Browning Safari : Power & Reliability 2 Ways
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 19 июн 2023
- Today I have two Browning Safari's to show you. Both are in .458 Win Mag. I expected both to be Mauser 98's...but I was wrong. One is Controlled Round Feed while the other is Push Round Feed. Also, one of these Safari's appears to have fallen victim to salt wood. If you haven't seen this before - here is an example. Too bad to fix? Maybe not.
We have lots going on. Get involved! Come check out USOG on Patreon, Instagram, and Facebook!
Be notified of future videos by subscribing and clicking the notify bell.
MORE USOG CONTENT here:
/ usog
/ officialusog
/ officialusog
A SPECIAL THANKS to all my PATRONS for your ongoing support!
A SHOUT OUT to the following Freedom Tier Level Supporters: Kirk C, Lawrence G, Carl S, Erik Y, Conrad R, Robert H, Lou B, John B, John G, and Jeffrey D.
You can join my growing community on Patreon and benefit from more personalized USOG attention, exclusive content and merchandise, access to USOG's Discord Server and Meet Ups, and more:
/ usog
This channel depends on your support :
www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr...
Music: www.bensound.com 
Спорт
They switched to push feed at the end of the production to reduce costs. The Mauser version was a great rifle. Was sorry to see it go. Like the Superposed.
Back in the '80's before I retired from the service, another chief and I used to got on our local excursion around Tidewater Virginia and hit all the local gun shops to see what they had. We would take off about 8:30 and be back at work around 2:30 before the day ended, almost always on Wednesdays since we were both the senior enlisted instructors. Still remember stopping at a fishing & hunting dealer over in Newport News where I purchased a very nice Medalion grade .270 rifle and while we were talking to the owner he invited us back to his office. He had been in business for a number of years and was very fond of Browning firearms. His office had a shelf around the office that held the rifle & shotgun butts so they were all aligned vertically around the room. He had every caliber of Safari grade in as new condition from the short actions (.243, .308, etc.) all the way up to the magnums (.338, .375 H & H, and .458). The shotguns were all the superposed etc. It was one of the most beautiful sights I have seen in a firearm display both then and since. He talked about the salt wood so it made his collection even more impressive that he had avoided the issue with the ones he owned, of course being a full line dealer for Browning since the late '50's didn't hurt. Don't run into very many things like that anymore as their is too much crime so everything stays locked up out of sight.
Great memory to have; yes indeed things have changed for the worse for now. Glad you licked up the Medallion Grade - much sought after then and now. Something about Brownings. : )
I am a Browning Safari collector. That .458 is a very early rifle with the flat spot on the bolt knob and what appeared to be a three digit serial number L XXX.
Beautiful rifle.
The rusty barreled action is from a Medallion Grade rifle. Browning made three grades the Safari, the Medallion and the Olympian.
Do you have any Info on Safari 8mm? L70 after serial number. Never shot.
I have never seen one. It looks like it could handle any caliber or magnum caliber available. Looks heavy for American style hunting. As always thank you for sharing your knowledge. What a shameful accident using salted wood. Browning makes such beautiful stocks, I’m sure that broke many a man’s heart discovering the rust.
Mike, you know how I love the Mausers, especially the Brownings and the Safari grade rifles and the big calibers. This wonderful video has me wanting all over again!!!
Thank you for such a special on these Brownings!! That 458 would be an awesome addition to ANY collection.
Hello - They're some of the best Mauser bolt actions ever made - those Brownings. People line up for pre-64s and truly, the Browning is right up there - and many say they are better fit and finished and just as accurate. The .458 is in a class of its own - capable of just about anything.
That's one heck of a rifle. The action looks really smooth and the stock is perfect. Very nice!
Wow! I need to add one of these Browning safari rifles to my collection someday. Thanks for sharing!
Sir you are the best video’s keep them coming thank you from texas😊
Thanks Mike for that Run down, good to know of !
I love your videos, thank you!!
Excellent video. I never knew that some of the Browning Safaris were made with Sako actions. All the Belgian Browning Safaris that I came across were uniformly of very good quality. Probably,in my very humble opinion, some of the best production rifles ever. Thank you for this video.
Thanks for the kind words - and you're right - these were and still are some of the best rifles ever.
Wonderful video!! Always appreciate you Sir 🍻
Thank you 🙏
Hi! Mike, I have a Browning safari in 7 mm magnum I bought new in 1973-74 and it’s the push feed. Great gun!
