Browning BPS 12 ga.

[falco]

I own one made in 1978. It has a fixed modified choke. It was manufactured in Japan and has"special steel" stamped on the barrel. Now, a while back, I read somewhere on the net that if brownings were manufactured in Japan(and not Belgium), the steel is strong enough to use steel shot. can anyone confirm this for me?

[John Spartan]

Call Bashaw Sports Centre - they're an authorized Browning dealer - ask for Pud.

It isn't the steel you need to be worried about; it's the choke. Modified may be ok, but check to be sure. Another thing - you can get replacement barrels with screw-in chokes that are good for steel shot if Pud says use of steel shot is iffy.

I have a 1981 BPS that came with a 32 inch full choke barrel - replaced it with a 28 inch barrel using screw in chokes and haven't had any problems handling steel shot - other than checking that the choke is tight and not loose.