Browning B-80 Plus Owner's Manual

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Printed in USA • PP88046

We are pleased that you have chosen a

Browning B-80 Semi

Automatic Shotgun.

It is certainly a gun that you can be proud of. It incorporates Browning’s traditional quality and craftsmanship, and is made using the finest materials and manufacturing methods.

With a reasonable amount of care, your B

80 should give you many years of dependable, enjoyable service. Please feel free to write us immediately if you have any important observations regarding its performance and operation.

Also, please take a moment to complete the attached market survey card found on the back cover. It helps us considerably in our constant effort to provide you with better service.

Thank you.

Distributed in Canada by Canada Sports Ltd./Ltee, St. Laurent, Quebec H4S 1S0

As a gun owner, you accept a set of demanding responsibilities. How seriously you take these responsibilities can be the difference between life and death. Mistakes made with guns are final and cannot be paid for with money or regret.

There is no excuse for careless or abusive handling of any firearm. At all times handle this shotgun with intense respect for its power and potential danger.

PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE PROPER HANDLING AND INSTRUCTION PROCEDURES OUTLINED IN THIS BOOKLET BEFORE USING YOUR NEW FIREARM.

ALWAYS KEEP THE MUZZLE OF YOUR SHOTGUN POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION

even though you are certain the shotgun is unloaded. Never point your shotgun at anything you do not intend to shoot. Be extremely alert and aware of all persons and property within the range of your ammunition.

NEVER TRUST YOUR SHOTGUN’S MECHANICAL “SAFETY” DEVICE.

The word, “safety,” describes a gun’s trigger block mechanism, sear block mechanism, hammer block mechanism or firing pin block mechanism. These mechanical devices are designed to place your gun in a SAFER status. No guarantee can be made that the gun will not fire even if the “safety” is in the “on safe” position. The B

80 has a ‘cross bolt’ “safety” which blocks the gun’s trigger. See page 21 for instructions on operation of this gun’s “safety.”

Like any mechanical device, a safety can sometimes fail; it can be jarred or inadver

tently manipulated into an unsafe condition. Mechanical “safeties” merely aid safe gun handling and are no excuse for pointing your shotgun’s muzzle in an unsafe direction.

While it is a good idea to “test” your shotgun’s mechanical “safety” periodically for proper function,

WHILE YOUR SHOTGUN IS WADED OR POINTED IN AN UNSAFE DIRECTION.

NEVER TEST IT

Safe gun handling does not stop with your gun’s mechanical “safety” device — it starts

there. Always treat this shotgun with the

-to-

respect due a loaded, ready

fire firearm.

ALWAYS VISUALLY CHECK YOUR SHOTGUN'S CHAMBER AND MAGAZINE

to be certain that they do not inadvertently contain any ammunition. Open the action,

invert the shotgun and inspect the magazine and chamber. Be sure no live round is in the chamber, feed mechanism

or magazine. Keep the safe

position.

WHENEVER YOU HANDLE A FIREARM,

OR HAND IT TO SOMEONE, ALWAYS OPEN THE ACTION IMMEDIATELY,

safety" in the "on

and

visually check the chamber, receiver and

magazine to be certain they do not contain

any ammunition.

DO NOT TRANSPORT YOUR SHOTGUN LOADED, WHETHER IN A SCABBARD,

GUN CASE, OR OTHER CONTAINER.

BEWARE OF BARREL OBSTRUCTIONS—

for the safety of both your gun and

yourself. Mud, snow and an infinite variety

of other objects may inadvertently lodge in

a barrel bore. It takes only one small

obstruction to ruin (swell or rupture) the

finest of shotgun barrels.

Before you load your firearm, open the action.

IN THE CHAMBER.

BE CERTAIN NO LIVE ROUND IS

Then look through

the barrel to be sure it is clear of any obstruction. It takes only a small obstruction

to dangerously increase pressures. Before

the first firing, clean the bore with a cleaning rod and patch, and wipe away any anti

rust compounds in the action/

chamber areas. See “Cleaning Suggestions”

on page 32.

ALWAYS UNLOAD YOUR SHOTGUN

WHEN NOT IN USE. REFER TO PAGE 30 OF THIS INSTRUCTION BOOKLET EXPLAINING THE UNLOADING OF

YOUR SHOTGUN.

As a safety precaution

it is preferable to disassemble your gun for storage. Store your gun and ammunition

separately

beyond the reach of children. Take all safeguards to ensure your gun does not become available to untrained, inexperienced, or unwelcome hands.