That's important - I'm hoping to learn more about the push feed "big" action - not very common. Thanks for the note.
Beautiful rifle! 😃👍🏻 thanks for sharing! Gotta keep those classics and fine engineering. 2023 has scene a big increase in prices for classic and existing medium to big bore calibers. Thanks again for sharing.
Mike, thank you for making and sharing this wonderful video (along with all the others). I inherited a love for the Browning Safari Grade from my late father (who was a gun collector for about 50 years), along with inheriting three examples of these fine rifles: a 1960 in 30-06, a 1965 in 243 Winchester (with the Browning version of the Sako L579 action, and a 1968 in the wonderful 308 Norma Magnum. I can tell by the low number L-series serial number of that first 458 Win Mag that it is an early production gun. It is my understanding the there were a number of FN barreled actions built for Browning in 1959, but that Browning did not ship any fully assembled High Power rifles until 1960. Like others have said, the salt wood issue spanned from about 1966-1972; with the higher grade Claro walnut, and being more common among Medallion and Olympian Grade rifles vs. the Safari Grades. I am fortunate that my 1968 appears to be unaffected, and my other two pre-date this period. On another note, I too have one of those Buehler scope bases with the adjustable elevation knob; albeit mine is for a small-ring Mauser action. It does seem unusual to me to put it on a short/mid-range stopping rifle like a 458 WM, but it is a neat and seldom seen piece nonetheless. Thanks again, and all the best!
Great that you have those fine rifles - and recognize the .308 Norma Magnum - a fantastic and balanced cartridge. Your Dad bought well - the Browning Safaris etc... were the best Browning bolt rifles IMHO. I like the scope base too. All the best.
Browning arms are nice guns!!! Thank you Mike for your videos.
Thank you!
Sorry to be late to the party Mike. Good video, I've never owned one but had a thing for Brownings. I too have heard that the .458 is a popular round in Alaska. The salt wood story below by thorseim7177 is very interesting, such a sad chain of events. I always learn something new about guns on your channel, it's a pleasure to watch and read the comments. Take care.
We’ve chatted before. I have 4 of them. My favourite hunting rifle. Thanks for making this video
You're most welcome - great rifles
I remember fondling one of these fine rifles when I was a teenager! I could have never been able to afford one of these first class rifles but that didn't stop me from fantasizing. These were the finest rifles ever made.🙄
One of the few mausers I don’t have in my collection! It’s all true about the stocks so you have to be careful depending on years. I have tried several times to buy one and either they wanted to much or they had seen some very hard use and rust!
Just picked up a Browning Safari last month that is like new and got it for about the going price and after years of searching I feel amazing when holding it and just out a Sako Finbear deluxe on lay a way too along with a JC Higgins model 50 that is like brand new at half the going prices so some days your just in the right place at the right time🙌
I always pick them out in the gun racks by the engraved floor plate. That's a cool project!!! Never seen one in 458 without the claw extractor.
So interesting - I like them both!
Great video
Thanks!
Hey it's me again Mike. Another great video. Wow! That's my kind of rifle. At least the original controlled round feed version. I'd probably want in either 300 H&H or 375 H&H.
Wish I could find a .300 H&H
Beautiful .
Interesting video Mike. The Browning Safaris are nice rifles. I thought I read somewhere that the salt wood issue with Browning guns back in the 1960's was due to an effort to speed up the seasoning and reduce the moisture content process for the fresh cut Walnut by using a salt brine process that permeated the wood resulting in subsequent rusting out some really fine shotguns and rifles made by Browning. Not sure if that was true but something I read. Thanks as always for the informative content.
I've heard something to that effect as well.
Hi Stephen - That's quite possible - although one would think that someone would have thought that salt and steel is not a good idea. I also heard that the logs were boomed in a river that was a tidal river - so fresh water sometimes and salt or brackish water at other times - which no one thought of. Hard to know which story is true - or maybe something else. I've had former Browning employees write me with various versions. Thanks for taking the time to write. All the best.
Two very nice rifles. I hope to see the second one when you get it done.
Hi - It looks better already; slow progress though. I'll do my best and show it again at least once or twice.
I’m considering a more “ high end” rifle. The Browning is the only real contender ( for me) besides Weatherby. Such a beauty!
Hi Bob - Both excellent. Brownings seems to be priced very well lately - and the performance I've seen from the X Bolt at the range lately is pretty amazing.
Great rifle!
