doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Browning BSS Problems

I bought a 20 ga Browning BSS in pristine condition this summer. The first time I took it out to shoot, the 2nd barrel wouldn't fire 25% of the time. I took it back to Williams Gun Sight in Lapeer where I bought it and they said they took it apart and cleaned the action. Took it out again and same thing. I'm a little hot this time as I paid $1,650 big ones for it. The "master" Gunsmith there took it in the back and said he fired several different kind of shells in it and nothing is wrong with it. I heard him fan firing it just as fast as he could pull the trigger which is not the way anyone shoots. I also heard every excuse like; you're using cheap promo loads with extra hard primers, you're not holding the gun tight to your shoulder, and etc. Anyway, I'm done with Williams and need to find a gunsmith that can work on it. The gunsmiths they have there sure don't impress me. I noticed that the second pull of the trigger is somewhat heavier than the first pull which may mean something. I could call Browning but I heard there were a couple guys in Missouri who worked for Browning for years and are top smiths. Does anyone know their names, the companies' name, or how to get a hold of them? I won't have an unreliable gun. Thanks for your help. Grade6man

Don,

Could you explain the problem a bit more clearly? From what you write I am left with the following questions:

1) Is this always second barrel, no matter what the sequence, R then L and L then R? IF so, this suggests the inertial block in single trigger is not working correctly, for some reason. (I am presuming that BSS has intertial block trigger, like Citori.) That COULD happen because you are not holding the gun tightly enough to your shoulder. It could also be from use of very light loads.

Try dryfiring one barrel, then slapping the gun butt really hard, then try trigger again. This should reset inertial block and second barrel should click. Also, try dry firing one barrel and then move the safety off and on again, which should reset the inertial block, allowing to fire second barrel (if works same as my Browning Citori).

2) Is there a dent on the primer of cartridge in second barrel? Light strikes is very different problem. IF the ammo fires in one barrel, it should fire in second. I don't buy the "promo ammo with hard primers" line.

Niklas

Miklas,
It is a single selective trigger and it is a mechanical trigger.
When I use snap caps, both barrels always click or fire. You just can't pull the trigger the second time, either barrel. That is most of the time using hunting loads. Something is not setting internally. Hope that helps. Grade6man

This is a guess, but it sounds like that when the first shot sets the inertia block to to stop the involuntary trigger pull, that the block is not releasing to allow for the regular second trigger pull.

Here's the guy in MO:
Art Isaacson
Hillsboro, MO
636-944-3630

Steve Bertram does good work on Brownings also
http://www.bertramandco.com/
Boulder CO
303-938-1996

Inertial block guide likely needs a good cleaning and relube with synthetic lubricant.

I've worked on these triggers before and I'm currently fixing one that is on a 20g I bought from someone on this site that doubles (wasn't mentioned prior to sale ). This one was buggered by someone wanting to "smooth up" the works, apparently.

As someone else stated, these are inertia blocked, mechanical triggers (another gun euphemism: aren't they all? :D)

Have someone familiar with the BSS trigger work on it. Try Midwest Gun Works or Arts mentioned earlier. They are a very reliable trigger when not messed with and kept clean and lightly lubed. I have a 12 ga with 10s of thousands of rounds thru it with nary a trigger hickup nor the rest of the gun for that matter.