where the shell would be… I haven’t had the jam since… so maybe this gun calls for a lot of lube.
I quit watching at 9:49. The absolute second you pulled the bolt back. There is not a gun ever made that will function dry. It sounds like you poured sand in it. I’m not trying to be ugly but I’m 48 and if that was my gun and my father heard that it wouldn’t be pretty. BREAK FREE/CLP. As far the auto load function simply push it in a little farther. I’ve been shooting Brownings most of my life from the old A5 to the Gold and now the new A5. Simply put a gun is a tool. It must be taken care of. When you get back from hurting and haven’t shot much and in good weather simply wipe it off with a oily rag. If you shot a lot or you were in bad weather tear it down and give it a through cleaning. Take care of your gun and it will take care of you. Everyone put the Gold down. Mine NEVER failed me because I took care of it. Take pride in yourself and take care of your gun. If anyone was at my camp and pulled out a shotgun that sounded like that I’d watch them really close.
I like the A5’s but for the price a sbe3 looks good.
Tanner Oakley have both. Have had the SBE 3 for two years and just got the A5. The A5 is nice, but the SBE 3 feels much better and higher quality.
You can get the A5 for a bit less than the SBE3
I have the browning a A5 modelManufactured before this model and I love it. As a matter of fact two ofmy duck hunting buddies two went and bought A5,s because I was out shooting them hands down
Have an sb3 but also a beretta a400 extreme plus and it’s by far better and cheaper then the sb3
I went with the sbe3. Brownings are good quality guns & both are workhorses. I’ve just always been a fan of inertia guns but it’s personal preference. Mid Valley Mercenaries runs an a5 and he flat out smokes birds at long ranges.
Mine has the benelli click but it cycles the light trap loads just fine. No other problems.
Very nice review. Thank you
My speed load feature on my gun has the same issue as yours. The only way it will work is if I try to be slick and really force it up into the magazine tube really fast. My gun has never jammed with factory loads and even the cheapest light loads. I tried reloads and they will jam or not cycle. Other than that I really like my new A5. I hunt with guys that have high end benelli's and beretta's and they have worse problems with there guns. And I'm talking about guns going off with out pulling the trigger. But great video.
I just bought an A5 Hunter and it doesn't fully close the bolt either when you pull back and let go.
Will Browning Replace the cerakote? I have a maxus 2 WW and it gets scratched in the case if I don’t clean the few grits of sand out. Super disappointed with how easy the coating scratches. Have you talked to browning about the problem?
I’ve always liked Browning shotguns but this many issues is troubling.
I have the same issues with speed loading and the bolt click
I love A5's and will probably add an antique one to the collection this year, but if I'm hunting ducks or shooting clays, i'm bringing my Maxus instead every time.
What do you like better with macus
Where you have rust on the rib of the barrel. Are there any scratches or dents from using the gun?
Owners manual says it’ll cycle most shells if the charge is 1 1/8th oz and up
About those coatings I haven’t had good experiences with any factory coatings on guns. The crap Ruger uses had flaked off in spots and started rusting after only 9 months when I noticed it on a EC9s. Great gun, love it, terrible coating. Problem is a coating is no better than a paint because they are the same idea. Bluing is my preferred treatment/finish. It’s part of the steel. Same with parkerizing becomes part of the steel, I don’t at all like it, just saying it has that in common with bluing. If they’re going to be so cheap as to paint them then do a real paint job, starting with primer so it’s more durable than the crap they put out and cut the MSRP by a LOT!
THE BROWNING A5 LIKE THE BENELI HAS A ROTATING BOLT DESIGN IT MUST BE AGRESSIVELY SHUT TO ROTATE BOLT.
Ya I found that out the hard way haha
Go for the Remington V3. IMO it's the best semi auto shotgun Ive shot and owned. there is a lot of variants along with the waterfowl pro v3. seriously is a great gun and the best piece of remington work since the 1100, 1187 models. you will be happy. its rugged, reliable and the function is great.
