Browning A-500 Manual

							chamber. This permits you to quickly change the
load in the chamber of the gun without going to
the trouble of unloading the whole magazine. For
instance, in this way a duck load can quickly be taken
out and a goose load inserted, if the need arises.
To operate the magazine cutoff, merely manipulate 
the lever to the “MC” or “R” positions. The “MC”
position engages the magazine cutoff (See Figure
S-A). The “R” position (See Figure S-B) places the
magazine in conventional repeater position,
chambering a shell from the magazine each time
the breechblock cycles rearward (as when you
shoot or manually cycle the breechblock).
Also, with the magazine cutoff in operation, and with
the chamber empty and the breechblock locked in
the rearward position, a loaded shell may be 
						

							instantly delivered from the magazine to the cham-
ber by merely moving the lever from the “MC” posi-
tion (magazine cutoff), to the “R (repeater) position.
When the breechblock is locked rearward, BE
CAREFUL TO KEEP YOUR FINGERS CLEAR OF THE
LOADING PORT AND EJECTION PORT WHEN
MOVING THE LEVER FROM “MC” TO “R
Full Disassembly: Trigger Group
and Breech Bolt
NOTE:  All current production A-500 shotguns
have an improved trigger group assembly. You
can confirm this by the letter ‘H’ stamped on
the trigger guard (See Figure 10).
If your trigger guard does not have the letter “H”
stamped on it then please contact our Browning
Service Department toll tree at 1-800-322-4626
for information on how to get the improved
trigger assembly installed on your A-500.
If a malfunction occurs, or if the action becomes
excessively dirty, it is advisable to disassemble
the action for a complete cleaning as explained
below. Detailed cleaning procedures are outlined 
under “Cleaning and Maintenance” on page 54.
Full disassembly involves removal of the
breechblock assembly and the trigger group.
Any disassembly beyond this should only be
31 
						

							Parts List
PART NO.P014001P014005P014008P0l4012P014016P014020P0l4025
*P0l4030 P0l4034
P0l4038*P0l4044-P0l4048*P01 4052*P0l4056P0l4060 
P0l4065
P0l4070*P0l4076 
*P0l4084
‘PO14089P0l4095* P014101
P0l4105
P0l4110
*P0l4115 P0l4120
*P0l4125
P0l4130 
P0l4134
P0l4138
*P0l4144 P0l4148 
P0l4155
P0l4160P0l4164P0l4l68P0l4172P0l4178P0l4182P0l4186
DESCRIPTIONAction Spring Front     (2)
Action Spring Guide (2)Action  Spring Guide Pin
Action Spring Guide Washer (2)ActIon  Spring Rear (2)
Barrel Extension
Barrel 
SpringBoltBolt  Cam Pin
Bolt Spring
BreechblockBreechblock BufferBreechblock  Buffer CoreBreechblock LeverBreechblock Lever PinBreechblock  Lever Spring
Buffer Rings (9)
Butt  StockCarrier
Carrier Dug
Carrier Dug Pin
Carrier  &
 Carrier Dug Spring
Carrier Pin 
Carrier 
PinCirclip  (2)
Carrier Latch   P0l4302
Carrier Latch Spring  P0l4308
Cartridge  Stop 
(Breechblock  *¡P014315Release Button)  *p0l4320Cartridge Stop & Carrier Latch    *PO14324
Pin  PO14328Cartridge Stop &  Carrier Latch  PO14332Pin ClipCartridge Stop Spring*P011340PO14344Disconnector  POl4350Disconnector Pin  PO14354Ejector PO14358Extractor  ‘PO14364Extractor Inner Spring  PO14370Extractor Outer Spring  PO14375Extractor Pin  POl4360Firing Pin  PO14385Firing Pin Cover  POl4390Firing Pin Spring  PO14395
l PART NO.PO14190*PO14196P014204PO14210-PO14215PO14220 
PO14225
PO14230
PO14234 
PO14240 
PO14245
PO14246
PO14254
P0l4258
P0l4262P0l4268 
P0l4274
P0l426oP0l4266 
P0l4290
P0l4294 PART NAME
Firing Pin Stop 
PinForearm
Front Ring
Front Sight.
Hammer
Hammer Pin
Magazine Cap
Magazine Cap Retainer
Magazine Cap with Eyelet Magazine 
CuttoffMagazine Cutloff  Pin
Magazine Cuttoff Plunger
Magazine Cuttoff Plunger
Spring 
Magazine Cuttoff Plunger 
Spring 
RetainerMagazine Follower
Magazine Spring
Magazine Spring Retainer
Magazine Three Shot Adaptor
Mainspring
Mainspring Guide
Mainsprig  Guide Pin
Hammer 
Operating Handle 
Rear  Ring
Receiver with TubeSafetySafety  Plunger
Safety Plunger Spring
Safety Spring Stop PinSearSear  PinStock ScrewStock Screw Lock WasherStock  Screw Washer
Trigger
Trigger  Guard
Trigger  Guard Pin Sleeve
Trigger  Guard Retaining NutTrigger  Guard Retaining Screw
Trigger Pin 
Trigger Spring 
						

