roxymajor

I'll give you the longevity of the A5 has not been proven. But WHAT IS NEW is this gun COMBINES the auto-load feature with a sub 7 lb gun, with a 3.5" port, with an inertia recoil system. THAT IS NEW! Not to mention the other features above. I am still a Benelli fan, but this gun has an advantage in our sport.

Yes. My bad. Thinking 2 3/4 since that is what we shoot.

i think most competitors wrote off the the New A5 Brownelli when it came out a few years ago as a 2 3/4" platform. If you have handled a new A5 3.5" Stalker 26", you have to be impressed. The auto load feature is lighting fast, the 3.5" loading port is a huge improvement, and the gun weights under 7 pounds with a 10 tube! Joe Pitha and I shot the Versa Chall this month with the A5 3.5"and we had many stages where we had some nice advantages. In a shotgun match, it is a big advantage. You don't need an extended/enhanced bolt release, and you won't need a MatchSaverZ. I posted this on another thread.... Advantages---- compared to most shotguns. ++++ auto load feature HUGE FEATURE, especially in shotgun only match. +++ low profile forearm GREAT FOR QUAD LOADERS. +++ under 7 pounds with 10rd Nordic tube. (The official Browning weight is way off! ). ++ the tube mouth is pretty close to the bottom of the forearm ++ you can mill past the shell stop quite a ways. ++ shell catch has nice unload feature, great for practicing. + rubber coating is nice. (My opinion). + POA/poi good (the ones I have seen). + 4 round length forearm + Brownelli (inertia recoil system) +cleaning vs gas. Disadvantages---- --recoil stiffer than gas op systems --Not a proven design with long durability like Benelli. -- needs trigger work - shell catch is a little quirky after adding 8-10 rds in tube.

From what I have read, 3.5" A5 was announced at Shot Show Jan 2013. Don't think their were too many on the shelves until this year.

Yes. I ran 25 Rem STS 1145fps 1 1/8oz at the range. The weird part was I really didn't notice the difference in recoil between the AA Win 1200 fps 1 1/8oz and the 1145 Rem in the A5. I even mixed them up in the tube. So I took the AA 1200s to the NC match. Ran 100%. I talked with Greg Jordan at the ProAm. He said his ran 1145s and up. Anything less is rolling the dice. I had a pic saved from the range day a month ago.... The second pic shows the mill work and Magpul Green Cerakote after milling the receiver.

What advantages do you speak of? The auto lad feature is a game changer but the serial number is in the bad spot for the weakhand loader to open up the port very much. You just have to machine the left side close to the serial numbers. If you are talking about the 3.5" A5, the port is plenty big for most shooters. My shop has the CNC milling machine all programmed ready to go. The loading port on the 3.5" A5 offers a longer port after opening. It is a different kind of feel when loading. The Benelli is more push/stop and the A5 is more push/follow through (if that makes sense. Poke vs stroke ?). Both are good, just a little different. Advantages---- compared to most shotguns. ++++ auto load feature HUGE FEATURE, especially in shotgun only match. +++ low profile forearm GREAT FOR QUAD LOADERS. +++ under 7 pounds with 10rd Nordic tube. (The official Browning weight is way off! ). ++ the tube mouth is pretty close to the bottom of the forearm ++ you can mill past the shell stop quite a ways. ++ shell catch has nice unload feature, great for practicing. + rubber coating is nice. (My opinion). + POA/poi good (the ones I have seen). + 4 round length forearm + Brownelli (inertia recoil system) +cleaning vs gas. Disadvantages---- --recoil stiffer than gas op systems --Not a proven design with long durability like Benelli. -- needs trigger work - shell catch is a little quirky after adding 8-10 rounds. Not a big deal.

I ran the new Big Bore Performance A5 3.5" at The Versamax Challenge this month. I shot my prototype A5 modified load port/lifter, ran 100% (I wish my brain ran 100% that match). Just need to make the lifters pretty for you boys so they will be ready to sell. The auto-load feature definitely had a huge advantage on many stages.

Kurt, if you will pay for the trip, yes! No world shoot for me unless I hit lotto, or they move it from Italy to the US. Also my cockiness has subsided a little after my last match (shot with Romero and had to take notes). The other thing you will get a kick out of is that I am playing with the new Browning A5. So no pistol grip on that YET! I still love my PG Benelli...I shot the A5 at the last match and It kinda felt like I cheated on my wife.