Had the same problem with the light loads on the dove field. Starting shooting Rio TGHVs - problem solved. Gotta shoot a little hotter shells in these guns.
The new A5 brownings come with gas rings the lighter the load your shooting the thinner the ring needs to be and the heavier the load the bigger the ring needs to be you can buy these rings at just about any outdoor store or gun store
Would have been helpful info about 3 years ago 😂. But still good to know!
I just bought this gun and notice it not recycling dove loads consistently. I wish I would have seen your review before I bought it
David Hernandez 2 things.. 1) try shells with more powder. 2) guns that cycle only 3 inch seem to have less of an issue
If its a new gun it just needs broke in its stiff take a couple boxes of 3.5 inch through it that should help your issue
I imagine these are the same wicked wing features on the maxus. I'm leaning towards the stalker now.
Glad I kept my Franchi 48AL's.
If your gun has a 3.5 inch chamber all semi auto guns will not cycle or jab with light target loads. Thats a BIG advantage for 3 inch chamber guns. If you want to use it for clay shooting having a 3 inch chamber is great.
Jack Buendgen I agree but they all advertise as being able to cycle 2 3/4 shells. My shooting clays shop sells shells with a large drum on 2 3/4 that cycle good for clays.
My sx4 shoots them perfectly ejectes them like "3.5" cheaper gun all the old glory gun days are over ways to cut cost is causing all gun manufacturers to do things like taking certain elements out the metal hints why his gun is rusting so fast...
Yes I have the Same issue with the shell not firing because it didn't close all the way. Now I know what to do. Push it closed, thanks Browning. Would Not recommend to anyone else to buy.
I have the new browning a5 not the wicked wings one just the one in max 5. My auto loading works everytime. I have however many year of use since they came out with the new ones of use on mine and she just runs. Anything I put in it. Had trouble with some 3.5 last year on the first goose hunt out. Cleaned it and it’s ran fine since then. The coating on mine has a lot of wear spots. If I can I’ll send you a private message and we can compare wear spots if you respond to the comment. I’m interested to see if it’s in the same spots. I also have to put grease on my choke tube or it will stick
Got mine in 2014 not 2012
Do you still choose this gun over everything else?
That’s interesting you were having freezing issues. It was common on the early Browning Maxus but that’s a gas operating system and the A5 is Inertia. Not super common on inertia systems, did you get it resolved?
Honestly I’m going to have it professional cleaned to see if it’s just an issue with my gun personally
I have shot a lot of different auto loaders through the years, and have never seen one that would not fail at some point, especially on cold freezing days. I've had several brands lock up on the first shot fired, leaving me loosing a lot of birds for lack of follow up shots. I don't have an answer why, and it seems to be inherent in both gas and inertia driven shotguns. That's why I use a pump or an over/under when I'm seriously hunting on very cold days.
Inertia guns love lots of oil. They work beautifully if sliding correctly
From what it looked like you were just jamming the shell in there. Theres a way to do the speed load where after you push the shell in you push down on the shell
Am I the only that thinks the bolt sounds like he packed 3 pounds of dirt in it
Just a little dirt not 3 pounds 😬😬
@@DuckGunChronicles still not good for that gun bubba the longer it stays in there the more damage its gonna do to it
Ya that hurts my soul to hear.
I was thinking the same thing. Lots of griding in the action.
Was thinking same thing. Damn clean that thing
Did you still use it?
Did you remove the magnum slip ring from the tube before running low brass?
The 3.5 version can still take smaller shells right? Same concept at the 870 Super Mag and stuff? Smaller shells as in smaller shell length, not gauge.
Kris Garlitz correct you can shot 2.75 inch shells through it
I got the 2020 Shot Show Wicked Wing A5 and it has clicked more times than it has shot. Very frustrating.
