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Posted: 11/11/2014 3:30:44 PM EDT
Just bought this a few hours ago. The lighting in the shop was really dim and I didn't notice this until examining it closely at home. 
Do you think this repair would be likely to last? Replacement stocks aren't particularly cheap and I'd probably end up having to import one. Thanks. 
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That's where Auto 5's break, through the wrist, when the recoil rings are not set properly (low brass setting) and high brass loads are used too frequently.
I agree that the stock can probably be saved by pinning it with a dowel and then refinishing it. You have to refinish the forestock at the same time to get a decent match. Don't be surprised to find one or more cracks there too. They can usually be repaired on the inside with epoxy worked into the crack if it has not gone all the way through. The wood is very thin there. That happens from guys getting ham fisted with the screw on magazine cap and, again, heavy recoil with the rings set wrong. People think they can just shoot these shotguns with the light load ring setting and use that for everything. The result is what you see. I have four Auto 5's all Belgian FN, and a Remington Model 11. The prior owner of the Model 11 (my grandfather, its original owner) split the grip wrist just like on yours and had it repaired. It is a good repair, but is visible. It never affected function. John Browning was a genius, but he expected people to treat his guns with some respect and to follow instructions. Many users didn't. |
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Not cheap but these guys have browning factory furniture in stock.
midwest gun works |
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It looks like (to me anyway) that crack has already been reparied. Is it an active crack line?
You could take a SINGLE DROP of distilled water and place it on the crack. If it wicks away into the crack then you have a problem that is only going to get worse. If the drop of water does not penetrate then it may be a sound repair. I have used "Hot Stuff" super-glue from Brownells with good results on arresting hairline cracks in wood stocks. If you are careful, you can get away with a little blending of the finish as opossed to a complete refinish. 
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Can't tell from the pic if that crack's already been repaired or not. You may have to take the stock off to assess it.
If it has not yet been repaired, you may have to soak that part of the stock in acetone to remove all the oil from the wood, or the glue won't adhere. I use expanding urethane glue, and in this case I'd also reinforce it with a pin. This will also be an opportunity to completely seal the inside of the stock with Tung oil or similar. Auto-5 screws are deliberately cut with thin slots to discourage disassembly. Make sure you buy a set of specific Auto-5 screwdriver bits from Brownells before you attempt to take the stock off. And since you're going to have the stock off, and since you'll already be placing an order with Brownells, I'd also order a replacement "action spring plug". The old ones are made of wood, and they tend to deteriorate and break. 
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Thanks again for the replies. It's been very interesting.
The dealer it was bought from has been contacted, so it'll either be returned, or they'll cover the cost of it being brought to the standard it was advertised at. It also has some other faults that weren't visible until it was given a good clean, so those are also a factor. This is actually my second Auto-5. The first one had far more serious mechanical faults and I think it may have actually been irreparable. Quoted:
It looks like (to me anyway) that crack has already been reparied. Is it an active crack line? Yes, I believe it has. I've had a few other firearms with such repairs, but they were much cleaner jobs and the only telltale was the tiny brass pin head visible in the wood. |
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Quoted:
What were they? Usually the only two things that ruin Auto-5's are rust and 'home gunsmithing'. Never found out exactly. Yes, it was very likely a result of home gunsmithing. It didn't cycle when I first acquired it, so the dealer it came from offered to repair it. After it had ostensibly been fixed, I went shooting with it and the forend burst on around the 30th cartridge fired. |
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