Any Browning BSS owners out there???

CountryAndCalibre

CountryAndCalibre

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Just recently acquired a 12ga Browning BSS.

As it's an older shotgun before my time just curious what guys use through it if they are shooting ducks and geese and if it would be okay firing turkey loads?

Thank you for your time and help!

PS: it has M and F choked barrels.
 
You gun is choked to tight for steel shot. If you are going to hunt waterfowl with it, you’ll want to either get the chokes opened up or use an alternative non toxic shot. The BSS is about as good a SxS you can have for shooting heavy loads. Its choked well for turkey the way it is
 
1963beretta said:
You gun is choked to tight for steel shot. If you are going to hunt waterfowl with it, you’ll want to either get the chokes opened up or use an alternative non toxic shot. The BSS is about as good a SxS you can have for shooting heavy loads. Its choked well for turkey the way it is
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Thanks for the info I appreciate it. I figured steel was a no go jist due to the age and wouldn't even try it. I've heard Bismuth would work well. Not sure if Tungsten would be okay.

Good to know it should be okay for turkey loads. Id like to use it turkey hunting as well. I have a box of Winchester Long Beard, #6 shot rounds Id be using through it.
 
Your BSS can handle the turkey loads, but as 1963beretta posted, I would not shoot steel through it. Is your gun a pistol grip model or a straight English sporter? I have had a dozen BSS shotguns in both 12 and 20 gauge, the pistol grip models are like heavy old market guns, tough but thick, not terribly wieldy. The Staight stock sporter's are quite nice, they are trimmer and handle nicely. I have a nice BSS Sporter 20 gauge that I had threaded for thin wall chokes, it is my primary upland gun.
 

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hoytcanon said:
Your BSS can handle the turkey loads, but as 1963beretta posted, I would not shoot steel through it. Is your gun a pistol grip model or a straight English sporter? I have had a dozen BSS shotguns in both 12 and 20 gauge, the pistol grip models are like heavy old market guns, tough but thick, not terribly wieldy. The Staight stock sporter's are quite nice, they are trimmer and handle nicely. I have a nice BSS Sporter 20 gauge that I had threaded for thin wall chokes, it is my primary upland gun.
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Thanks! All good info. And mine is the pistol grip style. You got a nice shotgun there!
Threading the barrel seems like a good idea and seem to be popular with the BSS. Something I might consider down the line. I have found the M and F chokes right now work pretty well. I have been taking it with me rabbit hunting but was hoping to maybe use it this coming turkey season too. I will definitely stay away from steel.

I was told back in the 80's you couldn't even give a BSS away and nobody wanted them, now they are super desirable.
 
The Sporters are more desirable than the pistol grip guns as are the 20 gauge models over the 12 gauge models... as a result they sell for a higher price. I reamed my BSS Sporter 20 for chokes, because the schmuck I bought it from misrepresented the gun and told me it was a Mod/IC gun but it was an F/M gun... not the best for upland shooting. As it turned out the gun took to the chokes well and I have ten thin wall tubes for it, it has allowed me to change up for tight woodcock to long range sharptail grouse... it is a really nice little gun.
 
The BSS is a well built, solid shotgun. I have a 20 ga. with a set of 3030 rifle barrels made for it and the original 20 ga. barrels.
 
hoytcanon said:
The Sporters are more desirable than the pistol grip guns as are the 20 gauge models over the 12 gauge models... as a result they sell for a higher price. I reamed my BSS Sporter 20 for chokes, because the schmuck I bought it from misrepresented the gun and told me it was a Mod/IC gun but it was an F/M gun... not the best for upland shooting. As it turned out the gun took to the chokes well and I have ten thin wall tubes for it, it has allowed me to change up for tight woodcock to long range sharptail grouse... it is a really nice little gun.
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Too bad he gave your wrong choke details but sounds like still a beautiful gun. I don't own any 20ga yet.
 
CountryAndCalibre said:
Definitely feels solid. Hard to believe nobody wanted one back in the day.
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My Sporter BSS has been my working field gun since circa 1977 and I sure's heck wanted one when I got it. They were hard to get then too. The only problem people might have had with them is like all double barrels they were pricy in their day compared to say a Rem 870 and as always there is a fashion in upland guns that doesn't always include double barrels. But for the informed upland hunter there is nothing, and I mean nothing, that beats a double. Excellent for wildfowl too, except back in those dim faraway times steel shot was not a factor and certainly not a necessity. But the barrels are chrome lined and I doubt shooting it for hunting would do a lot of damage- just don't try it and prove me wrong.
 
I have a 12 and a 20. The 20 was choked mod and full so 25 years ago had threads cut for a thinwall tube in the left. (I just keep IC in there all the time so may as well have just had the choke reamed out.)
The 12 is new to me and has 3" chambers and 30" barrels. I bought it specifically for ducks. Chokes were mod and full but patterned like full and fuller. I had a smith open them up so now have IC on the right and Light Mod on the left.
OP, good choice getting a BSS.
 
Big Bad said:
My Sporter BSS has been my working field gun since circa 1977 and I sure's heck wanted one when I got it. They were hard to get then too. The only problem people might have had with them is like all double barrels they were pricy in their day compared to say a Rem 870 and as always there is a fashion in upland guns that doesn't always include double barrels. But for the informed upland hunter there is nothing, and I mean nothing, that beats a double. Excellent for wildfowl too, except back in those dim faraway times steel shot was not a factor and certainly not a necessity. But the barrels are chrome lined and I doubt shooting it for hunting would do a lot of damage- just don't try it and prove me wrong.
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What was the cost of a new BSS back in the 70's? The prices they go for now is unbelievable.
 
Londonshooter said:
I have a 12 and a 20. The 20 was choked mod and full so 25 years ago had threads cut for a thinwall tube in the left. (I just keep IC in there all the time so may as well have just had the choke reamed out.)
The 12 is new to me and has 3" chambers and 30" barrels. I bought it specifically for ducks. Chokes were mod and full but patterned like full and fuller. I had a smith open them up so now have IC on the right and Light Mod on the left.
OP, good choice getting a BSS.
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Can you recommend some good rounds that are safe fornthe BSS? I know Kent makes rounds fornolder shotgun and Hevi Shot. Not sure of many others.
 
CountryAndCalibre said:
Can you recommend some good rounds that are safe fornthe BSS? I know Kent makes rounds fornolder shotgun and Hevi Shot. Not sure of many others.
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If you have the chokes opened slightly, you will be fine shooting steel... I just wouldn't shoot it from the full choke barrel... you might get away with the first box, but eventually it could be costly... and on the other hand, the first shot could be costly.
 
sherlockbonez said:
Had one in ic/m, sold it on here. Not my cup of tea.
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Pistol grip or Sporter?

I'm not a fan of the PG guns but the Sporters are quite nice, particularly in 20 gauge. Many people dislike the beavertail forend, but I have big hands and much prefer it to a splinter forend... I also find that I shoot marginally better with the beavertail over the splinter... some quirk of my form perhaps.
 
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