I am looking at getting an A5 but not sure if I will get the cerakote finish wicked wing or the camo dip. Wondering what one will hold up better on the finishes thanks.
I’m guessing the camo dip probably holds up better. I haven’t had any issues with my wicked wings but I don’t really beat on them hard either. If you are hard on guns I’d get the camo dip. I also bought a spare camo barrel for my A5 that I use most of the time with it.
@@robclarke4938 just wondering if yours tends to scratch easy or common wear mark like where you hold the stock etc.
Nope. The only place I see any wear so far is on that round bolt release button but it’s only slight wear and I could replace it with a new one since Briley makes and sells those buttons.
Just wondering how is the cerakote holding up? I am trying to decide between the cerakote version or get the reg with camo.
Every factory cerakote firearm I’ve owned or experienced hasn’t held up. Third party cerakote may hold up since that’s their business ,and probably use higher quality standards and products. Factory cerakotes I believe are just done too cheap to sell the pretty gun. Maybe that will help
The mechanism sounds really dry - more oil maybe?
Just picked up an A5 the other day. What brand shells/choke do you use in your A5? All the ammo I bought that patterned really good out of my old shotgun are trash in the A5.
I use the standard chokes that come with the gun. I’m running the improved modified atm. Winchester super x #4 3 inch pattern well. I haven’t patterned em yet but I like hevi metal as well
Just bought six different boxes of shells the other day to pattern. Patterned with the standard IM choke and the PM Anaconda. From 35 yards away the Rem. Hi-Speed and Federal Blue Box were by far better than the rest.
I noticed on my new sweet sixteen that you have to push the shells alot further into the tube than you would think to engage the "speed load" I am kinda half heartedly looking to sell my 1187 that was made for waterfowl to buy one of the different 3 1/2" a5s but I just am not sure if they worked all of those issues out by now yet or not
I also have an A5. All of the newer A5 bolt latches do that if you ride the bolt home because they are an inertia gun which means they need the full force of the bolt releasing to latch at the end of travel. Don't ride the bolt. Problem solved
Thanks that is good info. I learned that the hard way this past season. I had birds in the set first light as wasn't load tried to silently take the bolt down... my gun didn't fire.. lesson learned though
Still love my A5 , looking to buy another one soon contemplating the wicked wing but maybe not after your chipping / rust issue
Matt Lloyd Ya, I was hard on it.. but same thing would have happened to anyone in 3 or 4 years imo. I love browning A5 as well. My dad just got in a new one this week as well (not wicked wings).
Good video. I am in the market for a new 12 guage. I have been using the same SX3 now for about 15 years. I'm bouncing between the Silver, Maxus or A5. I really like this years 2020 shot show models with the tungsten but that cerakote finish and rust has be concerned. I had an old 20 ga 870 express with that matte finish that rusted around the ribs. Really had to keep it oiled. Browning doesn't recommend getting oil or cleaning product on the cerakote finish . .. your doomed if you do and your doomed if you don't. I have two Xbolts with cerakote that have held up fine. One older xbolt with gray and a new hells canyon. Time will tell I guess.
I have two bronze Wicked Wings, Cynergy and A5. I use REM Oil on the finish and no problems at all.
I have the SBE2. I have had “clicks”. My work-around is an almost obsessive checking of the receiver to make sure she’s closed down tight. Also I’m very cognizant of assuring I don’t bump the butt stock too hard when I’m standing the gun up in a gun rack in the blind. I’ve sat it down a bit firmly before and she unseated due to the inertia of ... well .. placing it too firmly on the floor of the blind. (or ground). Should I have to be doing this sort of work-around bullshit on an $1,800 gun? My humble opinion? No... but she’s broke in good now and I’m finally happy with it (having learned these quirks and nuances the hard way ...inherent to the SBE2.)