Very interesting presentation. That elevation adjustable scope ring base is very cool. I think that these rifles are called “Browning High Power” because I recently bought one at a premier auction house. The instruction manual Browning emailed to me based on the serial number calls it “Browning Bolt Action High Power Rifle”. That maybe more of a description than a model name because the words “High Power” don’t appear anywhere on the rifle. There were 3 models: Safari, Medallion, and Olympic. I don’t know much about the highest grade, but the Medallion model has rosewood forearm and pistol grip caps, skip line checking with wavy edges, and scroll engraving on the receiver and rear portion of the barrel. Oh, and a ram’s head engraved on the floor plate.
According to the same manual, there were both regular (270 and 30/06) and magnum actions. It lists part numbers for barrels for those “regular” cartridges plus: 300 H&H Mag, 300 Win Mag, 308 Norma Mag, 375 H&H Mag, and 458 Win Mag,
You mentioned the unusual but very serviceable bolt release. Your Safari has the same 3-position safety mounted on the right side of the receiver as my rifle. It’s completely different from the bolt-mounted wing safety on a Mauser ‘98 or a Winchester Model 70, and I like it. No scope interference for one thing.
Informative and appreciated post - thank you. I hope to find an Olympic Grade one day...not easy to find.
Mike,..dont know if you'd be interested... 'Loctite EXTEND Rust Neutralizer' actually converts rust into a black coating.
You'll have to wire brush off any loose, flaking rust, but any remaining rust is actually used by this Loctite product to convert to a black coating, even ready as a primer for possible painting.. You might find it an option for that rusted barrel.
Thank you so much! I'll try it!
Two wonderful rifles, curious how the actions are different. Pity about the saltwood. No use for these calibers for me, but still a pleasure to watch and listen.
By the way, when I have some time I need to make a video and upload on YT and tag you cos you're gonna like it. Warm regards from Malta.
An interesting presentation of two uncommon rifles, as well as addressing the recurring decision regarding cosmetics vs. function. I agree with your approach - don't cerakote.
Thank you - I'm working away at that rust - making slow progress; one of my files was low quality steel and stopped working after awhile on the Browning - so I'll get a better one.
Another video that’ll make me get out the loading manual and see what you’re talking about. 🙂
Beautiful rifle my friend. God bless
Thanks Rick!
Very nice Brownings, draw filing is the way to go takes time to do it right.
Thank you - I'm making slow progress : )
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns I've got a single-cut file that my father-in-law got in the 40's while in the CRN. Best file I have keep it clean and wrapped in an oiled cloth.
Is that a Hawken rifle behind you if possible can you do a video on it Thank you love your channel
Seems like you've got some unobtanium their Mike. I've been looking for a big-bore African style rifle for a long time I can't find any
They're out there, but people are pretty firm on their high prices. I agree, they're hard to find. Just no deals to be had if you do find any.
Boy, that stockless rifle is/was a beauty. I'm sad that it has so much damage.
The later Safari’s used Sako actions, which are good in their own right . The small ring mausers are the nicest.
Thank you - for sure the Sako models are made to perfection
I had a lovely Safari in .264 Win Mag with a 22" barrel. It was one of the most finely made rifles I ever owned, but it wouldn't shoot worth a damn. I tried everything from 120 to 160gr bullets and it just would not group consistently, so I sent it down the road and bought a highly accurate Remington 700 in .264. BTW, those later push feed actions were known as the "FN Supreme" action, rather than a true Mauser action.
Thank you! Now I know "FN Supreme" - much appreciated.
Mike, did the NECG folks redo the front sight? I know they have a bunch sights, including the banded types, very classy!
Hi - A smith installed that - I agree - banded looks best and is best - the rest can fall off - usually just as the charge is happening. : )
Do not worry about a bit of rust .
De Molen mabe an enlarged mauser action called thr umprrial magnum from .375 to 505 gibbs unclding 460 weathreby.Browning bought De molen unthr early 90s
Hi Bill - Great action - I remember them
Bill, did de Molen also supply magnum Mauser actions to Dumoulin and Francotte?
I've seen a Browning just like that in 30-06 without the claw extractor. First one I've seen. This kind of rifles are lost on me as I'm a lefty so I look for lefty Ruger Alaskans, Hawkeyes, and Zastava. It's not so easy to find them because there's not many out there but I managed to get the Ruger Alaskan 338win mag, Ruger 375, and an Ultra Lite Arms 375h&h. I've no idea how you come across so many different vintage rifles.
