Semi Auto Club

[theshootist]

56 minutes ago, Scully said:

I’m assuming because They only hold two cartridges in total? 

Yes. Val Browning designed them to handle like a lightweight side by side for game shooting. They have no magazine tube and hold the second cartridge in that recess in the side of the action.  

[pigeonbasher oz]

Yes funny guns really load from left hand side . Pull back the bolt feed shell in. It takes it from you and closes the bolt second shell lives on left hand side exposed

[impala59]

I purchased a very cheap Multichoke Winchester 1400 Mk2 on a bit of a whim having never owned one before.

Any observations ladies and gentlemen?

My usual regime with auction purchases is a complete component level strip down and so embarked on what I found was the most difficult for some years! I am sure that Winchester knew what they were doing but I found the design and workings to be crude and somewhat archaic. I was brought up on Remington's and it seems to me that the Winchester is a lower quality shotgun?

From the auction the bolt was sticking about a half inch too far back when the action was opened and needed a little 'Forward Assist' to function. After a protracted session of taking apart, cleaning, checking internal function and wear, I reassembled it and took it to the range for testing. I must confess to being more than a little surprised that it functioned flawlessly!

My daughters enjoy the odd clay session so I shall see how they get on with it at the next family clay day

[Scully]

I have the 1500 XTR version, and bought it because I’m a big Winchester fan and it was mint. 
It’s a fabulous gun to shoot ( although a tad ‘clunky’ by todays standards ) and I’ve had some great days in the hide with it, but they are an absolute pain in the aris to clean. 
You can shove whatever you like through it as long as ALL cartridges are the same length. 
I’ve had contemporary Remingtons and Winchesters, and all have good and bad points; I’ve never been a fan of ‘o’ rings for instance, and avoid Remington self loaders for this reason. 
 

[impala59]

Point Taken about O rings! I found years ago that substituting the 1.6 mm cross section for a 2.4 mm one solved all Remington cycling issues unless you were at the range and you had left the spare at home!

I will persevere with the Winchester and try to forget the 4 hour strip and clean session!

[Scully]

Can we have one admin’? Not sure if there’d be much interest but we have a sxs and pump clubs. Just wondered. 🤷‍♂️

Edited January 13 by Scully
Spelling

[BobbyH]

I often shoot my semi auto…I’ll join!

[enfieldspares]

Here's mine to start. A Browning A-5 in 16 gauge and true 2 3/4" barrel and action and the speedload feature as it is a post early-1950s gun. Which might, or might not be, the one here in an old Mastra case I then later acquired as I had a couple of 12 gauge A-5 guns about the same time.

Edited January 13 by enfieldspares

[Scully]

27 minutes ago, enfieldspares said:

Here's mine to start. A Browning A-5 in 16 gauge and true 2 3/4" barrel and action and the speedload feature as it is a post early-1950s gun. Which might, or might not be, the one here in an old Mastra case I then later acquired as I had a couple of 12 gauge A-5 guns about the same time.

Very nice. A bloke in the village has an A5 with the muzzle brake. Ive always fancied one but never got round to getting one. 

This is my latest acquisition. It’s a S1 Benelli SBE. 

[islandgun]

24 minutes ago, enfieldspares said:

Here's mine to start. A Browning A-5 in 16 gauge and true 2 3/4" barrel and action and the speedload feature as it is a post early-1950s gun. Which might, or might not be, the one here in an old Mastra case I then later acquired as I had a couple of 12 gauge A-5 guns about the same time.

The A5 looks good, any more pictures ?. Ive just won a bid on a A5 from Holts, chances are, will be looking for advice about how to make it work😉 So yes why not a S/A thread..

[Scully]

Just now, islandgun said:

The A5 looks good, any more pictures ?. Ive just won a bid on a A5 from Holts, chances are, will be looking for advice about how to make it work😉 So yes why not a S/A thread..

Oooh. Thats nice too! 

[enfieldspares]

And ISLANDGUN yours has the speedload too. As evidenced by that two piece floor plate. So for those that don't know how does it work?

In most lesser marques when the gun is empty and the breech block locked back the drill is either

1) turn gun on its side, 2) drop cartridge into the open action, 3) press some sort of button to let the breech block go forward 

OR

1) push a cartridge up from the bottom into the magazine tube, 2) press some sort of button to let the breech block go forward.

In a A-5 with the speed load feature (that's all with the two piece floor plate) it is this when the gun is empty and the breech block locked back

1) push a cartridge up from the bottom and as it enters the breech block will automatically come forward and chamber the cartridge.

Thus for pigeon decoying you've a slightly quicker reload rate when you've run the gun empty. Quite handy if you've fired off your three and another bird comes in as you don't need both hands and don't need to take the gun from your shoulder.

Here's meanwhile the quite uncommon TRAP A-5 that I had. These had a stock longer and slightly higher in the comb.

Here's the ring set up. The bevel on the castellated ring is ALWAYS away from the spring. The flat on the thin ring is always AGAINST the spring.

Edited January 13 by enfieldspares

[islandgun]

7 minutes ago, enfieldspares said:

And ISLANDGUN yours has the speedload too. As evidenced by that two piece floor plate. So for those that don't know how does it work?

In most lesser marques when the gun is empty and the breech block locked back the drill is either

1) turn gun on its side, 2) drop cartridge into the open action, 3) press some sort of button to let the breech block go forward 

OR

1) push a cartridge up from the bottom into the magazine tube, 2) press some sort of button to let the breech block go forward.

In a A-5 with the speed load feature (that's all with the two piece floor plate) it is this when the gun is empty and the breech block locked back

1) push a cartridge up from the bottom and as it enters the breech block will automatically come forward and chamber the cartridge.

