Browning A-500 Manual

							CAUTION: WHENEVER HANDLING ANY
SHOTGUN FOR THE PURPOSE OF
REMOVING OR INSTALLING A CHOKlNG
DEVICE, MAKE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THE
GUN IS FULLY UNLOADED, AND THE BOLT
OR BREECH IS OPEN! NEVER ATTEMPT TO
REMOVE OR INSTALL A SHOTGUN CHOKING
DEVICE ON A LOADED FlREARM!
TUBE REMOVAL-
12
3UNLOAD YOUR A-500 FULLY INSPECT
THE CHAMBER, FEED MECHANISM
AND MAGAZINE TO MAKE SURE THEY
DO NOT CONTAIN ANY SHELLS.
Open the action, locking it rearward, and
place the “safety” in the “on safe” position.
Use the Invector wrench to loosen the
tube, turning it counterclockwise. Finger-
twist the tube the rest of the way out of
the barrel.
TUBE INSTALLATION
UNLOAD YDUR A-500 FULLY INSPECT
THE CHAMBER, FEED MECHANISM
AND MAGAZINE TO MAKE SURE THEY
DO NOT CONTAIN ANY SHELLS
51 
						

							2Open the action and place the “safety” in
the “on safe” position.
3Before installing a tube, check the internal
choke tube threads in the muzzle, as well
as the threads on the Invector choke tube
to be sure they are clean. Lightly oil the
threads with an oil like Browning Oil.
4Using your fingers screw the appropriate
tube into the muzzle end of the barrel,
tapered end first, notched end outward. When
it becomes finger-tight, use the Invector
choke wrench to firmly seat the tube.
THE INVECTOR CHOKE TUBE SHOULD BE
PERIODICALLY CHECKED TO ASSURE THAT
IT IS TIGHT AND FlRMLY SEATED. BEFORE
CHECKING, FOLLOW THE SAFETY
GUIDELINES OUTLINED ABOVE.
Replacement and additional tubes and wrenches
are available from your Browning dealer, or by
writing to the Browning Consumer Department,
Route 1, Morgan, Utah 84050. (801) 543-3200.
Canadian customers please call or write to
Browning Canada Sports Ltd./Ltee, 3167 De
Miniac, St. Laurent Canada H4S 1S0 (514) 333-7261.
INVECTOR CHOKE TUBE CODE - To identify
individual Invector tubes, refer to the
abbreviated indiciations on the side of the tube,
52 
						

							or use the identification mark(s) located on the
top rim of each tube (See Figure 20).
INVECTOR TUBE SELECTION
This chart shows lead/steel choke constriction
designations for each lnvector tube within each
gauge. Designation is listed lead first, then steel:
for example, M/F means a certain tube shoots
Modified with lead shot and Full with steel shot.
Tubes listed are also available as accessories.
12 Gauge lead/SteelXF/** F/*lM/F† M/F† IC/M S/IC† C/IC†
Tube Code: XF-Extra Full, F-Full, IM-Improved Modified, M-Modified,
K-Improved Cylinder, S-Skeet C-Cylinder*Do not use  with steel shot. Using an over-tigbt choke constriction  with
steel shot will result in an ineffective, blown pattern.
**Extra Full Special with knurled rim and no rim code. Do  not use withsteel shot.When more than one choke designation is listed for a given steel shot
pattern, use the more open choke listed for high velocity larger shot sizesteel shot loads. 
						

							Use of Extra Barrels
On all Browning A-500 shotguns, barrels of the
same gauge are completely interchangeable, and
no special fitting is required. Thus, by merely
buying another barrel of a different length, or
for a different purpose (such as a Buck Special
barrel), and using the appropriate lnvector choke
tube, you have acquired the utility of another
gun at a traction of the cost of a new gun; a
duck gun becomes a fine upland game gun, a
pheasant gun becomes a rifled slug deer gun.
Sight Adjustment for Buck
Special 
Barrels
Buck Special barrels are equipped with a
precision rear sight which is screw adjustable for
both horizontal and vertical correction.
WINDAGE ADJUSTMENT - To move point of
impact to the RIGHT, loosen the small screw on
the right side of the sight. Then tighten the small
screw on the left side of the sight. To move point
of impact to the LEFT loosen the small screw on
the left side of the sight and tighten the screw
on the right side. This is a process of trial and 
error. Make small adjustments then check the
54point of impact. 
						

							VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT - Adjustment of the
sight is controlled by the screw located on top of
the sight. To RAISE the point of impact, turn the
screw in a counterclockwise direction. To
LOWER the point of impact, turn the screw in a
clockwise direction. Vertical adjustment is also a
process of trial and error.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Suggestions
You should clean your A-500 whenever it becomes
excessively dirty - and perform a thorough
cleaning at least once a year. The barrel should
be cleaned, and the action wiped clean and
oiled after every day of shooting. If a malfunction
occurs, perform a thorough cleaning, to see if it
solves the problem, before seeking the services
of a Browning Recommended Service Center,
the Browning Service Facility in Arnold,
Missouri, or a competent gunsmith.
Normal maintenance can be accomplished with 
the barrel still attached to the receiver (oiling
and wiping down). More careful cleaning
requires removal of only the barrel from the
receiver (cleaning the barrel). A complete
cleaning requires removal of the breechblock
and trigger group.
55 
						

							PERIODIC OILING- Ordinary good judgment
will indicate that the metal parts of the gun
should receive a light film of oil after the gun
has been exposed to weather or handling.
Occasionally, a small drop of oil may be placed
on each receiver track in which the barrel
extension guides and breechblock run during
operation (See Figure 21). This will help to
relieve friction and ensure smooth operation.
Also, lightly lubricate the breechblock, rotary
bolt and spring guides. DO NOT POUR LARGE
QUANTITIES OF OIL INTO THE ACTION. A
large excess of oil will run back into the wood of
the stock and cause softening of the wood, with
consequential loosening of the stock.
56 
						

							CLEANING PROCEDURES - The correct pro-
cedure for cleaning your A-500 shotgun is as follows:
BE CERTAIN YOUR SHOTGUNS
MAGAZINE, FEED MECHANISM AND
CHAMBER ARE UNLOADED. PLACE
THE “SAFETY” IN THE “ON SAFE”
POSITION. ALWAYS WEAR
PROTECTIVE SAFETY GLASSES
DURING ALL DISASSEMBLY AND
CLEANING PROCEDURES.
Remove the barrel so that it can be
cleaned from the breech end (See
“Disassembly . . . ” on page 21).
Using a shotgun cleaning rod with tip and
patch large enough for a snug fit in the
bore, insert the rod and patch in the
breech end of the barrel and run back and
forth through the bore several times.
Remove and wipe the Invector tube, tube
threads and barrel threads, and lightly oil. 
Inspect the bore from both ends for
leading by looking through bore toward
light. Leading will appear as dull
longitudinal streaks and is usually more
predominant near the muzzle and just
forward of the chamber.
57 
						

							5A normal amount of leading can be
expected with today’s high velocity loads
and improved wads but this is not serious.
If or when leading should become heavy, it
can be removed with a brass bore brush.
Make sure a choke tube is installed. Spray
the bore or the bore brush with a good
powder solvent, and scrub the bore until
leading is removed. To prevent brass
bristles from breaking off, the brush should
be pushed completely through the bore
before being withdrawn.
6After leading has been removed, the bore
should be wiped dry with a clean patch,
and then a lightly oiled patch run through
it for preservation.
7If .the gun has been exposed to much dust,
dirt, mud or water, the principal working
parts should be wiped clean and lubricated
with a light film of oil. Browning Oil is
recommended.
8 Remove the forearm buffer and recoilspring. Wipe the magazine tube clean of
all dirt and grit. Lightly oil and wipe dry
9When the action becomes excessively 
dirty, remove the trigger group and
breechblock assembly from the receiver as
58 
						

							explained under “Full Disassembly . . . ” on
page 31. Clean with an oil such as Browning
Oil or a gun solvent as necessary, using an old
toothbrush to loosen any caked-on grime.
Wipe the receiver cavity clean. Lightly oil
the cavity (aerosol Browning Oil is ideal)
and wipe it dry. No further disassembly is 
required for cleaning.
Reassemble the trigger group, breechblock,
and the barrel to the receiver. Then wipe all
exposed metal surfaces with an oiled cloth
making sure to wipe your A-500 clean of all
finger marks where moisture will accumulate.
The barrel and action should be inspected 
to assure that all cleaning patches have
been removed and not inadvertently left in
the barrel or action.
The wood surfaces can also be wiped with
Browning Oil or they can be polished with
any quality furniture wax (but not both).
DO NOT TAKE YOUR GUN’S ACTION APART
BEYOND THE EXTENT EXPLAINED IN THIS
MANUAL This is a specialized, finely fitted
mechanism, and you may mar it for life by an attempt
to disassemble the inner mechanism assemblies. Do
not disassemble the breechblock and trigger group
more than described. If further disassembly is 
required, take your gun to a Browning Recom-
mended Service Center or a competent gunsmith.
59 
						

							Service or Repair
If your A-500 should require service or repairs,
we suggest you first contact a local recommended
Browning Firearms Service Center. Your
Browning Sporting Goods dealer can tell you the
address of the Service Center nearest you, or
you may call or write our Consumer Information
Department in Morgan, Utah (801) 543-3200.
Otherwise you may return your shotgun to our
own repair facility for servicing. The address is:
Browning Service Department 
3005 Arnold 
Tenbrook Road
Arnold, Missouri 63010-9406 Phone: 
1-800-322-4626
Canadian Customers call or write:
Browning Canada Sports Ldt./Ltee,
3167 De Miniac, St-Laurent, Quebec H4S 1S0
(514) 333-7261
When returning your A-500 for servicing, please
be sure it is unloaded, and that it is packaged
securely in a cardboard container. Under no
circumstances should ammunition be returned as
it is against postal and most commerce
regulations. YOU MUST ENCLOSE A LETTER
WITH THE GUN that clearly describes the
trouble experienced and the repairs or
alterations desired.
60