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Thread: Cleaning Gas Ports

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
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    Cleaning Gas Ports

    Is there a standard procedure for cleaning gas ports in a semi-auto shotgun? I have a 20 gage Browning Silver Field that needs them cleared out. Is there a drill size that would work?
    The only amendment the Democrats support is the 5th.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master BNE's Avatar
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    No Drill!!!! I use bamboo skewers. Cheap and strong enough to get the crud out. Not strong enough to scratch the finish.
    I'm a Happy Clinger.

  3. #3
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    Winger Ed.'s Avatar
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    If you use a drill bit to clean a Browning shotgun around here, you'll have an angry mob in your yard
    holding torches and pitch forks like what happened to the Frankenstein monster
    when he went out to town and got into mischief.

    I try not to get violent with them.
    I use the common arts & crafts fuzzy pipe cleaners dipped in Hoppe's #9.
    In school: We learn lessons, and are given tests.
    In life: We are given tests, and learn lessons.


    OK People. Enough of this idle chit-chat.
    This ain't your Grandma's sewing circle.
    EVERYONE!
    Back to your oars. The Captain wants to waterski.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
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    Ah yes, the fuzzy pipe cleaners. Same ones I use for the AR family. Thank you.
    The only amendment the Democrats support is the 5th.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master 243winxb's Avatar
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    Gas contains plastic. Plastic is removed by soaking in Hoppes Bench Rest solvent. Cleans out plactic in chokes too.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master



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    You can also burn the end of the pipe cleaner and get two very small wires once you unravel them. You can run one end over a straight edge and get a very small straight wire and leave the other end like a corkscrew!
    Just my two cents worth, don't want no torches and pitchforks

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    Once you get it clean, keep it lubed up with Ed's Red. Works with Garands, anyway.
    The solid soft lead bullet is undoubtably the best and most satisfactory expanding bullet that has ever been designed. It invariably mushrooms perfectly, and never breaks up. With the metal base that is essential for velocities of 2000 f.s. and upwards to protect the naked base, these metal-based soft lead bullets are splendid.
    John Taylor - "African Rifles and Cartridges"

    Forget everything you know about loading jacketed bullets. This is a whole new ball game!


  8. #8
    Boolit Master
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    Strip the end of Q-Tip and make little pointed icicles and spin them into holes. Spray and saturate with the red tube hooked to a carb cleaner can and let soak, then grab with hemostats and spin. Repeat as needed. As far as the Ed's red, anything gas or gas piston, shotgun barrel in and out and most rifle bores gets wiped, round count?, does not matter, yes can make a goo but it wipes pretty clean with the new Ed's Red wipe. Just be careful around wood or fancy finishes.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
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    Well, I've got the gas ports cleaned out. Looked in there with bore scope. Also shined light in barrel and it shows thru holes in gas block. Problem is the gun is still acting like a single shot. At best it will stovepipe. So, I called the Browning service dept and he said to check if spring in piston is broken. It isn't. What also concerns me is the erosion of metal from the magazine tube near where front end of piston fits. It's like hot gas is escaping somewhere and eroding the metal. Is it leaking the gas that's supposed to be cycling the action? To be continued.
    The only amendment the Democrats support is the 5th.

  10. #10
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    If everything looks good, and doesn't bind while moving the bolt back & forth by hand--
    maybe the ammo isn't strong enough to build enough pressure for it to cycle & eject.
    In school: We learn lessons, and are given tests.
    In life: We are given tests, and learn lessons.


    OK People. Enough of this idle chit-chat.
    This ain't your Grandma's sewing circle.
    EVERYONE!
    Back to your oars. The Captain wants to waterski.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Winger Ed. View Post
    If everything looks good, and doesn't bind while moving the bolt back & forth by hand--
    maybe the ammo isn't strong enough to build enough pressure for it to cycle & eject.
    When I first bought the gun I wanted to see how low of a load would still function. Got down to 12 gr. of WSF and it worked like a charm. Finally settled on 16 gr for the skeet load. Have now gone up to 17.5 and it won't even extract.
    The only amendment the Democrats support is the 5th.

  12. #12
    Boolit Master
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    Did you check the action spring in the stock?

  13. #13
    Boolit Master 243winxb's Avatar
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    After cleaning, were part replaced correctly?

    https://www.browning.com/support/owners-manuals.html
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 20231119_092827.jpg  
    Last edited by 243winxb; 11-19-2023 at 10:49 AM. Reason: Add link

  14. #14
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by 243winxb View Post
    After cleaning, were part replaced correctly?

    https://www.browning.com/support/owners-manuals.html
    Yes, it is put together correctly but thanks for the assembly print to confirm it. There is severe (what I'll call) gas cutting on part 47. Its location would be under the piston. If this is what is leaking gas, it might have to be replaced. Looks like a stainless-steel part, so it's not rust. Hope the pic comes out right.
    Click image for larger version. 

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    The only amendment the Democrats support is the 5th.

  15. #15
    Boolit Master
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    I sent Browning that pic of the magazine tube. To their credit they're sending a prepaid shipping label to send shotgun to repair facility. Gun is on its way.
    The only amendment the Democrats support is the 5th.

  16. #16
    Boolit Master
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    Got the shotgun back and it works again. They replaced the magazine tube. Problem is I like to shoot a round of skeet a week with it and if it's going to wear out like this, am I going to expect Browning to fix it every two years? Even worse is I had the GF buy the same gun. If hers fails, I'm in even bigger trouble.
    The only amendment the Democrats support is the 5th.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check