12ga BPS barrel swap

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RAMMER287

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Hello All,


I have a 80's-90's browning BPS that i inherited not to long ago. it currenty has a 30inch barrel fixed full choke. i was wondering if anyone has changed the barrel to one that takes screw in choke tubes? or has knowledge on the topic? i am new to shooting and would love some advise!


Cheers,


:nest:
 
Your best and cheapest option would be to send the barrel off to have it threaded for choke tubes. Try Elwood Epps at the top of the page they charge $100 to do the job. A new barrel from Browning has a US $269.00 MSRP.
 
If your worried about shooting steel shot thru the full choke , don't. I shoot steel all the time thru my BPS full barrel with no ill effects. In fact it patterns wonderfully !
 
ghn said:
If your worried about shooting steel shot thru the full choke , don't. I shoot steel all the time thru my BPS full barrel with no ill effects. In fact it patterns wonderfully !
Click to expand...

And I wonder why people destroy their barrels or worse.
Well my friend Browning doesn't recommend any steel shot in any of their shotguns that were not factory fitted with choke tubes BPS included.But hey what would they know over your testing.

http://www.browning.com/customerservice/qna/detail.asp?id=128

Perhaps you should take another look at a pic another member shared of barrel failures for various reasons.
I like having fingers to type so not worth taking a chance.
DSC_4800.jpg
 
FLHTCUI said:
But, But, I read it on the internet that it was OK to shoot steel through a full choke barrel.
Especially , BB's an T's.
Thanks for the pictures 3macs1, those speak volumes...
Rob
Click to expand...

Hi Rob
One of the Mods I think posted that pic here a few months back from a show I think he was at in the US.
I saved it to use to show young shooters just starting out what can happen if not careful It has some impact for sure which is good. I have been in sqauds twice over the years when a barrel exploded next to me it was some scary and both times we all were very lucky.Take care
 
3macs1 said:
And I wonder why people destroy their barrels or worse.
Well my friend Browning doesn't recommend any steel shot in any of their shotguns that were not factory fitted with choke tubes BPS included.But hey what would they know over your testing.

http://www.browning.com/customerservice/qna/detail.asp?id=128

Perhaps you should take another look at a pic another member shared of barrel failures for various reasons.
I like having fingers to type so not worth taking a chance.
DSC_4800.jpg
Click to expand...

I think you need to go back and re read the browning link. It refers to early Belgium brownings mostly. It also say you can use steel with conventional chokes in the B80 and B 2000. There is no reference to the BPS .

It is irresponsible of you to show a pic of of blown up barrels and imply that steel shot was the cause. Was it the cause in any one of these ? I don't think so. My experience is practicaland real not what I read.
I have hunted with a BPS in full choke since steel became mandatory. My hunting partner used a remington 870 in full choke for a number of years. No ill effects on either gun.

The worst that happens when guns cannot handle steel is ring bulging and can happen with modified choke as well as full choke . Ring bulging happens after many rounds , not after a single round Whether a gun is damaged is more a case of material quality than choke. I owned a ring bulged cheap European double. I bought it that way . It shot fine and patterned well. Did not blow up. This is more of a cosmetic problem than a performance problem.

If you use a full choke gun and it ring bulges then lop it off and install chokes. If nothing happens then shoot away
 
ghn said:
I think you need to go back and re read the browning link. It refers to early Belgium brownings mostly. It also say you can use steel with conventional chokes in the B80 and B 2000. There is no reference to the BPS .

It is irresponsible of you to show a pic of of blown up barrels and imply that steel shot was the cause. Was it the cause in any one of these ? I don't think so. My experience is practicaland real not what I read.
I have hunted with a BPS in full choke since steel became mandatory. My hunting partner used a remington 870 in full choke for a number of years. No ill effects on either gun.

The worst that happens when guns cannot handle steel is ring bulging and can happen with modified choke as well as full choke . Ring bulging happens after many rounds , not after a single round Whether a gun is damaged is more a case of material quality than choke. I owned a ring bulged cheap European double. I bought it that way . It shot fine and patterned well. Did not blow up. This is more of a cosmetic problem than a performance problem.

If you use a full choke gun and it ring bulges then lop it off and install chokes. If nothing happens then shoot away
Click to expand...

No I think you best read the link because you clearly don't understand it. BPS is 100% included, call browning if you cannot understand the link which you clearly cannot and they will confirm all fixed choked BPS is in the batch of cat 1 and 2. You are the one not being responsible.If you want to damage your gun and risk injury fill your boots but this is no place to recommend it to a fellow gunnutz member. If you think a bell on the end is all that can happen you best think again. Run some T or F and let me know how your bell is doing I was in a blind guiding in PEI the 1st year we had to use steel and seen one split about 6" down with BBB. But wait you are experienced PLEASE and browning just posts that on their site to sell more new choke tubes guns.
 
3macs1 said:
No I think you best read the link because you clearly don't understand it. BPS is 100% included, call browning if you cannot understand the link which you clearly cannot and they will confirm all fixed choked BPS is in the batch of cat 1 and 2. You are the one not being responsible.If you want to damage your gun and risk injury fill your boots but this is no place to recommend it to a fellow gunnutz member. If you think a bell on the end is all that can happen you best think again. Run some T or F and let me know how your bell is doing I was in a blind guiding in PEI the 1st year we had to use steel and seen one split about 6" down with BBB. But wait you are experienced PLEASE and browning just posts that on their site to sell more new choke tubes guns.
Click to expand...

