Well, I have shot a BSS into an off face condition. I have said many times here that this is my go to "SXS sporting clays" and duck gun. I make no bones about having used 3" steel shot loads in it for ducks, for about 10-11 years, now. Though the clays usage has been almost all 1 oz. loads, at moderate velocities, the duck loads have been mostly 1 1/4 oz. loads, also at moderate velocities, none of this hyper-velocity stuff.
Last Sunday I closed the dove season out with the BSS and, when reassembling it after cleaning, I thought I felt movement after the barrels were put onto the receiver, but before snapping on the forend. Yes, it was definitely there, from side to side, not up and down. After snapping on the forend, there was no discernible movement at all. Next, I held it up between my eyes and a strong light source and could see no light whatsoever between the left barrel and the breech face. But ......... I could see light clearly on the right side, a uniform sliver of light from top to bottom.
After a few days of considering this, I have a few thoughts, and some questions. First some observations. I bought this gun about 10-11 years ago online from a well known (to us) dealer. His identity is absolutely unimportant to this discussion, IMO. Though there was a problem when I began to use the gun it was unrelated to this issue. However, I have no way of knowing how much the gun was shot before I bought it or how well it was kept clean and lubricated, but the overall appearance was that it had not been used a tremendous amount. It was on face, and tight when I began shooting it. It has digested a few thousand target loads, and not over a flat of duck loads, probably considerably less than a flat. I have always kept the hook and hinge pin clean and lubed with grease. I have checked the right barrel with shim stock, and it is four thousandths off. I am really surprised, and disappointed. I know this did not occur in one shooting, but I really was surprised to find the movement and the off face condition.
Now for a few questions. We all know that the right barrel of a side by side gets shot the most, in the vast majority of cases. With my BSS being a single, non-selector trigger the right barrel fires first all the time. If a second shot is not needed, as happens a great deal, the gun is reloaded and the right barrel gets the nod again next opportunity. I have always believed that more guns go off face from friction and wear on the hook and hinge pin than from shooting, but this does not seem to be the case here. Is it a certainty that the standing breech sprung rearward on the right side? Remember, no light visible on the left side, but clearly visible on the right. Next, how does a gunsmith properly put this condition back on face? I intend to make a decision on who will do the job, and send it off to get a new lease on life and be ready for the ducks this September.
Thoughts on the condition, what caused it, and whether or not this calls into question my long held belief that a BSS is pretty much "bullet-proof" are welcomed. Especially from those you who have first hand knowledge on making this exact repair to a double.
SRH
Knockabout shotguns are dime a dozen in USA and labor very, very expensive. It's time to sell and move onto something else. I bought one of the BSS when they were $600 and sold it years ago for more than I paid. Don't miss that gun at all. It's basically Citori with barrels turned 90 degrees. To add insult to injury it didn't even have Inv. chokes just fixed chokes.
