The Gun We’ve All Been Waiting For
Brenden Gallagher for SPLIT REED
For a lot of folks the name Browning is synonymous with thoughts and images of grandads ‘ol humpback A5. A shotgun that everyone knows and one of the best-selling autoloaders to ever exist. Whether you head afield with a handed-down A5 or you’re hunting with one of the latest models–available in a variety of new camo patterns like Auric & Vintage Tan–it’s a gun that many wing shooters have come to love.
After decades of field proven functionality, the A5 is finally making an appearance in a highly anticipated gauge. One that sportsmen and shotgun enthusiasts have been asking for, for decades. The Browning A5 chambered in 20-Gauge is finally here.
Field Review
If you haven’t hunted with a 20 gauge in a while (or if you never have) this gun will make you fall in love with sub-gauge hunting all over again. 20 gauges have been a favorite of upland hunters for a while now, that’s no secret, but it’s becoming ever more popular in the waterfowl hunting scene as shot shell performance for smaller gauges continues to develop. That all said whether it’s chasing pheasants through the cattails or decoying mallards in-tight on skinny water, with an A5 20 gauge it just feels right.
This Fall I had the opportunity to spend some time chasing pheasants out west with the new A5 20 gauge along with some of the Split Reed crew. One of the big draws in hunting with a 20 gauge is how much lighter they are than their 12 gauge counterparts. Having a light shotgun can make for an enjoyable and fun shoot but when you start to think about shooting a light shotgun it all comes down to balance. The new A5 is light like many other guns but it is balanced incredibly well. On the swing, the gun is almost unnoticeable, like a true extension of your body. Wherever I moved to meet a bird it was right there with me and it didn’t miss a beat. The lighter design and ergonomics of the A5 lend themselves to a gun that is the perfect all-day companion for walking hedgerows and cattail sloughs in search of old Mr. Rooster. Rain and mist on our hunt made for longer walks and soaked pants as the birds held tight trying to escape the weather but that didn’t stop us from kicking up a few and knocking them down with ease.
With an aluminum alloy receiver still featuring the humpback design, this gun is every bit as nostalgic as it is modern. Soft recoil, fast cycling, and reliability are all things that make great shotguns like the A5 great. They’re also the things that make a shotgun fun to use, and if that’s of any interest to you then I highly recommend you check out the new Browning A5 20 gauge.
Field Notes From The Team
“I had the chance to take the new A5 20 gauge up to North Dakota and hunt pheasants with it for a week. This gun is the one. It is light, it shoulders perfectly, and brings back that humpback look to the sub gauge world. Where we hunt in North Dakota it’s expansive sections of CRP, long winding draws with cattails that require you to be on your feet walking for miles, and having a gun as light as the new 20 gauge paired with the reliability of the A5 platform is a game changer". -Taylor Dunnigan
“I was lucky enough to take the new A5 20 gauge on an upland hunt chasing quail and pheasants. This gun was perfect for the job. It was light enough to carry for miles, while also feeling sturdy and solid in the hand. This gun shouldered perfectly for those quick-snap type shots on flushing quail. The recoil was smooth, so it was easy to get on target for a second bird. This gun was worth the wait!”. -Brant Tullidge
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