Browning 1886 Woes

[Mike D.]

I took my Browning SRC apart to see if something could be done about the carrier that refuses to work properly. When the lever is opened the cartridge rises correctly, but upon closing the lever, the carrier drops and the cartridge returns to the magazine. All that work was for naught. I believe that the previous owner overpolished the parts, possiblke causeing this issue. Another frustrating difficulty is that the buttstock will not fit back on the gun. For some reason it doesn't line up with the top and bottom tang and the through bolt cannot be installed. You can see that it misses the bottom hole by half it's width. What in the world could be the cause of this? I tried leaving the hammer screw loose to no avail. I stuck the gun back in the safe until this can be figured out.

[Blaine]

Mine (USRAC, not BrownChester) will not cycle unless it is SOLIDLY opened fully.......

[Wrangler John]

Check with Midwest Gun Works, www.midwestgunworks.com for parts and service if you haven't a local gunsmith. I had a new Browning M-71 that I purchased and put in the safe for about 20 years before shooting it. Lever would drop at each shot, of course the warranty was long gone. Sent it to Mid West and they found the locking bars were defective. Replaced and timed both for a very reasonable fee.

[Cimarron Red]

Mike,

I believe the part that holds the carrier in the up position is the carrier spring P070038. It mounts via a screw to the underside of the top tang right behind the hammer. If functioning properly and the carrier fully up (lever all the way open), you should be able to push the carrier back down thereby overcoming the force of this spring. Initial raising of the lever overcomes the force of this spring as well. Whether the bolt moving forward or the lever itself overcomes the spring I can't say now without getting back in there. I can't see how the spring could get out of position, unless it had been removed and reinstalled slightly off location. As I recall the screw is very tight from the factory. When you lower the lever you should feel and hear the snap of the carrier locking into place with the last little movement of the lever so typical of Browning-designed lever guns. (I know you know this, Mike.)

With the stock screw, IIRC the top and bottom tangs have some spring to them and squeezing them together is likely to align the holes. If this doesn't work, I can't imagine what else it would be.

[Mike D.]

I have personally not removed or fooled with the carrier spring on the top tang, so that should not contribute to the carrier movement, or lack therof. Without the wood in place the screw fits perfectly, but when the stock is replaced nothin' lines up. The wood appears to be lopsided, with one side fitting and the other showing the metal to be above the wood. The stock has not been touched by me, other than being pulled for disassembly of the action. No such problems have arisen with the Winchester EL version. I did change the PG back to a straight grip this weekend and all is well with that.The crescent butt didn't seem to suit me, so I took the gun back to the stock that it came with. Much improved for me. If I ever come up with a PG SHOTGUN butt it may be changed back, but not until that happens. Swapping out the lower tang and lever is easy, anyway.

[Cimarron Red]

OK, Mike,

That exhausts my suggestions. Let us know the fix when you discover it. Good luck!