I have a classic A-5 too... a bit newer than yours. No muss. No fuss. No fucking baby-sitting it. Take it out. Load it. Shoot it. Repeat. No worries. Novel concept, huh😏
Have a buddy with the new A5. He’s had EVERY problem you pointed out. Exactly. And yes like you... he gives it an 8. But I hope Browning reads this comment. I was gonna but one over the summer and didn’t. Because of what you pointed out. Plus I’m not gonna spend that large amount of hard-earned cash on an “8”.
Thanks for the upload and tell Chief hey!😁
I love all ur vids, brah!
Bob Crone - The SBE3 has addressed the coming out of battery issue. I’ve got one and that was the first thing I tested rather roughly and the breech stayed in battery.
BMD #1 Thanks for the reply. If I ever trade up, it might be for the SBE3.
Bob Crone - I performed a ton of research before I purchase the SBE3 and that was the main issue with the previous models. I’m like you as well, pay that much and you have to pamper it to make it function correctly. No Thanks!
With that said, I’m in year(3) with the SBE3 and can attest that mine doesn’t require kid gloves to operate.
BMD #1 Thank you so much. It’s good to get real-world report from a real-world user. That means more in my book than all the expensive fancy ads that gun MFGs run. Good luck this season, brah! Thanks again!
@@bmd1825 Update. Said to hell with it and went with a Beretta A400. Zero issues. Prob solved.
Doesn’t that run the same inertia drive as the SBE1 or similar? I was actually looking into buying one of these or an sbe3 and after watching all the reviews for the same issue really going away from the a5. As for the click my Franchi intensity does the same thing “using the older style benelli system” and if you baby the bolt forward. Gotta let that sucker shut. Figured that out the same way you did trying to to scare off birds. Good honest review though. Just unfortunate because I love the way the gun looks.
I purchased a new a5 in 2017 worked great 1 season of pheasant, it has been sent back to browning twice for jamming issues and it still jams and my speed load does not work. I wont buy another browning.
Dave B did you figure out the issue? What all options have you tried? Different shells, different loads? Is it stove piping or fte ?
Just got a brand new browning a5, chambered in 3.5”. Mine has a hard time cycling target loads and also has the “click” problem. Curious if you got this issue resolved? And if so, anything you did to help fix? Appreciate your feedback!
Same problems. It's gotta have almost no oil in cold weather and wet in hot. So far, not a fan, but mostly irritated that I can't hit a dang thing with it. It definitely doesn't shoulder like most shotguns for me.
Have you had any or heard of any issues with the wicked wing firing pin striking the primer but no bang?
The only problem I’ve ever had out of mine was it kept “stove piping” (I believe that’s what it’s called). It would fire the round in the chamber but fail to cycle a fresh round out of the magazine so I was basically shooting a single shot semi auto. I took it apart and cleaned out all the oils from the factory and put it back together with the bare minimum amount of oil and it hasn’t failed me since. It also will not cycle rio shells at all (at least mine won’t), seems like the brass portion on the Rios is longer than most other shells and it hangs up in the gun
I know this is an old comment but call browning and they’ll send a new extractor supposed to fix this
I don’t have that kind of coating on mine. It’s all shadow grass. Mine hasn’t had any wear or rust on the coating.
The older A5s require you to change the rings to a lighter load ring setup. Does the new A5 require that? If so, that will definitely help with cycling the lighter loads. The other thing I’ve heard is make sure the load tube is oiled really well where the sprig rides. That will help a lot with ejection issues as well.
It uses an inertia system similar to benelli.
Cerakote is tough and looks nice when it’s new, but it does wear, and that’s a fact. I’ve been looking at the wicked wing, but now I think I’m going to keep looking. I’m unsure of what waterfowl / hunting gun to go with, so I’m going to wait off and try some friends guns first.
depending on what you're looking for the M2 Performance shop is a dream. It's a 20 gauge but it does a great job
A400 or versamax for gas inertia franchi
Just got the same gun in 2021 same problem with the bolt
Best of the best and has issues? Damn. I like my Fanchi.