Okay, here is the situation. I was just given a Browning BSS 20 ga - good. Problem is this thing, new in the box, burned in a building. Hot enough to burn all the wood off, both ribs, top and bottom, are gone. For years I have dreamed of having a small frame action, such as this BSS, and building a double rifle in a large bore, straight taper case - maybe something like a 45/120 Sharps. Now for the big question - how do I determine if the action can be heat treated and who can we recommend to do so? Is this a feasible idea or should it just be hung up on the wall to cry over? I mean, this thing was in the box and had not even been put together! What a waste.
Recommendations welcome and I'm a big boy, so don't hold back.

There are companies that can do testing on it and see if the hardness has been compromised. I think one is White Laboratories?? is it visibly warped or out of alignment? if you can fit all the metalwork together, does it still lock up tight? I don't know the temp at which the wood would have burned off, I am thinking pretty high, but maybe you are lucky and it wasn't high enough to affect the metal.

Red

I wouldn't risk it, you know it got hot enough to melt off the solder (approx 800deg) and tempering takes place at around 1000deg.
How are the springs? Limp or as "springy" as they should be?
At the minimum it would need to be re-heat treated

There's a heat treating company in Utah that is supposed to be very gun savy. I recall some guys mentioning it on here in the past. You could do a search on here or maybe one of the guys that knows the name of the company will read this and respond.

quote:

Originally posted by Tailgunner:
I wouldn't risk it, you know it got hot enough to melt off the solder (approx 800deg) and tempering takes place at around 1000deg.
How are the springs? Limp or as "springy" as they should be?
At the minimum it would need to be re-heat treated

Actually with carbon steels some tempering starts at as little as 400 degrees F.

If it was mine it would be in the dumpster already.....it's not worth the hassle!!!

What the heck, send it back to Browning and ask what it will cost to fix it. Play dumb. They may have a sympathetic day and give you a new one or at least one at a discount. I sure as hell wouldn't waste any time on fixing it myself.

My smith got into a rifle ( Model 70 Win ) with pretty much the same starting point.

After a pretty far amount of money, re heat treating, etc it was a howling dog, ended up being a total was of time and money.

Scrap it and buy another if you really liked it.

Trash.
Trash.
Trash.

If it got hot enough to burn the wood off, it is gone.
Might make a nice wall-hanger.

-Spencer

Trapper, I apologize. I believe you called and left a message which I promptly forgot until I read this. I have always heard that if the wood is charred, the metal is toast. If the wood is gone it is a no brainer, dumpster time.

Thanks for all the replies and I guess you have told me what I already knew - but was hoping for something else? I think it will look nice (sob) hanging up with a 'what the hell happened to that one!' display at my friend's place.
What a waste.
Regards,