Browning Gold 3 1/2 problem

[Brian Newbill]

I have a Browning Gold Stalker that I have had for a couple of years now and last weekend I was out hunting and it jammed after the first shot. I have seen this happen once or twice before and several times with a friends BG.

I was using light Winchester dove loads #7 1/2, 3.75 dram, (I think it was 1 oz shot but I am not sure)

The failure mode was as follows: (It is always the same)

The shell is stuck about 1/8th to 1/4 of an inch in the magazine tube and wedged into the shell lifter. You have to press down on the shell and pull back away from the magazine at the same time and it will pop back out.

I fired several rounds after that and didn't have a problem.

My thoughts:

1. Burr on the shell dragging on the lifter.
2. Lifter needs polishing.
3. Weak load (ie not enough gas to fully cycle the action)

What do you guys think?

Anyone else have this problem (other than my friend)?

Any solutions?

I don't really want to get rid of the gun, I like the way it feels, a little barrel heavy but it swings really good.

Thanks in advance.

 

[PWK]

I have a Browning Gold Hunter 3" and had the same problem when the gun was new with the Winchester light loads, the one that gave me trouble were the 7/8 oz. But now that the gun is broken in I haven't had that problem. I always put a squirt of CLP on the action before I shoot.
I would imagine your problem is due to too light of a load. I would think a 3 1/2" chambered gun would have a heavier spring even if Browning says their gas system will function with a variety of loads.
Try here for more info.
At there site it states that the gun will cycle 1 1/8 oz loads so 7/8 or 1 oz are probably too light.
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/gold/gold_stalker.htm

 

[Jason280]

If I understand correctly, the problem is the shell isn't feeding out of the magazine tube properly. Is the fired shell ejecting properly? Does it happen regardless of how many shells are in the mag tube? It doesn't really sound like a cycling problem to me, but I could be wrong. It sound's more like something is causing the shell to hang as it exits the magazine. Check for burr's, etc. You could also have something going on in the trigger group, which is responsible for the shell feeding out of the tube and in to the chamber.