I worked the mud pit stage at Blue Ridge. I handled 90% of all the shooter's shotguns. The survey above is almost exactly what counted at the match. The only diff was there were less Mossbergs and more Berettas... a few more FNs. Which makes sense, considering most of these shooters were seasoned vets. I predict that the new Browning A5 (3.5" Stalker) will grow big over the next few years. I have been a long time Benelli fan, but after shooting the A5 at the Tarheel Versa Chal this month in NC, I have found it has too many advantages that long time Benelli owners may not be able to resist.

No. Those are the plain Benelli "rifle sights" that come on the tac models. The front sight and back sight base do NOT have separate Benelli item numbers and are part of the barrel. The front sight was machined while on the barrel.

Hotlanta shotgunning in January! Awesome.

LimbSaver AirTech mod for a M1 pistol grip stock (not sure if the M2 pistol grip needs this mod).... The new AirTech pad needs an offset adjustment to attach to a M1 Pistol Grip. If you study the pics, you should not have any problems. Measure and mark the hard plastic interface piece (included with the AirTech pad) for the new screw hole. Drill and make countersink for what ever screw head you are going to use. Don't forget to grind off the bottom corner to prevent from catching your shirt when mounting shotgun.

Absolutely! With the rifle sights ( with some mods) and a multi-choke barrel you even have an advantage. The rifle sight 18" barrel gives you lighter weight, a much wider adjustable shot spread, and better slug point of aim. The pistol grip gives you more gun control in awkward positions and even less recoil than most str stocks with the right butt pad. Must have mods.... 9 or 10 rd tube Taran Tac lifter Taran Tac Reduce recoil spring Paint the sights (orange Testers brand model paint works great) AirTech LimbSaver. See next post for DIY. Open up loading port. Get a good gun smith to do. Many other posts on this. Here are the relevant pics below... Contact me if you have questions.

I have the RCI, very happy.

Definitely a cylinder choke. On 75% of your local match stages with your 24" barrel, cylinder choke will do. Diffuser chokes are great but expensive, especially nice on Clay stages.

Saw that all the time before replacing my self welded carrier-lifter with the TTI. When I used faster fps shells, the gun cycled.

I would suggest before you go hog wild on messing with or buying anything ... - try another lot of those slugs. Or buy a hotter slug. Fed truball 1350 ? This will probably fix without any mods. -sounds like you have already polished the extractor groove to an angled edge and dull (usually a temporary fix). - send back your shell carrier-lifter to the maker? ...to get back in spec. Of course if that doesn't work you can tweak your carrier-lifter ( nothing to loose) or purchase a carrier lifter. I suggest Taran's carrier-lifter and a lighter recoil spring if you are shooting those lighter loads.

LOST AND FOUND. I found bikini scope covers on stage 3 Sat. I thought they were for my squad but nobody claimed them. Forgot to turn in to Gary for Rock. Pm me if you know anybody that lost them and I will mail.

Get out your Benelli manual. "Carrier" is what you are calling "shell lifter".

I talked with "Head Worked" and he has very-very lightened bolt carrier. I think that is causing the recoil issue for that particular M2.

Is the taran tac carrier not lightened? It is the first item it list on the features for the carrier on his website. Also how would a reduced recoil spring help with a cycling problem resulting from pressure on the recoil tube... seems that would exaggerate the problem to me. SHELL carrier. NOT bolt carrier. Edited above. Not sure where you are going with the second question. This set up works.

PISTOL GRIP M1/M2 reliability/recoil. I know this works... Do NOT lighten bolt carrier. Use Taran Tac reduce recoil spring. Use Taran Tac SHELL carrier. Use Limbsaver "Airtech" (needs some fitting, pm me if you need help). Shoot =>1145+ fps 1-1/8 oz. I shoot 1200 1-1/8 oz. Also. My buddy was having problems with his 30" PG-M1 with a lightened bolt. Runs perfect now with the Taran spring and carrier. RKI

Great video and trigger pulling! Just noticing your last couple of match videos don't have any good shots of you reloading. What is that all about???? Inquiring shooters want to know! Very impressive beating the open class Rob.

Went to Italy in 2011, WOW that was expensive! Large cash sponsor!

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