Thus for pigeon decoying you've a slightly quicker reload rate when you've run the gun empty. Quite handy if you've fired off your three and another bird comes in as you don't need both hands and don't need to take the gun from your shoulder.

Here's meanwhile the quite uncommon TRAP A-5 that I had. These had a stock longer and slightly higher in the comb.

 

Thanks for that endfieldspares, I had heard of the speed load function but you have made it clearer. I will see how this one goes but I do have an itch for the 16g like yours

[enfieldspares]

7 minutes ago, islandgun said:

Thanks for that endfieldspares, I had heard of the speed load function but you have made it clearer. I will see how this one goes but I do have an itch for the 16g like yours

Be alert to the fact that if the gun has a one piece floorplate it won't have a speedload (and never will work that way) and that most 16 gauge here in the UK will be the 2 9/16" cartridge. Which feature can be a benefit as that means it will work flawlessly with the usual 65mm or 67.5mm (aka 2 1/2") 16 bore cartridges here in the UK. The 2 3/4" chambered 16 gauge will also work with the 2 1/2" cartridges BTW but of course being 2 3/4" I can use the 70mm 16 gauge 1 1/8 ounce loadings such as the old 16 bore Alphamax or the Hull 32 gram High Pheasant.

[Rock_n_Roll_Outlaw]

Here is my 1972 Auto 5 that I bought from Holts a year ago for very little money. It has a ventilated rib which I read on here is less common although not sure how true that is. It's been well looked after and the bluing is pretty nice. Interestingly mine will reliably  cycle 28g clay cartridges with the friction rings set up for heavy loads. I bought the Auto 5 specific screwdriver set from the US so I can disassemble it without ruining the screws. 

For anyone who has a pre mid 50s gun without the speed load feature they can be retrofitted with the parts from the later guns. 

I'd like to put a gold plated trigger on it, if I could find one. 

 

[islandgun]

2 hours ago, Rock_n_Roll_Outlaw said:

Here is my 1972 Auto 5 that I bought from Holts a year ago for very little money. It has a ventilated rib which I read on here is less common although not sure how true that is. It's been well looked after and the bluing is pretty nice. Interestingly mine will reliably  cycle 28g clay cartridges with the friction rings set up for heavy loads. I bought the Auto 5 specific screwdriver set from the US so I can disassemble it without ruining the screws. 

For anyone who has a pre mid 50s gun without the speed load feature they can be retrofitted with the parts from the later guns. 

I'd like to put a gold plated trigger on it, if I could find one. 

 

Very nice, heartening to hear the Holts purchase went well.

 

12 hours ago, Scully said:

Very nice. A bloke in the village has an A5 with the muzzle brake. Ive always fancied one but never got round to getting one. 

This is my latest acquisition. It’s a S1 Benelli SBE. 

Will you use the S1 for clays or do you have a particular use in mind 

[super sharp shooter]

Always wanted an original A5

[Scully]

3 hours ago, Rock_n_Roll_Outlaw said:

Here is my 1972 Auto 5 that I bought from Holts a year ago for very little money. It has a ventilated rib which I read on here is less common although not sure how true that is. It's been well looked after and the bluing is pretty nice. Interestingly mine will reliably  cycle 28g clay cartridges with the friction rings set up for heavy loads. I bought the Auto 5 specific screwdriver set from the US so I can disassemble it without ruining the screws. 

For anyone who has a pre mid 50s gun without the speed load feature they can be retrofitted with the parts from the later guns. 

I'd like to put a gold plated trigger on it, if I could find one. 

 

Please don’t put a gold plated trigger on it. 

1 hour ago, islandgun said:

Will you use the S1 for clays or do you have a particular use in mind 

No clays IG, just pest control; bolting bunnies and decoying pigeons and corvids. 

[Rock_n_Roll_Outlaw]

1 minute ago, Scully said:

Please don’t put a gold plated trigger on it. 

Why not? The magnums and light twelves come with gold plated triggers and I think they look good. 

[Scully]

55 minutes ago, Rock_n_Roll_Outlaw said:

Why not? The magnums and light twelves come with gold plated triggers and I think they look good. 

They look good if you’re a gypsy or American, otherwise I think they look cheap. 😀

[oldypigeonpopper]

Hello, I purchased an old A 5 off the forum, after a few bangs and clangs and picking up cases in the long grass i gave it away !!!!!!, 

[London Best]

3 hours ago, Scully said:

They look good if you’re a gypsy or American, otherwise I think they look cheap. 😀

This! All day every day.

[islandgun]

4 hours ago, oldypigeonpopper said:

Hello, I purchased an old A 5 off the forum, after a few bangs and clangs and picking up cases in the long grass i gave it away !!!!!!, 

Ooer ......can you tell us more ?

[oldypigeonpopper]

58 minutes ago, islandgun said:

Ooer ......can you tell us more ?

Hello, only joking on the clangs !!!, although there are inertia i think rather than gas operated 

[Scully]

Here’s another! Winchester 1500 XTR, currently for sale in the relevant section on this forum, now reduced to 300 quid. 🙂

Have owned this auto for many years and bought it from Lakeland Guns in Workington along with a Winchester Field, which I just sold at the weekend….again. 😄

Along with these two guns was also a Winchester 1500 European with the aluminium side plates on the breech, which doesn’t appeal to me. All three guns were sleepers and brought in to the shop by the same owner. 
Anyhow, the 1500 XTR in the photo’ is the only gun I’ve shot three pigeons with for three shots, without taking the gun from my shoulder. It was a grand day in the hide and between us a mate and me shot 83 birds. 
I was going to use it for our rough shoot but it’s too nice for that, and as I’ve now got the Benelli I always wanted, it’ll reluctantly have to go.