1969 Browning Safari - .375 H&H - Salty - re and re - Help?

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Cudas8me

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Hello all,

I'm in need of a complete breakdown/disassembly sketch/schematic for the following if possible:

1969 Belgian Browning Safari - .375 H&H with the Browning/Mauser action.

It is almost definately a salt gun, but is also quite sentimental and therefore I'm repairing it but as the bolts/screws are seized in fairly well due to neglect. I may have to mill the heads off (it's currently soaking in penetrant)
however I can't seem to find a detail of what the decorative screws through the front of the stock go through/do exactly.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
The screws on the side of the stock are the recoil crossbolts, there to keep the stock from splitting. You'll need to make a tool to remove them, with two little prongs to fit into the holes. They'll be screwed into a rectangular steel block set into the wood.

On the underside of the rifle, are the action screws, one fore, one aft. The forward one screws into a blind hole on the recoil lug and the threaded portion can't be accessed without taking the action out of the wood. The top of the aft screw is visible under the very rear of the tang.
 
I'd highly recommend that you commission somebody with some experience to restore this for you...not a job for a person of limited experience. These are rare despite the "salt" wood stock....especially a big bore like a 375 H&H. I've done a couple of these (I'm not looking for any work) and they need to be carefully dismantled and all components saved. Need to restore the part if possible or remake. Tough to find Browning parts these days. The cross bolt keeper may clean up...possibly...if not need to re -engrave and blue. The stock will also be numbered to the rifle. It can be treated to prevent further damage. I skim bedded with clear West Systems epoxy to put a protective membrane between the metal and wood. Need to restore both metal and wood...no good just to do the metal as it will continue to react with the wood.

Ron
 
Browning thought is was a good idea...how wrong were they???

Lots of info on the net if you do a search. Browning used this process from 1966 -1972 give or take a year. Used it on some exhibition quality walnut...would break your heart...some worse than others. Because it was used on high quality wood the "salt woods" show up on some fancier models into the 80's. Others suppliers like Bishop and Fajen used the same process. Have heard of Winchesters with same problem. The only way to tell for sure is to test the wood for "salt".

The method I previously described worked for me...the manufacturer's recommendation and that of other stock makers..."discard the salt wood stock and replace with kiln dried".
 
Thanks to all. With all the help it's now apart. Generally speaking its in pretty good condition. Repairable anyhow.
I'll post before and afters when it's all done.
 
I have two 375's. Get some help to restore it. Parts have to be sourced. There is a Browning guy in the US who purchased these type of parts direct from Browning when they stopped selling them. He does restorations. Can't recall his name.
 
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