Browning B-SS
 

I had a B-SS Sidelock I purchased new many many moons ago and it was nice . But I’m intrested in the plain old boxlock pistol grip beaver tail guns as far as dependability and parts availability ? Any experience or thoughts appreciated :whistle:

I bought one of those in 1986 or 87 when the nitwits mandated steel shot. Been going strong ever since and never needed a doctor. Still have it.

What length barrels ?

I have one in 12 gauge. 28 inch barrels. It feels similar to me to a 21. Mine has fixed Full/modified. I’m not sure if they ever had screw in chokes available.? my buddy has a 20 gauge in good condition. I love Browning anything but most are heavy comparatively. Sporting clays recently -did fine.

The BSS Sidekick has always been like a bigfooti to me. I've heard about them, but sightings have been elusive.
I would love to see one in real life.

Craig, 28".

Probably the most well built and durable modern SxS on the used gun market today in the configuration you describe. Twelves are relatively plentiful and the twenties bring 2-2 1/2 times their prices, especially in the longer barrels. I sold a near-mint 12/30 SST BTFE a year or so ago for $1750 after no one would look at it for $2K. I equate them in terms of durability and reliability right up there with the Winchester M21. Have always had good luck ordering parts directly from Browning for both their SxS, Superposeds and Auto 5s. Always retail, but always OEM and flawless quality and fit.

A year or so ago an FN Sidelock 20 ga. "BSS" model showed up at our local firehouse gun show, 28" SFE, ST stock, DT, IC & Mod, knockout Grade III w/ typical FN wood fit and finish. Established dealer offered it at $5200 and I orbited his table several times, hamstrung by the near-mint Grade III Superposed "Fighting Cocks" I had just scored from another dealer online. Timing; essential in skeet shooting, sex, and tennis!

One of these day's I'll get around to shooting it. 20ga https://i.postimg.cc/j21cz8jg/DSC02794.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/Dzhgd47B/DSC02795.jpg

Is the action based on a Holland design?

Yes. I've never owned one, but it's a Miroku copy of the H&H design. Based on everything else Miroku makes, probably a very well made action. There's an "unfired" one on g-broker currently for about $9K. Supposedly only 300 ever made.

I've owned quite a few Miroku Boxlock SxS shotguns over the years including Brownings, Charles Daly, Western Field and Miorku branded guns.

The current one I shoot is a 20ga Miroku 500 with 2 triggers, extractors, vent rib and 28" barrels. It also has a good bit of case coloring left on the receiver. I prefer the 2 trigger / extractor version that the non Browning guns have. The Brownings generally have a single non-selective trigger and ejectors. I'd love to have an English straight grip stock, but it's only available on the Browning guns as far as I know. Some of the Charles Daly guns have nice stocks, but not as nice as the Brownings. I have never experienced a failure of any kind with a Miroku built SxS.

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I have a 20 Gauge BSS Straight Stock Small Beavertail Forend with Gorgeous Wood , bought it brand New in 1980 from a local sporting goods store ,serial # is from 1977 ! Must have stood in that rack for three years , I was looking for a new Winchester side by side 20 Gauge when I came across it but none of them felt right to me but when I picked up the BSS ,I thought Now here is a gun I could shoot and boy did I ever , Choked I.C. and I.M.with 26" Barrels ! My Go To Gun for years ,I have well over 10,000 rounds through it and the bluing is a little worn but she is as tight and on face and shoots as good as the day I took here home ! If you are considering buying one ,they are a Gem for the money !

Wish I hadn't sold mine

They are solid shotguns. For a period of time, the Cowboy Action Shooters were buying them up and cutting them down. Thankfully, there are still plenty to be found.

The Japanese manufactured guns tend to be better quality than the later production guns assembled in Korea. But those Korean B-SS guns are still better than most current entry-level imports.

I found this one at a LGS. It was missing the Butt plate, was covered in surface corrosion, and the wood was dry. It was priced at $799. I offered $500 cash and he took it. It cleaned up really well, with no pitting and after a few coats of oil into the wood looked near new. I then fitted it with a new Browning Butt plate.

They are not hard to find, you won't be disappointed with one.

The biggest travesty is that Browning never made a 28 gauge BSS.

I had a straight grip 20 ga at one time. I ended up trading it for a Ruger red label 20 ga sporting clays gun.

Neither did A.H. Fox. An even bigger travesty.

I found a Miroku 500E with Birmingham proof marks from 1964 last summer at a Cabelas. 12ga, double trigger, ejectors with an english straight grip stock. Only 6 3/4 lbs. I don't know if they made one like this in 20ga.

I have seen and held this gun. Very nice, especially for the money Pete paid for it

They're tough and easy to shoot well, IMO, but not as tough as Win. 21. I bought a 30" barrel 12 about 16-17 years ago, after having had a 28" barreled one. I won the 2010 AA Class S X S concurrent at the NSCA U S Open in Tunica with it that year. The punches I earned from that kicked me into M class.

I opened the left barrel to the same constriction as what the right was, .018", and have killed many, many ducks with it using 1 1/4 oz. steel shot loads. I have shot it so much that the right barrel is now off face. That is why I say it is not as strong as a M21. i shim the hook with HVAC aluminum tape and just keep on shooting it. The hook on a BSS cannot be welded and built up because of some sort of solder that was used to build the gun. So, I shim it.



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I've never seen one of the straight stock Miroku 500 shotguns, but after seeing yours I searched a couple of the big used gun sites and I see quite a few currently listed. I guess they are coming in for overseas with those huge shipments of guns that Cabelas and others are bringing in.

Going to have to keep my eyes peeled for a 20 :)

Or an 8 gauge or an 10 gauge .

My BSS Sporter 12 gauge is my go to waterfowl gun. I pretty much feed it everything but large steel like BB and BBB. I opened up the full choke to accommodate the harder shot. It may be isn't a 21 but they are built to be a work horse in my opinion. These light weight versions coming up for sale are intriguing for a good upland carrying gun.

“If” and it’s a BIG if ! If I were to acquire one it wouldn’t shoot anything but 6’s or 7 1/2’s .

They one I found is a solid gun, good bores, no cracks or repairs and fully functional. Previous owners used it a lot. Thinning/worn bluing, no finish on receiver and worn checkering, lever is slightly left of center but it locks up tight. The 28" barrels were originally IM and F per proof marks but somebody before me opened the right barrel to IC. I have found that to be a very useful choke combo. It was in the bargain rack outside of the Gun Library and it was no brainer buy it at $379 out the door. It would be great to find a 20. Miroku makes good guns.