USE THE PROPER AMMUNITION. The

barrel and action of this shotgun have been made with substantial safety margins over the pressures developed by established American commercial loads. Nevertheless,

Browning assumes no liability for accidents

which occur through the use of cartridges

of non

standard dimensions or which develop pressures in excess of commercially available ammunition which has been

loaded in accordance with standards established by SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute).

DO NOT PUT A 20 GAUGE SHELL IN A 12 GAUGE GUN.

Store all shells of

different gauges in completely separate

and well

marked containers. Do not store

shells of mixed gauges in a common

container or in your pockets.

EVERY SHELL YOU PUT IN YOUR GUN!

EXAMINE

The most certain way to bulge or rupture a barrel is to drop a 20 gauge shell into a

12 gauge chamber. The 20 gauge shell, unfortunately, will not fall completely through the barrel; its rim is caught by the

front of a 12 gauge chamber. Your gun will

misfire. It is then possible to load a 12

gauge shell behind the 20 gauge shell. If

the 12 gauge shell is then fired, the result

will be a so

called “12-20 burst” which can cause extensive damage to your gun and possible serious injury to you.

DO NOT USE 3” SHOTGUN SHELLS IN

A BARREL WITH A 2 3/4” CHAMBER.

THE SIZE OF THE CHAMBER IS INSCRIBED, ALONG WITH CHOKE DESIGNATIONS, ON THE SIDE OF THE BARREL.

DO NOT SNAP THE HAMMER ON AN EMPTY CHAMBER-THE CHAMBER MAY NOT BE EMPTY!

with the respect due a loaded gun

Treat every gun

even though you are certain the gun is unloaded.

KEEP YOUR FINGER AWAY FROM THE

TRIGGER WHILE UNLOADING,

LOADING OR UNTIL YOU ARE READY

TO SHOOT.

BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET AND BACKSTOP,

particularly during low light periods. Know the range of your ammunition. Never shoot at water or hard objects.

ALWAYS UNLOAD ANY GUN’S CHAMBER AND MAGAZINE BEFORE CROSSING A FENCE, CLIMBING A

TREE, JUMPING A DITCH OR

NEGOTIATING OTHER OBSTACLES.

Refer to page 30 of this instruction booklet for instructions on the unloading of your

shotgun. Never lean a loaded gun against a fence, tree, car or other similar object.

WEAR EYE AND EAR PROTECTION WHEN SHOOTING.

Unprotected, repeated

exposure to gunfire can cause hearing

damage. Wear hearing protectors to protect your ears from loud noise and shooting glasses to protect your eyes from flying particles. Also, wear eye protection when disassembling and cleaning your shotgun to prevent the possibility of springs, spring

tensioned parts, solvents or

other agents from contacting your eyes.

DROPPING A LOADED GUN CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE

even with the “safety” in the “on safe” position. Be extremely careful, while hunting or during any shooting activity, to avoid dropping a loaded firearm.

IF YOUR GUN FAILS TO FIRE, KEEP

THE MUZZLE POINTED IN A SAFE

DIRECTION.

Hold this position for a

minimum of 30 seconds. Carefully open

the action and remove the cartridge. If the primer is indented, the cartridge should be disposed of in a way that cannot cause harm. If the primer is not indented, your firearm should be examined by a qualified gunsmith and the cause of the malfunction should be corrected before further use.

BE DEFENSIVE. BE ON GUARD AGAINST UNSAFE GUN HANDLING AROUND YOU AND OTHERS.

Don’t be

timid when it comes to gun safety. If you observe other shooters violating any of these safety precautions, politely suggest safer handling practices.

BE CERTAIN YOUR GUN IS UNLOADED BEFORE CLEANING.

Because so many

gun accidents occur when a firearm is being cleaned, special and extreme care should be taken to be sure your gun is unloaded before disassembly, cleaning and reassembly. Keep ammunition away from the cleaning location. Never test the mechanical function of any firearm with live ammunition.

EDUCATE AND SUPERVISE FIREARMS SAFETY TO ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY, especially to children and non

shooters. Closely supervise newcomers to the shooting sports. Encourage enrollment in hunting/shooting safety courses.

NEVER DRINK ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

OR TAKE ANY TYPE OF DRUGS

BEFORE OR DURING SHOOTING.

Your vision and judgment could be dangerously impaired, making your gun handling unsafe to you or to others.

READ AND HEED ALL WARNINGS in

the instruction booklet and on ammunition boxes. It is your responsibility to secure the most up-to-date information on the safe handling procedures for your Browning gun. Browning cannot assume any responsibility when unsafe or improper arms and ammunition combinations are used.

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE—

UNAUTHORIZED SERVICING.

