Percentage Of Shot Inside 30" Circle
CHOKE20 Yds30 Yds40 yds
Cylinder
80%
60%
40%
Skeet
92%
72%
50%
Improved Cylinder
100%
77%
55%
Modified
100%
83%
60%
Improved Modified
100%
91%
65%
Full
100%
100%
70%


Standard Choke Constrictions in Inches
ChokeGauge
DESIGNATION10/12/16/2020/410
Cylinder
.000"
.000"
Light Skeet
.003"
.003"
Skeet
.005"
.005"
Improved Skeet
.007"
.007"
Improved Cylinder
.010"
.009"
Light Modified
.015"
.012"
Modified
.020"
.015"
Improved Modified
.025"
.018"
Light Full
.030"
.021"
Full
.035"
.024"
Extra Full
.040"
.027"
Super Full
.050"
-------


The first lightweight shotgun was introduced in 1946.
FN PRODUCTION
Year Ending Serial Number Date Shipped Notes
1903 1 09/17/1903 First of original 10,000 orded by Browning shipped to U.S.
Marked with "BROWNING AUTOMATIC ARMS CO. OGDEN UTAH-U.S.A."
1903 4121 12/31/1903 Importation by Browning ceased 12/31/1903.
Ten 12 gauges and eight 16 gauges were imported by Browning between 12/31/1909 and 07/19/1923.
1904 10696 06/30/1904  
1904 15300 12/31/1904  
1905 18961 06/30/1905  
1905 19920 12/31/1905  
1906 21008 06/30/1906 Serial numbers during 1906 production are significantly out of sequence.
It is possible for a gun indicating production in the first half of the year to be built in the second half and vice versa.
1906 22320 12/31/1906  
1907 26040 06/30/1907  
1907 26970 12/31/1907  
1908 27990 06/30/1908  
1908 30446 12/31/1908  
1909 31740 06/30/1909 Serial numbers during 1909 production are significantly out of sequence.
It is possible for a gun indicating production in the first half of the year to be built in the second half and vice versa.
1909 33431 12/31/1909  
1910 34470 06/30/1910  
1910 35630 12/31/1910  
1911 35710 06/30/1911  
1911 35925 12/31/1911  
1912 36000 06/30/1912 Serial numbers during 1912 production are significantly out of sequence.
It is possible for a gun indicating production in the first half of the year to be built in the second half and vice versa.
1912 38988 12/31/1912  
Year Ending Serial Number Date in Warehouse Notes
1913 42651 06/30/1913  
1913 44250 12/31/1913  
1914 47000 06/30/1914  
1914 47298 07/22/1914 # 47298 was the last gun produced before WWI.
However many half completed guns and parts were safely stored during the war.
1919 47308 10/13/1919 # 47308 was the first gun sent to the warehouse following WWI.
The first gun shipped following WW1 was # 47200 shipped 08/28/1919.
1919 47718 12/31/1919  
1920 48500 06/30/1920  
1920 48950 12/31/1920  
1921 49800 06/30/1921  
1921 53500 12/31/1921  
1922 54850 06/30/1922  
1922 58150 12/31/1922  
1923 60900 06/30/1923 When shipments resumed to Browning in 1923, the oldest serial number to be shipped was a 12 ga. # 55388 shipped 07/20/1923.
This is the earliest documented importing by Browning since 1903 with an exception of approximately 18 select guns.
1923 62600 12/31/1923  
1924 63300 06/30/1924  
1924 69300 12/31/1924  
1925 72900 06/30/1925  
1925 79150 12/31/1925  
1926 80400 06/30/1926  
1926 88000 12/31/1926  
1927 94150 06/30/1927  
1927 106250 12/31/1927  
1928 119200 06/30/1928  
1928 127650 12/31/1928  
1929 143051 06/30/1929  
1929 154500 12/31/1929  
1930 173600 06/30/1930  
1930 177100 12/31/1930  
1931 179850 06/30/1931  
1931 182300 12/31/1931  
1932 182669 06/30/1932  
1932 182788 12/31/1932  
1933 183005 06/30/1933  
1933 183152 12/31/1933  
1934 183700 06/30/1934  
1934 185560 12/31/1934  
1935 190450 06/30/1935  
1935 191604 12/31/1935  
1936 192720 06/30/1936  
1936 194535 12/31/1936  
1937 197300 06/30/1937  
1937 199200 12/31/1937  
1938 205050 06/30/1938  
1938 208400 12/31/1938  
1939 214750 06/30/1939  
1939 218808 12/31/1939  
1940 224596 05/08/1940 # 224596 is the highest number accepted into the warehouse before German invasion on 05/10/1940.
However many partially completed guns were stored until the end of WWII and so it is possible to find numbers
between 223600 and 224596 having finished production after 09/27/1944.