I had a browning t bolt that had no rust problems. It was a sweet shooting .22 and had the prettiest blueing I ever saw. Unfortunately I sold it, oh well.
You're right - one of the best .22s ever. Hope you get another.
I've always admired the browning rifles but have never owned one of those. The price and the "salt wood" have usually held me at bay. I do presently own a special limited edition B78 Browning in 30-06, with a beautiful feathercrotch stock, and a Browning 1885 in 45-70 with a not quite as nice feathercrotch stock.
Hello - Those B78 are some of the best single shots ever - as you no doubt know.
I've acquired a .270 Browning safari rifle. I'd like to know about the stamping on the barrel that say made in Belgium. On other side of barrel it says - Browning Arms company, St.Louis Mo.& Montreal P.Q.
I'm in Nova Scotia Canada and curiius why the Canadian portion of the stamp and were all Safaris stamped this way. Thank you i didn't know the name of this rifle until i saw this channel.
Great project! I saw some writing on the underside of the bolts? Do they match? Salt crystals will grow and actually move material out of their way! Salt 🧂 weathering is a very destructive process on hard rocks so im sure wood is no problem.
Hello Lundy's Den - Thanks for noticing - yes - they match : ) For sure, salt is not too friendly to steel.
Good good and good.
nice rifle
My dad always told me about the Browning salt cured stocks but I've never seen one. So is that action a sako action?
Mike, I apoligize for asking such a rude question, but you, as a person, interest me as much as some of the treasures you share with us. What trade were you involved in? Construction, welding, insurance sales, teaching, or? Again, I'm sorry, but can't help to wonder. I was in the tooling and machining business for a couple decades. Now, I do a lot of farm work for Tennessee locals in my area. Logging, fence building, etc. I sure do love being outside everyday and not knowing what time it is based on how many parts I've made. 😂😂😊
Hello - Thanks for asking : ) I worked in venture capital/investment banking - stock market and public company related consulting and investing. Plenty of interesting projects and people over the years. When not busy with the stock market my main focus is my family. I also did some real estate development and building. Other "work" I enjoy : carpentry, stock making, welding, gun designing and appraising - things like that. I also wrote quite a bit - sort of goes along with reading - published here and there. And of course guns and anything outdoors. It's been a wonderful life and so far...it keeps going. You've got a great life too - in a great state - I was just reading about Tennessee in connection with another matter - beautiful and diverse. All the best to you.
Hi Mike. I wonder if bead blast or some other media such as shell might help remove rust down in deeper pits after you have filed and sanded the majority of the rusted areas. Masking off areas where you dont want to remove blueing. Just a thought as it could be another tool in your arsenal. Little to no parent metal removal. Just softer rust. I picture a small abrasive flapper wheel on a dremel to get in the corners like around the recoil lug where the file just won't work well. Though like filing, abrasives remove metal as well as the target rust.
Thank you! Great advice - I work on it a little each day.
Yup!
The very next time I spot a T-Rex in the neighborhood, I'll call you!
This .458 should just do the job.
Hi Robin J. - That's funny 😂 - maybe they should have one of these on the next movie instead of the Marlin. : )
Bought both a Safari and Double Auto a few years ago from a friend, package deal. Better than money in the bank. Yes always check for the salt stocks. Be well cheers
I heard that old violin makers may have used brine cured wood. I build some guitars and have discussed "drying" wood at length with s master builder.i suspect they used salt to draw out moisture. Suffice it to say..violins dont have steel parts
That's interesting
I inherited a Browning Safari in 375 H H.
You're a lucky person! Hard to find.
Send it to Art's Gun. He specializes in Brownings.
Thank you - will do
My shoulder cried just watching this video - LOL
It's true - she kicks or it kicks; on the other hand with 350 Gr. Hornady - and the right load - not too bad - about like a 45-70 or .450 Marlin
I would be curious what you and other Safari owners have found concerning their accuracy? Some time ago, a gun smith told me that he had several Safari's that were very inaccurate. Years ago I missed an opportunity to buy one in .300 H&H at a very reasonable price.
So far so good - they've all been MOA or a bit more. No accuracy issues for me. Maybe another .300 H&H will come along - I hope so. That rifle/cal. combo is as good as it gets - as you know.
Can I ask you how to disassemble the bolt? I have a Browning High Power Safari in 30-06 with the same FN bolt. I've searched RUclips and Google and can't find any relevant information. I can’t find its user manual on Browning’s official website either.