Well. I tell you what . I read it again . There is no mention of the BPS. Category 2 specifically lists the Browning B80 and B 2000 as acceptable with conventional chokes. I have owned a B2000 . Its barrels are thinner than the BPS. So you have seen 1 barrel split but you can't determine whther steel was the reason.
I have never claimed to be an expert but only relating my experience. You are the one accusing me of having the final answer. How many steel shots have you fired through a full choke barrel. .? Only then can you claim to have any expertise. What you are doing is contributing to a lot of the paranoia that exists.

To the OP. what I was suggesting was that if you want to use steel you probably don't have to worry. However if some of the self styled experts on this forum make you nervous then I would suggest if you can afford it replace the barrel or get it re choked
 
ghn said:
Well. I tell you what . I read it again . There is no mention of the BPS. Category 2 specifically lists the Browning B80 and B 2000 as acceptable with conventional chokes. I have owned a B2000 . Its barrels are thinner than the BPS. So you have seen 1 barrel split but you can't determine whther steel was the reason.
I have never claimed to be an expert but only relating my experience. You are the one accusing me of having the final answer. How many steel shots have you fired through a full choke barrel. .? Only then can you claim to have any expertise. What you are doing is contributing to a lot of the paranoia that exists.

To the OP. what I was suggesting was that if you want to use steel you probably don't have to worry. However if some of the self styled experts on this forum make you nervous then I would suggest if you can afford it replace the barrel or get it re choked
Click to expand...


if you can afford it replace the barrel or get it re choked[/QUOTE]

Smartest thing you have said here on this subject..

This line is a classic
probably don't have to worry

No you are right I have never fired any steel shot through a fixed choke gun and never will.
I always follow the manufacturers recommendations plus value my guns and hands too much to try.. WHY??? should anyone.
I am no expert but reload and shoot a ton of steel and have my share of BPS shotguns. Have a good one
 
3macs1 said:
if you can afford it replace the barrel or get it re choked
Click to expand...


Smartest thing you have said here on this subject..

This line is a classic
probably don't have to worry

No you are right I have never fired any steel shot through a fixed choke gun and never will.
I always follow the manufacturers recommendations plus value my guns and hands too much to try.. WHY??? should anyone.
I am no expert but reload and shoot a ton of steel and have my share of BPS shotguns. Have a good one[/QUOTE]
I understand where you are coming from. Your first reply put me off but you are obviously committed to what you believe. I have no problem with that . I just hope you see where I am coming from. We agree to disagree. A good one to you too , sir. Enjoyed the exchange.
 
[I understand where you are coming from. Your first reply put me off but you are obviously committed to what you believe. I have no problem with that . I just hope you see where I am coming from. We agree to disagree. A good one to you too , sir. Enjoyed the exchange.[/QUOTE]
Nothing wrong with having different opinions and experiences. That is what makes the world interesting.

:cheers:
 
3macs1, No need to feed the troll.
Anyone who actually read your post will see that you never claimed the pictures of bulged barrels and blown as well where caused by the use of steel shot.
It would appear the troll was only looking at the pretty pictures you included for references.
I was reloading steel shot before it became law in Canada, I wanted to be one step ahead on the learning curve and that included using a modified choke tube as recommended by my fellow shooters at Kesselrings in Wa. St.
Tight Chokes and Smashed Clays,
Rob
 
3macs1 said:
[I understand where you are coming from. Your first reply put me off but you are obviously committed to what you believe. I have no problem with that . I just hope you see where I am coming from. We agree to disagree. A good one to you too , sir. Enjoyed the exchange.
Click to expand...
Nothing wrong with having different opinions and experiences. That is what makes the world interesting.

:cheers:[/QUOTE]

As an aside

I think a lot of the negative attitudes about steel Came about because ammo companies didn't yet know how to put out good loads. I used to load lead but never got around to loading steel. In the early days of steel , I can remember using a couple of brands that were loaded to such high pressures that I had to pry the fired shells out of my Citori and BPS with a knife or screwdriver. I am sure these took a few lesser guns apart. One was a company that used the old Imperial brand.
 
For what it is worth, when steel shot use came into effect I had a Browning service rep tell me over the phone that I could shoot steel shot up to and including #2 sizes thru my BPS full choke but that it wasn't recommended because it would most likely develop a "ring" with repeated use. Modified and Improved Cylinder choked barrel where fine, again, as long as you used #2 or smaller shot sizes. Remington told me the same thing...and so did Winchester.

The interesting thing to note is that the website info contradicts some of Browning's previously printed information!

The owner's manual for my Browning 20 gauge Model 12 states that it is safe/approved for steel shot use. This shotgun has a "conventional choke" of modified constriction. Now according to Browning that is no longer the case because "3. DO NOT USE ANY STEEL SHOT LOADS: The Belgian-made A-5, Superposed, Leige, and other Belgian Over/Under models, Double Automatic, American-made A-5 and all other models not listed in category 1 or 2."

Why the change in recommendations? Have steel loads really changed that much in the last 15 years that they are now all of a sudden unsafe??? I think it has more to do with liabilty and preventing a needless court case because some dumb SOB stuck their barrel in the mud and then pulled the trigger..."I swear I was shooting ducks with "x-brand" steel loads because Browning said it was safe and the damned barrel just blew up for no reason! Poor Joe standing beside me lost an eye...somebody has to pay for that!!!"
 
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