Throughout 1944/45 most A5's sold were produced and sold to local US servicemen.
REMINGTON PRODUCTION
1940-1946 229,000-237,000   From 1940 to 1946 production of the Auto-5 was turned over to Remington.
Serial number is on the side of receiver not underneath.
"ABC" for American made Version. (A=16 gauge, B-12 gauge, C=20 gauge)
FN PRODUCTION
Year Ending Serial Number Date in Warehouse Notes
1946 228729 09/15/1946 # 228729 was the first A5 shipped to Browning following WWII.
It was received on 09/15/1946 and sold on 09/30/1946.
Between 06/1946 and 12/1946, all guns from # 228729 through # 239360 and
# 239381 through # 240984 were shipped to Browning.
Browning confirms the gap of 20 guns during that time.
1946 240950 12/31/1946  
1947 241800 06/30/1947  
1947 256600 12/31/1947  
1948 267450 06/30/1948  
1948 274100 12/31/1948  
1949 283000 06/30/1949  
1949 288550 12/31/1949  
1950 306650 06/30/1950  
1950 316750 12/31/1950  
1951 334450 06/30/1951  
1951 352050 12/31/1951  
1952 370550 06/30/1952  
1952 387500 12/31/1952  
Year Ending Serial Number Sequential - Date in Warehouse
Browning - Date Shipped		 Notes
1953 414100 06/30/1953 Serial numbering for A5's shipped to Browning changed to new format.
Guns sold to distributors other than Browning kept the sequential numbering format.
H=Standard Weight L=Light Weight
1953 L-01 10/23/1953 Dates for Browning numbered guns reflect shipment date.
1953 H-01 11/04/1953 Dates for Browning numbered guns reflect shipment date.
1953 437400
L-4450
H-6600		 12/31/1953 Dates for Browning numbered guns reflect shipment date.
1954 443800
L-23800
H-22850		 06/30/1954  
1954 447750
L-45250
H-39700		 12/31/1954  
1955 452650
L-62550
H-60300		 06/30/1955  
1955 454700
L-83600
H-83450		 12/31/1955  
1956 L-99877 05/01/1956  
1956 M-01 05/17/1956 Standard weight guns assumed the prefix "M" in May, 1956.
M-01 was shipped to Browning on 05/17/1956.
1956 457100
G-7050
M-7500		 06/30/1956  
1956 H-100000 08/31/1956  
1956 G-01 09/04/1956 Light guns assumed the prefix "G" in April, 1956.
G-01 was shipped to Browning on 09/04/1956 although
G-02 was shipped to Browning as part of a larger shipment on 04/16/1956.
1956 459900
G-35450
M-35250		 12/31/1956  
1957 463700
G-59250
M-59550		 06/30/1957  
1957 G-85950
M-86300		 12/31/1957  
1958 G-99663 04/17/1958  
1958 M-99999 05/31/1958  
Date Historic Information Serial Number Info
1958-67 From 1958 serial numbers were preceded by the date of manufacture.
8M=standard weight for 1958.
8G=light weight for 1958.
Example: 8M1000 = A 1958 Auto-5 standard weight shotgun with serial number 1000		 G85001-G99000
8G1-8G2000
M=standard weight
G=light weight
1968-76 In 1969 Browning started using two digits for the date of manufacture which was followed by a four digit code that identified the type of Auto-5:
M=standard weight
G=light weight
This was then followed by the serial number beginning with 1000.
Example: 69G1000 = A 1969 Auto-5 Lightweight 12 ga. shotgun with a serial number of 1000.		 M-standard weight
G=light weight
1976-1997 In 1976 Browning standardized its serial number identification which it followed until 1998.
1. Auto-5 Type 151=Magnum 12 gauge
161=Magnum 20 gauge
211=Light 12 gauge
221=Sweet 16
231=Light 20 gauge
2. Date of Manufacture is a two digit code Z=1
Y=2
X=3
W=4
V=5
T=6
R=7
P=8
N=9
M=0
3. Serial Number beginning with 01001 at the start of each year.

Serial Number Example:

01001RT151

This would be an Auto-5 Magnum 12 ga.,manufactured in 1976 with the serial number 01001.
1999 The Auto-5 will be discontinued for 2000. To commemorate this historic event for the Auto-5, Browning released the "Final Tribute" version in 1999.
1. Serial Number beginning with 1001 at the start of each year.
2. Date of Manufacture is a two digit code 2000 (distribution began in 1999)
3. Auto-5 Type FT="Final Tribute" 12 ga.

Serial Number Example:

2000FT1001

This would be a Auto-5 "Final Tribute" 12 ga., manufactured in 1999 with the serial number 1001.