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Jul 28th, 2025
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4
Boxlock
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OP
Boxlock
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4 |
Stumbled on a Browning BSS Sidelock, 12 gauge, 26" barrels, M & IC chokes, leather case, snap caps, and slip on recoil pad at a shop here. They want $4,000. It's in great shape. I don't really know this gun, but everything I've read indicates it's a good one. Would you bite?
Last edited by Minnesota Joe; 01/27/12 08:07 AM.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,598
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,598 |
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,572 Likes: 165
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,572 Likes: 165 |
Agree with Pete. Decent price. Lots more 12's than 20's out there, and most of them--unfortunately for the current preference for 28" or longer barrels--are 26". They're good guns. The article Pete linked gives a good review of the gun, both the things Browning/Miroku did right, and those things (fairly minor) they could have done better.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 424
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 424 |
I had one about 12 years ago. My only complaints would be my distaste for it's weight with 26 inch barrels.
I sold her back then for more than I gave for her. Double Gun Journal featured the Browning BSS side lock in an article a month or two before I sold her and I had a bunch of phone calls for her when I offered her for sale.
I made a profit and bought another British light 12. She is one of the ones that have gone down the road that I probably should have kept.
bc
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 673 Likes: 17
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 673 Likes: 17 |
Interesting discussion on the BSS sidelocks, and a great article by Flynn.
For those of you that know something about these, if $4K is the value range for a 12 ga. sidelock BSS in 26inch barrel, what is the going value of a 20 ga. version?
Thanks in advance,
GG
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,028 Likes: 125
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,028 Likes: 125 |
Interesting discussion on the BSS sidelocks, and a great article by Flynn.
For those of you that know something about these, if $4K is the value range for a 12 ga. sidelock BSS in 26inch barrel, what is the going value of a 20 ga. version?
Thanks in advance,
GG $6,000 Jaqua's recently had one in 20b like new with 28 inch barrels, M/F. Real nice, but all of them are stocked to 14 1/4 inch LOP with checkered butts. Very nice guns for the $$ IMO.
Socialism is almost the worst.
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 292
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 292 |
I have owned both a 12 and a 20ga Sidelock Browning. The 12 was a nice looking gun, but was too heavy and did not have a nice well balanced feel; was "clubby". I still own the 20 which is the exact opposite. May not have disliked the 12 so much if I did not have the 20. That said, price sounds fair.
A Springer Spaniel, a 6# double and a fair day to hunt.
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,883 Likes: 19
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,883 Likes: 19 |
I haven't really measured a BSS sidelock, but if the barrel walls are anywhere near as thick as a BSS boxlock, they are the reason for the clubby feel. My boxlock BSS guns seem to be in the .045-.050" wall thickness range.
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,676 Likes: 180
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,676 Likes: 180 |
Quail Slayer 20 gauge, 28", .017/.007, 6lb2oz  Did I mention...  ...it points like the finger of GOD.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,572 Likes: 165
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,572 Likes: 165 |
You've got other factors than BWT that increase the weight of the BSS boxlock vs the sidelock. Pretty generous beavertail, for one thing . . . and something of a semi-BT even on the Sporters, in comparison to the splinter on the Sidelock. And while I don't know for sure, my guess would be that the barrels are lighter on the sidelock than on the boxlock.
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