doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Browning Sbs Sidelock question

Ted, that gun is one sad story, because I liked it a lot and shot it very well. The gunsmith who opened the chokes tried solder at the end. Lasted maybe 100 rounds. At that point, I turned it over to another gunsmith I trusted--and at this point, I made a big mistake. I forgot to tell him the ribs were brazed. He tried to relay them using heat to remove them. Finally got them solidly in place, but in the process I ended up with what looked like a warped bottom rib.

Assuming they popped loose when the chokes were open, I still wonder how that could have happened. My initial thoughts were either heat or vibration. But I think the gunsmith who finally got them lifted and back on--albeit with a damaged bottom rib--came up with the most logical answer: the reamer caught and torqued them loose. But then I suppose it's always possible they were somehow flawed from the factory. Although I don't think I've ever heard of that with another Parker Repro.

Larry,
Well, I've never heard of brazed ribs coming loose, and I've come across hundreds of those ribs in the form of beater, 80-100 year old, Halifax and low end Darne clones.
I bet its pretty hard to get silver solder to stick to remaining braze for a repair, also.
I'll cautiously venture that a soldered rib is easier, and, a more frequent repair than a brazed rib, which, might not be a feasable repair.
Like I said, if the Uggy pops, it will be somebody else's "parts gun".

Best,
Ted

I live in Arizona and think we are at least as hot as Cyprus. However, if the barrels are getting hot enough to melt solder I wonder that you don't set the wood of the forearm on fire too. Here is the fix for your problem - take a canteen of water along and periodically remove the forend and pour some water over the barrels. The evaporation will cool it quickly and it does no harm to the gun. I have been doing this for 50 years and haven't hurt my shotguns at all. Learned this from a live bird shooter of the 1950s shooting in Europe.

Seems I recall reading that the old buffalo hunters used to urinate on their barrels. Better than nothing, I guess.

For those who've seen the movie "Zulu", it's a pretty decent version of the battle of Rorke's Drift. One thing it did not show: Those old Martini-Henrys got so hot that most of the time, the soldiers didn't have to bother pulling the trigger. The rounds would cook off when they chambered them. (They also had plenty of jams, and the NCO's were busy helping clear them. Early days of metal cartridges, and the alloy was too soft.)

Guys through a series of negotiations i have finally bought the Browning sidelock. It's on its way to Cyprus from UK hopefully i will receive it in a month. Thanks for everybody who contributed with their opinions!

Best,

Kem

Hi Kem, hope she gets there safe n sound, at least those braized ribs won't fall off, right? lol
Throw up some pics when you are able
cheers mate
franc

Hey Franc, i will surely do that mate, yeah thats a relief for me now i can shoot hundreds in a day without worrying. Thank you very much

Best,

Kem

The BSS sidelocks are indeed nice guns, under priced for their inherent quality. The only beef I have against them is the short lengths of pull...leather covered pad, anyone?

There goes one now!