Hello, You can basically use Mauser 98 bolt disassembly
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns Thank you for your reply, I always get solutions from you but this time I tried it and it was different from my other Mauser bolts because the safety is not on the bolt.
I used a piece of wire and inserted it into the small hole in the back of the bolt and was finally able to disassemble it.
Was the rifle offered in .375 H&H ?
Yes - not too uncommon. The .458 seems to be the most scarce - no doubt there are not that many people needing such power
Do these stocks crack in the magnum calibres?
Not usually. Please check that there is a small gap at the back of the action - at the tang where the action meets the stock. Over a long time the action can set back a bit and split the stock. If there is no gap then Dremel a hairline space or have a gunsmith remedy. Hope this makes sense.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns It makes a ton of sense. Maybe washing some of the salt out of the stock and applying some linseed oil would help strengthen it too.
Can anyone help me with Browning Safari 8mm Bolt action info? No sights. Never shot. L70 after serial number.
Yes. Please email me at usogbyemail@gmail.com
🤔 hmmm,,, I must have written something bad. My post from last night is goooone ??? 🙁
Hello - I'm sorry to hear that; I don't what could have happened. I'm so hopeless I can't find my own comments - I think they move around. I'll ask about it. Maybe it will come back. I appreciate all comments. Thanks for being here.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns --- Okay, good. I did not post any foul language or links to offsite stuff, or anything weird.
I simply said that a dangerous game rifle should be equipped with a controlled round feed/ positive "Mauser-98" type claw extractor. I was surprised and unhappy to see that Browning had made a .458 Win Mag with a cheaper push-feed/plunger bolt similar to the Rem. m. 700 / Sako bolt. Dangerous Game animals do not run away --- they charge at people. As far as I know (read and heard) all the African (and Alaskan) hunting Guides & outfitters either carry a Mauser-98 style bolt-action or a Double rifle. Nobody in that line of work carries a Rem. 700 or a Weatherby push-feed action rifle.
The other comment was about the bad deal you got per the half rifle with the bad salt erosion. I suggested that you try and get a refund / return from the seller. {I have been burnt 3 times via two famous websites that host sellers. 😡} That is akin to buying a shiny red 1965 Chevy Corvette Sting Ray via a website and when the delivery truck puts it in your driveway, and leaves, you look underneath and see the whole frame metal is rusted. 🤧🥵
I also suggested that if you keep it, you would/could save much time and effort if you used a handheld tool that starts with a "D" and plugs into an electric outlet and has many bits available for sanding and grinding and polishing. But wear a face mask and eye protection to guard from the small metal fragments/dust particles.
Those rifles are very similar to the zastava/remington m70 bolt actions
i3.guns.ru/forums/icons/forum_pictures/013353/13353862.jpg
What a brilliant gun.
Speaking of safari, I wonder why Zastava makes their rifles in 9,3x62 and.375H&H but not in 9,3x64 Brenneke. Not that I truly care, I'm not going to Africa anytime soon, just being curious
Hi Edward - I guess you're among the few who know that cartridge; it is A+ - but scarce on the ammo shelves. Maybe that's enough not to chamber for it.
@@UnitedStatesOfGuns We used to have some popularity upsurge for 9,3x64, considering that it was about to be used by military or some other service. But not anymore, the guns were discontinued and ready rounds are scarce.
I kinda wish people would recognise the coolness factor of rounds like 7x64 (7mm are kinda scarce compared to various 7,62s), .318 WR, and 9,3 Brenneke, and make more guns to those calibers. Especially .318WR
Some were "salt Blued" and when you take the action out of the stock there is pitting..Look before you buy!
Thanks Matthew - You're right and most owners do that and say that they are selling a salt wood gun. As a collector I look for the salt wood guns - even the worst I've bought are just cosmetic damage so far - the rifles shoot perfectly : )
The STOCKS were salt cured. Had nothing to do with the bluing.
Can send to Indonesia
I'm not sure - sorry
PizzA
Thank you!
if you ever find your self in need of an indentured man servant to clean maintain and study things help with projects... im your guy!
I'll be in touch when the time comes : )
I almost had a safari and 8mm remington mags
Maybe you'll get another chance to get one : )
I fixt (fuxt?) a1935 brazilian mauser pitting with marine JB weld. seems to have worked.
Thanks for the tip - I'll see how it goes - some damage is pretty deep.