Browning BT-99 User Manual

™

The Best There Is

BT-99

TRAP SHOTGUN

OWNER’S MANUAL

THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING A BROWNING BT-99 TRAP SHOTGUN.

We are pleased that you have chosen a Browning BT-99 Trap

shotgun. In every way it is a firearm you will be proud to shoot

for many years. Take time to follow this manual carefully, and

you will gain real advantages that will bring out the best in your

shooting ability.

With a reasonable amount of care, your BT-99 should give you

many years of dependable, enjoyable shooting. Please feel free

to write us immediately if you have any observations regarding

its performance and operation.

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIREARMS SAFETY.

As a gun owner, you accept a set of demanding responsibilities. How seriously you take these responsibilities can mean the difference between life and death. Failure to follow any of these instructions can cause extensive damage to your gun and/or possible serious injury or death to yourself and others.

THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR CARELESS OR ABUSIVE HANDLING OF ANY FIREARM. AT ALL TIMES HANDLE ANY FIREARM WITH INTENSE RESPECT FOR ITS POWER AND POTENTIAL DANGER.

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

ALWAYS KEEP THE MUZZLE OF ANY FIREARM POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION.

Never point any firearm at anything you do not intend to shoot. Be extremely alert and aware of all persons and property within the range of your ammunition.

CAUTION: THE BT-99 SHOTGUN HAS NO MANUAL SAFETY.

shooter does not load his or her gun until moments before a bird is called for. For this reason, and because trapshooting demands intense concentration on shooting technique, no manual safety is provided on your BT-99. There is then no chance for a lost bird by reason of the safety being inadvertently left “on safe.”

LOAD YOUR BT-99 TRAP GUN ONLY WHEN SHOOTING IS IMMINENT. ONCE LOADED, THIS GUN IS READY TO FIRE AND SHOULD BE RESPECTED AS SUCH.

NEVER TEST THE MECHANISM OF ANY FIREARM WHILE IT IS LOADED OR POINTED IN AN UNSAFE DIRECTION.

WHENEVER YOU HANDLE ANY FIREARM, OR HAND IT TO SOMEONE, MAKE SURE IT IS COMPLETELY UNLOADED.

immediately, and visually check the chamber. Make certain that the

Do this even though you are certain it is unloaded.

A trap

Always open the action

chamber does not inadvertently contain any ammunition. Always keep the chamber empty and the safety in the “on safe” position (remember, the BT-99 has no manual safety) unless shooting is imminent.

DO NOT TRANSPORT ANY FIREARM LOADED.

Keep all firearms unloaded during transport, whether stored in a holster, gun case, scabbard or other container.

BEWARE OF BARREL OBSTRUCTIONS.

Do this 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 cause dangerously increased pressures that can ruin (swell or rupture) the finest barrels.

BEFORE CHECKING FOR A BARREL OBSTRUCTION, BE CERTAIN YOUR FIREARM IS FULLY UNLOADED.

Make sure no live round is in the chamber by breaking open the action. Look through the barrel to be sure it is clear of any obstruction. If an obstruction is seen, no matter how small it may be, clean the bore with a cleaning rod and patch as described later in this manual. 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.

ALWAYS COMPLETELY UNLOAD ALL FIREARMS WHEN NOT IN USE.

safety precaution, it is preferable to disassemble your gun for storage. Store your gun and ammunition separately — well beyond the reach of children. Your responsibility does not end when your firearm is unattended. Store your firearm and ammunition separately and well beyond the reach of children. Take all safeguards to ensure that any firearm does not become available to untrained, inexperienced or unwelcome hands.

USE THE PROPER AMMUNITION.

The barrel and action of all Browning firearms have been made with substantial safety margins over the pressures developed by established American commercial loads. Nevertheless, Browning assumes no liability for incidents which occur through the use of cartridges of nonstandard dimensions

As a

which develop pressures in excess of commercially available ammunition which has been loaded in accordance with standards established by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI).

BE ALERT TO THE SIGNS OF AMMUNITION MALFUNCTION. IF YOU DETECT AN OFF SOUND OR LIGHT RECOIL WHEN A SHELL IS FIRED, DO NOT LOAD ANOTHER SHELL INTO THE CHAMBER.

Open the action and remove the shell from the chamber. With the action open, glance down the barrel to make sure that a wad or other obstruction does not remain in the barrel. Completely clear the barrel before loading and firing again. Failure to follow these instructions can cause extensive damage to your gun and possible serious injury to yourself and others.

MAKE SURE OF ADEQUATE VENTILATION IN THE AREA THAT YOU DISCHARGE A FIREARM. WASH HANDS THOROUGHLY AFTER EXPOSURE TO AMMUNITION OR CLEANING A FIREARM.

Lead exposure can be obtained from discharging firearms in poorly ventilated areas, cleaning firearms or handling ammunition. Lead is a substance that has been known to cause birth defects, reproductive harm and other serious injury.

NEVER INSERT A SHELL OF THE INCORRECT GAUGE IN ANY SHOTGUN.

The gauge of your shotgun is marked on the side of the barrel. Store all shells of different gauges in completely separate and well-marked containers. Never store shells of mixed gauges in a common container or in your pockets.

EXAMINE EVERY SHELL YOU PUT IN YOUR GUN. NEVER PUT A 20 GAUGE SHELL IN A 12 GAUGE GUN.

The most common way to bulge or rupture a shotgun 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 (with the chamber appearing to be empty). 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 and others.

USE SHELLS OF THE CORRECT LENGTH.