							performed by a competent gunsmith. ALWAYS
WEAR EYE PROTECTION WHEN PERFORMING
ANY MAINTENANCE OR DISASSEMBLY
REMOVING THE TRIGGER GROUP - You will
need two medium blade screwdrivers to remove
the trigger guard retaining screws (the trigger
guard retaining nut and the trigger guard
retaining screw). Make sure the screwdrivers are
of appropriate size to prevent damage to the
slotted heads. No other tools are necessary.
1Remove the barrel as explained under
“Disassembly . . . ”on page 21. Set the
forearm, as well as the forearm buffer and
spring, aside.
2Release the breechblock to its forward position
as follows: While holding the operating
handle back (by applying rearward pressure)
depress the breechblock release button.
Allow the breechblock to travel slowly
forward, controlling and slowing its
forward travel until it is fully forward. The
head of the rotary bolt should project
about 1/2 from the front of the receiver.
3Insert a screwdriver into the retaining nut
slot and the other screwdriver into the
retaining screw slot. Hold one side from
35 
						

							turning while unscrewing the opposite side
(See Figure 9).
Remove the retaining nut and screw from
the receiver.
With the gun inverted (trigger guard up),
grasp the trigger guard and pull it up,
forward and out from the receiver (See
Figure 10). DO NOT DISASSEMBLE THE
TRIGGER GROUP BEYOND  THIS POINT
Perform all cleaning with the trigger group
kept intact as an assembly
REMOVING THE BREECHBLOCK - Normal
procedure is to remove the trigger group first, as
explained previously. 
						

							12Remove the operating handle as follows:
With your left hand, push on the bolt head
moving the breechblock about 
1/2 back
into the receiver, lining up the operating
handle with the notch at the bottom front
of the ejection port (See Figure ll-A). With
your right hand grasp the operating handle
and pull it outward, removing it from the
breechblock (See Figure ll-B).
The breechblock will now be able to move
forward about another 1/2. Again, push
rearward on the bolt head, depressing the
breechblock back into the receiver about
1/4. With your right hand, reach in with a
finger and push on the breechblock lever
37 
						

							found on the bottom side of the breechblock
(See Figure 12). The breechblock lever serves
to retain the breechblock in the receiver.
(SPECIAL NOTE: It is possible to remove
the breechblock first before removing the
trigger group. You will need simultaneously
push rearward 1/4 on the breechblock
and “reach” in through the opening at the
front of the carrier to depress the
breechblock lever, using the eraser end of
a pencil, a small wood dowel, a
screwdriver, or other similar object.)
With the breechblock lever pressed, remove
the breechblock forward, out of the front
of the receiver. The action springs will stay
attached to the breechblock, projecting
from the rear The breechblock is now fully
removed  DO  NOT DISASSEMBLE THE
BREECH BLOCK BEYOND  THIS POINT.
Reassembly: Trigger Group and
Breechblock
REINSTALLING THE BREECHBLOCK
ASSEMBLY -
1Insert the breechblock into the receiver
opening, action springs first. The guides on
39 
						

							the breechblock must fit in the receiver tracks.
Make sure the front action springs fit over
the ends of the action spring guides (See
Figure 13). Push the breechblock in far
enough that the breechblock lever engages,
holding the breechblock in the receiver.
Simultaneously push back on the breechblock
while depressing the breechblock release
button until the notch in the ejection port
lines up with the operating handle recess
on the breechblock. Make sure that the
action springs are compressed inside the
recesses in the breechblock, and that the
ends of the action spring guides start into
40