Your gun is a mechanical device and is subject to wear and requires periodic inspection, adjustment, and service. Browning firearms should be serviced by a Browning Recommended Service Center or by Browning’s service facility in Arnold, Missouri. Browning cannot assume any responsibility for injuries suffered or caused by unauthorized servicing, alterations or modifications of Browning firearms.

CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS To ALTER THE TRIGGER OR OTHER FIRING

MECHANISM PARTS OF ANY FIREARM.

BE CAREFUL!

In conventional gun terminology, the position and movement of shotgun parts are described as they occur with the shotgun horizontal and in normal firing position; i.e., the muzzle is forward or front; the butt stock is rearward or rear; the trigger is downward or underneath; the sight is upward or on top. For general parts nomenclature, refer to Figure

1. All figures and schematics will refer to all 12 and 20 gauge E80 Shotguns unless otherwise noted.

A. Barrel K. Magazine Tube B. Gas Cylinder & C. Breech Bolt M. Magazine Plug D. Operating Handle N. Magazine Spring E. Link 0. Trigger Guard Retaining Pin E Link Pin P. Trigger Housing G. Bolt Slide Q. Gas Piston H. Forearm R. Magazine Spring Retainer & Forearm Cap Stud I. Action Bar and Sleeve S. Forearm Cap Assembly J. Butt Stock T. Magazine Spring Retainer Lock Spring

Barrel

Guide L. Magazine Spring Follower

The serial number of your B-80 shotgun can be found on the left side of the receiver.

The Browning B

80 is shown disassembled to the extent necessary in order to follow instructions contained in this book. (See Figure 1)

80 was designed to function with all

The B standard factory field loads and target loads. However, Browning can assume no responsibility for incidents which occur through the use of cartridges of non

standard dimension or those developing pressures in excess of SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturer’s Institute) established standards.

CAUTION: DO NOT USE 3” SHOTGUN SHELLS IN A BARREL WITH A 2 3/4” CHAMBER.

THE SIZE OF THE CHAMBER IS INSCRIBED,

ALONG WITH CHOKE DESIGNATIONS, ON

THE SIDE OF THE BARREL.

With the E80 Plus barrels are inscribed 3” and 2 3/4”. The E80 Plus barrel is designed to accept either sized shell.

This shotgun is gas-operated. A portion of the expanding powder gases is bled off through gas ports and used to operate the mechanism. During rearward travel, the bolt extracts and ejects the spent shell and cocks the hammer. During the forward travel the next cartridge is

fed from the magazine in the chamber. This operation is semi released and pulled for each successive shot. After the last cartridge has been fired, the bolt locks open. This facilitates fast reloading. To close the bolt, depress the cartridge stop / bolt release button which is located just below the ejection port on the right side of the receiver. (See Figure 2.)

automatic; the trigger must be

CAUTION: KEEP YOUR FINGERS CLEAR OF THE EJECTION PORT AS THE BOLT CLOSES.

If the bolt will not lock in the open position, press the carrier release which is located at the rear of the carrier just forward of the trigger guard as shown in Figure 3.

Before assembling the B

80, anti-rust compounds should be removed from all metal parts, paying close attention to the barrel interior and the breech area. The various exposed metal parts of

your new B-80 have been coated with a rust preventative compound for protection. Browning Gun Oil is ideal for removing this compound and for giving your new gun its first lubrication; however, any quality gun oil may be used.

You may have to install a recoil adapter in your B80. B-80’s manufactured prior to 1987 used recoil

adapters only on 2 3/4” models as described below. In 1987 the B

is identical if the barrel is inscribed 3” and 2 3/4”.

All B described below.

You may have to install a recoil adapter in your pre ’87 12 gauge B 2 3/4” barrel, note the area where the magazine tube enters the receiver. If there is a thin spacer (recoil adapter) between the two forearm guide screws and the receiver, your B-80 shotgun is ready for a 2 3/4“ barrel and 2 3/4” loads. (See Figure 4.)

80 Plus was introduced. A B-80 Plus

80 Plus models require a recoil adapter as

80. If you are going to use a

Replace the forearm and forearm cap assembly. If there has been no recoil adapter installed, and your individual gun will not function reliably with light target loads, you should proceed with the following:

Obtain a B number PO13350) from your dealer, or from the

Browning Parts Department in Arnold, Missouri. This adapter makes the B versatile shotguns on the market; a shotgun that will shoot virtually every 2 3/4” 12 gauge load.

Your dealer can install this adapter or, you may

install it yourself by referring to this instruction

booklet in the following manner:

80 12 gauge recoil adapter (Part

80 one of the most

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