doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Browning B-SS ruminations and questions.

Hello, folks. Found this site via google. While I�ve been active, on and off, in competitive rifle, pistol, and slug gun for 35+ years, I�m a complete novice when it comes to wingshooting and sporting shotguns. But here I am with a (relatively) new-to-me Browning B-SS boxlock. I�m at once enamored and curious.

Vital statistics:

• 12 gauge
• 28-inch barrels, 2-3/4� chambers
• Choked Modified & Full
• Early model, single non-selective trigger, �Made in Japan�
• Automatic safety
• Ejectors
• Wood is pistol grip & beavertail
• 7 lbs, 4 ozs

I�ve had the thing for almost a year, but only managed to try it out for the first time about six weeks ago. Curious to see if I could actually hit anything with it, I contacted a local clay pigeon club and set up an hour of private instruction and coaching. The coach had me read off my gauge, barrels, and chokes over the phone, and said, �We�ll try trap.�

Showed up on the appointed day, got my basic fliegerabwehrkanone course in before lunch, stuffed monstrous amounts of 1-oz #8s into the starboard tube through the afternoon, and went home with a slightly tender right shoulder, an unusual bruise on my inner right bicep, and a few more broken clays than I�d expected.

Had so much fun that I�ve been back three times since. New personal best every time. (American trap, 16-yard line, wobble.)

Every time but one, I�ve been the only SxS shooter on the property. Apart from encountering a stray Baikal juxtaposed last weekend (which generated a nice conversation), I�ve only seen over-unders and gas singles on the line and in the racks. The shotgun and I have both gotten stared at.

I don�t mind.

The idea of simply showing up to shoot this anachronistic farm implement in casual competition against purpose-built Berettas and K-80s appeals to me as much as hitting the clays does. I�ve shot and owned a few exotic target rifles and target pistols, but there�s something about walking onto the line with whatever you happen to have, and leaving the line having had a good day. This Browning has given me 4/4 good days.

I also enjoy just looking at it. It�s well-drawn and well-made, in a robust kind of way. Glossy polyurethane varnish and all.

Now, the questions:

I�ve done a bit of reading. This combination of gauge, barrel length, chokes, stock design, and weight doesn�t seem ideally-suited to any one specific hunting or competitive pursuit on earth. What were Browning thinking when they offered it? Was it intended to be a �close-enough all-rounder?� Something to keep behind the farmhouse door? Or were they tripping balls?

And-

I�ve noticed that after four or five rounds of trap, shooting right barrel only, one of the lower receiver crosspins drifts right. Stands proud enough to be noticeable by accidental touch. I�ve just been pounding it back into place with my shoe gently pressing it back to center with something made of hard plastic and carrying on shooting, but should I be worried? Or is this a common thing with B-SSs and/or boxlocks?

Welcome on your first post here, Fudd. You picked a nice sxs for your entry into the wingshooting sport. You question what the 28" M&F barrel arrangement is for. Pheasants and prairie grouse. You may be in the wrong end of Canada for that, but it also makes a nice duck gun if you shoot bismuth or other non-steel no-tox shot. Don't shoot steel in your full choke barrel. As for targets, it makes a nice trap arrangement.

Your receiver pins should not be drifting. It may be someone took the action apart and put the pin back in wrong. Have a gun-smith look at it...Geo

Thank you, Mr. Newbern. Wrong end of Canada is correct. I�ve got ruffed grouse and spruce grouse in mixed forest, at hiking staff distances. Pheasants are something I�ve only read about in cookbooks.

As for the crosspins... are they tapered, generally? Unidirectional?

The pin drifting out, you are referring to, is a common problem with BSS guns that are shot very much. Mine did it, too. Scarify it where it contacts the action on each side and it will probably stay in place.

The BSS is an easy S X S to shoot. It is "shooter friendly". It is a little above a "farm implement" grade gun, and is well designed, IMO. I opened the F (left) barrel on mine to modified and have shot steel in it at ducks for years. No problems with doing so. 28" barrels are fine, until you want something longer. For casual shooting and hunting with it, they will do great. Mine is not selective either. When you choke both barrels the same you don't have to think about it.

Welcome to the forum, SRH

A BSS is just about the best value going in a quality SxS, so it was a smart purchase. I have four of them (depending on how you count one that is a box of parts right now). I have used one of my 20s with steel for ducks, no problem. Converted one of my 12s to a two barrel set, 28" and 30". Converting the box of parts into a 20 ga 28" Sporter with a set of factory Sporter wood and trigger guard that I found. I like them a lot. The 12/28/M&F is a great gun for late season doves, especially in windy weather.

The drifting pin is easily fixed by applying a dab of blue Loctite and pushing it back in. If that does not work, you can lightly peen the shaft (or have a gunsmith do it).

That was my first good quality sxs which according to my records I bought in 1991 for $549. It had 26" barrel 1/4-1/2 chokes and single non-selective trigger. Couple of things I didn't like about the gun were: big paddle-tail front wood, heavy weight and chamber area being prone to rust. The pins should not drift. Good luck with the gun.
PS Europeans got much nicer 'Anson' version with oil-finished wood, splinter front wood and double triggers if I recall correctly.

Fudd,
I had a 28" BSS Sporter choked Mod/Full several years ago as my first SxS to try out the waters and loved it. After shooting it exclusively for a few weeks to give success a chance I was hooked. I used it for pheasants, sporting clays and it worked well. The sporter had a matt finished stock, trimmer forend and handled great for me.
I finally sold it to aquire my BSS sidelock guns and wish I had kept it. I had the same problem with the pin, and simply did what Replacement did, but be sure to clean the area with alcohol before putting the blue Locktite on. That solved the problem for me. That first SxS may be the first of many to come. It was for me!
Karl

Fudd, I'm surprised you got a bruise shooting an ounce of 8's in that gun, unless maybe they were the "warp speed" variety. Look for the same load at less than 1200 fps. Easier on your shoulder. Or you might even try 1 1/8 oz at 1145 fps. I've shot those in guns a good bit lighter than a BSS without any pain.

Thanks to all who�ve replied. I�ll try the Loctite, and keep an eye on it.

Seeing a B-SS in an early 70s Browning catalogue as a child was my first glimpse of a side-by-side.... Elmer Fudd�s ever-present double excepted. I�ve had a bee in my bonnet for juxtaposeds in general and the B-SS specifically ever since. Glad I finally have one. The pin-drift issue aside, it�s been as reliable as a brick for the few hundred shells I�ve put through it so far. And the coach at the trap & skeet club said it seems to fit me well. I enjoy busting porcelain frisbees with it. Feels right. When I�m doing it properly, it feels transparent.

Fudd, I don't know where you are in Canada but a bunch of us get together once or twice a year to shoot our SxS's at clays and spend a day NOT being the weird guys at the range with the old guns. If you are in Ontario, drop me a PM and I'll get you into the loop. All very casual, not competitive, just fun.