Do not use 31⁄2" shotgun shells

in a shotgun or barrel with a 23⁄4" chamber or 3" chamber. Do not use

3" shells in a shotgun chambered for a 2

⁄4" shells. Doing so can result in a build-up of dangerously high pressures that may damage your gun and possibly cause serious injury to yourself or others.

The size of the chamber is inscribed, along with gauge and choke designations, on the side of the barrel.

DO NOT SNAP THE FIRING PIN ON AN EMPTY CHAMBER — THE CHAMBER MAY NOT BE EMPTY!

Treat every gun with the respect

due a loaded gun, even though you are certain the gun is unloaded.

KEEP YOUR FINGERS AWAY FROM THE TRIGGER WHILE LOADING AND UNLOADING, 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 THE CHAMBER OF ANY FIREARM BEFORE CROSSING A FENCE, CLIMBING A TREE, JUMPING A DITCH OR NEGOTIATING OTHER OBSTACLES.

Never lean or place any loaded firearm on or against a

fence, tree, car, or other similar object.

WEAR EYE AND EAR PROTECTION WHEN SHOOTING.

Unpr otected , repeated exposure to gunfire can cause hearing damage. Wear ear protectors (shooting earplugs or muffs) to guard against such damage. Wear shooting glasses to protect your eyes from flying particles. Always keep a safe distance between the muzzle of your firearm and any persons nearby, as muzzle blast, debris and ejecting shells could inflict serious injury. Also, wear eye protection when disassembling and cleaning all firearms 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.

This can occur even with a firearms “safety” in the “on safe” position (remember, the BT-99 has no manual safety). Be extremely careful while hunting or during any shooting activity, to avoid dropping any firearm.

IF ANY FIREARM 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 shell or 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 AND 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 ANY FIREARM IS UNLOADED BEFORE CLEANING.

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.

SUPERVISE AND TEACH FIREARMS SAFETY TO ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY — ESPECIALLY TO CHILDREN AND NONSHOOTERS.

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 and to others.

PERFORM PERIODIC MAINTENANCE — AVOID UNAUTHORIZED SERVICING.

Your new firearm is a mechanical device which will not last forever, and as such, is subject to wear and requires periodic inspection, adjustment, and service. Browning firearms should be

Because

Closely

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.

BROWNING RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE ON FIREARMS THAT HAVE BEEN ALTERED, ADDED TO OR SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGED.

Removal of metal from barrel(s), or modification of the firing mechanism and/or operating parts may lead to Browning’s refusal of service on such firearms. Browning will charge the owner for parts and labor to return the firearm to original Browning specifications.

READ AND HEED ALL WARNINGS

ammunition boxes and with all accessories that you install on your firearm. It is your responsibility to secure the most up-to-date information on the safe handling procedures of your Browning gun. Browning assumes no liability for incidents which occur when unsafe or improper gun accessories or ammunition combinations are used.

DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, ALTER THE TRIGGER, SAFETY (THE BT-99 SHOTGUN HAS NO MANUAL SAFETY) OR OTHER PARTS OF THE FIRING MECHANISM OF THIS OR ANY OTHER FIREARM. FAILURE TO OBEY THIS WARNING MAY RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH TO YOURSELF OR OTHERS.

in this instruction book, on

BE CAREFUL!

NOMENCLATURE

In conventional gun terminology, the position and movement of gun parts are described as they occur with the gun horizontal and in normal firing position; i.e., the muzzle is forward or front; butt stock is rearward or rear; trigger is downward or underneath; the rib is upward or on top. For general parts nomenclature refer to Figure 1. For specific parts names related to disassembly see Figure 2.

FIGURE 1

Adjustable Comb (optional)

Butt

GraCoil System (optional)

FIGURE 2

Barrel Lug

Stock

Top Lever

Trigger

Receiver

Rib

Forearm

Top Lever

Forearm Bracket

Barrel

Barrel Ports (optional)

Hinge Pin

Takedown Lever Latch

SERIAL NUMBER

The serial number of your BT-99 can be found on the top tang under the top lever. Record this number for future reference.

Muzzle

AMMUNITION

All BT-99 Models are designed to shoot and function with 23⁄4 12 gauge trap loads only. Browning can assume no responsibility for incidents which occur through the use of cartridges of nonstandard dimension or those developing pressures in excess of industry standards established by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturer’s Institute (SAAMI).

CAUTION: DO NOT USE 3" OR 31⁄2" SHOTGUN SHELLS IN ANY SHOTGUN OR BARREL WITH A 2 ALONG WITH GAUGE AND CHOKE DESIGNATIONS, ON THE SIDE OF THE BARREL.

⁄4" CHAMBER. THE SIZE OF THE CHAMBER IS INSCRIBED

INITIAL CLEANING

Various exposed metal parts of your new BT-99 have been coated at the factory with a rust preventative compound. Before assembling your BT-99, clean the anti-rust compound from the inside of the barrel and chamber, and generally wipe clean the metal surfaces at the rear of the forearm, on the barrel lug and the interior areas of the receiver, as well as any other parts coated with this compound. Browning Oil is ideal for wiping and cleaning these parts and for giving your gun its first lubrication.

Clean the barrel using a cleaning rod and patch as explained under “Cleaning Suggestions.” Read this entire manual before performing the first cleaning, to learn necessary information on breaking open the action, etc.

ASSEMBLY PROCEDURES

BEFORE BEGINNING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS, ALWAYS MAKE CERTAIN THERE IS NO SHELL IN THE CHAMBER.

1 After wiping the mechanism clean, place one or two drops of a

quality oil, like Browning Oil, on the following surfaces (Figures 3-A, 3-B and 3-C):

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