Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Aldeer General Forum Browning Belgium made A5's?

What makes or breaks the pricing on Belgium made A5's. We'll just say I have a few and all are in amazing shape and not for sale. BUT when browsing around I see that prices can range anywhere from $450-$2000. Is there a certain serial number range or something special about them that can drastically change the value from gun to gun?

Good question. Aside from condition, I don't know much. I know they did vary some over the years. Are you certain the $450 ones you saw were not Japanese made?

Condition, year made, gauge, Light 12 V Standard 12, plain barrel V rib, are a few.

What makes a Belgium better than Japan A-5 (functionally)? I notice its just written on the barrel, but I don't see any other listing like that on the receiver.

All I know is both have performed well for me. I really don't care where they were made or who makes them as long as they do what I want. Now, wouldn't the original A-5 (Belgium or Japan) been sweet in a 28 gauge??

Functionally is the same. My Belgium is 60 plus years old and shoots as well as my 15 year old Jap one. Metal work and stock is different.

Every time I see a post about a Belgium A-5 it pisses me off. My Dad had one he bought on his & mom's 1st Anniversary. Dope head neighbor stole it about two years ago and sold it. It was going to be a family heirloom. It's all I can do to keep from taking a tee ball bat and beating that sumbitch's knees off.

Now a days, the jap guns are generally worth more then a Belgian gun. Mainly cause they are considered safe by browning to shoot steal shot. You can get a late model Jap auto 5 in 3" with an investor plus barrel that will shoot any modern day steel choke. It will rival any of the new duck guns on the market today. Most gun smiths will also say the Japanese steel was also a little better then the original Belgian guns.

The Belgian guns are a lot lighter and have a little better swing and feel to me. I'm a avid duck hunter in south la and own several auto-5 and they are all I hunt with.

As to the pricing. They generally seem to hold more value down here in the south. Even here though the price can vary all over. That said, just cause there are plenty ones listed for $1300 and up, doesn't mean there selling.

Sorry, not buying what yer selling here.

I don't think Jap are worth more, but I've read the steel thing elsewhere.

Go and price you a Belgium made Sweet 16 that's never even been out of the box !!! Begged my neighbor to sell me his. Offered him, what I thought was a ridiculous amount of money for it. No dice. It's literally never been put together.

That's for folks that want to use an A-5 for water fowling I suppose. Which is a small percentage of A-5 owners I'd guess. I find a 95% or NIB Belgium and a Jap same condition for same $ , I'll buy the Belgium every time.

A5 market isn't very good at the moment. Jap guns are bringing more money( you can shoot steel thru jap barrels)

I would too.

Wonder what the percentage of A-5 in Duck blinds is? I have a hard time believing the A-5 Jap, steel shot guns are driving the market, they have NO collector value. Since when did it become cool to shoot those kickin' beasts again?

Been my view that the invector guns are bringing more also the barrels. A5 are priced as crazy as any gun in the market you can look all over the internet at Late 60's blonde wood round knob 3" mags with 30" and 32" barrels full choke guns and see some high prices, but i can show you 4 that were bought for 550$ or less and can show you some in pawn shops around huntsville for 700$ tags that will take less. The same with sweet sixteens. 4 months ago saw a guy buy 4 26" IC barrels at an auction in tn for $75 a pop, he had 2 sold before he got home for 225$ a piece. All depends on how much time and how hard you wont to look for one. My favorite though is an old front saftey gun you dont see many of them around.

I just want a Remington Model 11 Sportsman in 20 gauge...in Alabama...for around $300!!

I sold a jap barrel alone for $300 with a fixed modified choke.

I'm pretty sure one of the "Duck Dynasty" guys shoots a humpback, at least on the show. That doesn't mean anything to me, but I'm sure it does to some.

As an owner of a few A5s in 12 and 20, and as a big user up until prob 15 years ago, I can tell you by todays standards they are heavy, complicated and expensive to manufacture. I literally shot a light 12 until it came apart. I had the barrel and forearm in my left hand and the stock and receiver in my right. I think it's really a flawed design for a recoil operated, reciprocating barrel auto. It broke off at the receiver and the gun game apart. BUT, they were the gold standard in auto shotguns when I was young.