The dove hunt represents the opening of a new season of bird hunting. With generous limits (check your local regulations) it’s a great opportunity to wake up your summer-dormant shooting skills, get a new hunter in on the action, put some miles in the legs, and test out new gear — maybe even a new shotgun like the Browning A5 Hunter 20-Gauge. 

John M. Browning filed the first patent for what would become the Auto-5 shotgun on February 9, 1900, and production of this first-of-its-kind automatic shotgun began just three short years later. Originally conceived as a 12 gauge, a smaller, lighter version chambered in 16 gauge was introduced in 1909. But it would take another 58 years for the Auto-5 to be made into a 20 gauge. Why you ask? Because Mr. Browning felt that the 20 gauge wouldn’t be significantly lighter than a gun chambered for the 16-gauge ammunition that was popular at the time.

Fast forward to 2012 and the introduction of the Browning A5. Although a vastly different shotgun from the original, it shared the humpback receiver profile and, as it turned out, also shared a similar order of release with 12-gauge models launching first, followed by the “Sweet Sixteen” 16 gauge, and now 20 gauge. Thankfully, it didn’t take 58 years this time around.  

If 12-gauge ammunition has higher velocity, more pellets, and denser patterns than comparable 20-gauge shells, why is 20 gauge even a thing? Two reasons: The size of the gun and the challenge. 

I got my first shotgun for my 12th birthday. It is an autoloader with a couple of distinct features, the most notable being a shorter, 20 gauge-specific receiver that reduced the weight of the gun by more than a pound compared to the larger 12-gauge models. The weight savings was a blessing for a scrawny kid like me. I carried that shotgun for many years, up and down mountains chasing grouse and chukar and over miles of cornfields after ringnecks. It was never too heavy to bring to my shoulder to snap off a shot before a flushing grouse melted into the dense woods or a rooster made a hasty escape. 

A lighter weight shotgun isn’t just a benefit for those hunting steep or challenging terrain; smaller statured or even older folks will also reap the benefits of a lighter gun when fatigue starts to creep in. 

20-gauge ammunition is also a factor. Simply put, it has lower recoil, making it an excellent choice for, once again, smaller shooters, older shooters, or newbies who are more likely to be sensitive to recoil. 

For experienced shooters, the 20 gauge means something different — challenge. As mentioned, 20-gauge ammo has lower velocity, fewer pellets, and a more open pattern — in short, less margin for error. These factors make developing and perfecting scattergun shooting skills even more important. 

With 12- and 16-gauge models already successful in the field, the 20-gauge A5 was a natural progression. The 20 gauge shares the same compact alloy receiver as the Sweet Sixteen. This reduces the weight of the gun to about 5 lb. 9 oz., making it easy to carry, lightning quick to the shoulder, and effortless to swing onto and through a target. 

Aside from the receiver, the A5 20-Gauge has the same field proven feature set as its larger gauge counterparts, beginning with its proven Kinematic Drive System. Like the original Auto-5, the A5 is recoil operated. However, the original gun relied on a long-travel design that sent the barrel rearward and into the receiver — hence the need for the humpback receiver shape. The new A5 differs as it is powered by a short recoil-operated Kinematic Drive System that harnesses recoil energy and converts it into the mechanical motion needed to run the action. The beauty of Kinematic Drive is the simplicity of design that results in consistent, reliable function with a wide variety of loads and under the full extremes of weather, temperature, moisture, and grime.   

Although the Kinematic Drive System of the A5 doesn’t need a humpback receiver to operate, the unique shape offers the advantage of a 30% longer sighting plane that helps you pick up and keep you on the target by making it easier for you to make the mostly instinctive changes to sight alignment.

Other features include Speed Load Plus that makes loading and unloading faster, Total Barrel Dynamics for dense, consistent shot patterns, and the exclusive Inflex Recoil Pad that pulls the stock down and away from the face for unmatched shooting comfort.

Lastly, you can’t overlook the appearance that is handsome, yet durable. The Turkish walnut stock is textured for a secure hold in all conditions and features a gloss finish that repels water. A gloss black anodized finish on the alloy receiver matches well with the deep blue of the barrel. Several vital components also have a nickel Teflon™ coating that adds corrosion protection and makes cleaning easier.

Having spent some time with the new 20-gauge A5 Hunter, it checks all the right boxes as a do-all autoloader that is equally adept for doves, quail, pheasant, and waterfowl. It is light and compact. Ergo Balanced means nimble handling, intuitive pointing, and effortless swinging — must have traits when getting a bead on crossing and flushing fowl. 

At the sporting clays range, it delivered excellent reliability. The Invector-DS system not only gives you the pattern you want for the shot presentation, but the sealed design also makes the choke easy to remove for replacement. Even though 20-gauge recoil is already light, the Kinematic Drive System ably reduces felt recoil for comfortable shooting all day long. The action will also readily cycle a wide variety of 2-3/4” and 3” shells. A chrome chamber and bore are easier to clean and resist corrosion.

An excellent all-around shotgun, its sub-6 lb. weight, nimble handling, extreme reliability, load versatility, and soft shooting make the A5 Hunter 20-Gauge an excellent choice for the dove blind.