Browning A5 drill/tap

[rakkin6]

Quick question for you guys. I have been looking for a semi-auto turkey gun. Found a good deal on a used Browning A5 never shot still in the box. It is not drilled and tapped for a scope mount. Due to some eye issues I need either a red dot or low power scope. Are these guns able to be drilled and tapped for a mount? I have read some places that there is not enough material and some say they have done it. Or is their another way to mount a scope on it besides the cantilever mount(have read nothing but bad things about it). Thanks for the help guys, Happy Thanksgiving.

[the Ward]

Not sure about drilling and tapping one. Sumtoy would be the one to ask.If it can't be drilled and tapped, the Meadow Creek mount is a good option. It mounts to the rib so you can use a holo sight like the Fastfire. It is not a canteliever mount. Works great and is a good quality mount, quite a few members here are using them. If you do a search on the forum  you can see how they work, as i haven't been able to get pics to post or i could show you mine.

[rakkin6]

Thanks, I sent a message to William over at Sumtoy. Obviously it will be a few days for a response due to the holidays. Went and looked at the meadow Creek mounts also. If the A5 can't be drilled and tapped I will go that route. Going to be weird having the red dot down that far.

[Stickbow98]

My A-5 has been drilled and tapped for more than 35 years now and is fitted with a Weaver side mount.
Has held up like a charm!

[Tom007]

Thanks, I sent a message to William over at Sumtoy. Obviously it will be a few days for a response due to the holidays. Went and looked at the meadow Creek mounts also. If the A5 can't be drilled and tapped I will go that route. Going to be weird having the red dot down that far.

If you can't drill and tap it, don't be afraid of the rib mount option. I thought, like you, that it would be weird having the optic further away. It does give you a great field of view around the optic where you can look around it easily helping you pick up the bird without moving your head. I find this to really help me in picking him up as he comes into gun range. Whatever route you go, thats a great gun, best of luck....

[zeke632]

I took a newer A-5 to a gunsmith to get drilled and tapped, he said he couldn't do it.

[Cottonmouth]

My A-5 has been drilled and tapped for more than 35 years now and is fitted with a Weaver side mount.
Has held up like a charm!

The newer A5's are made with alot thinner material.

[scattergun]

I can't speak for the new A-5, which has absolutely nothing in common with the old auto 5. The true A-5/auto 5 John Browning design. I love rib mounted sights, but I'm not sure this would be a great place for one. The barrel of an auto 5 retracts every shot, and it would be very rough on a sight as the barrel hits back every time. Yes, you can definitely drill and tap the receivers for a scope mount. The very best was the Da Mar base sold by Brownells, but it appears to have been discontinued in the last year or two.

[SumToy]

It can be did but I would put some epoxy under it also.