Reader Forum

Browning B-78 Repair I have a Browning B-78 in 30-06 Springfield with beautiful wood. Unfortunately, it will not eject nor lift the fired case. I suspect an ejector problem. I took it to an authorized Browning repair shop where they had it for a year and did nothing. Seeking help from two other gunsmiths also didn’t help. This is a beautiful rifle and I am a single shot fan. I hate to give up on it. You are my last hope. From Mark Hollensen.

The Browning B-78 was a competitor to Ruger’s No. 1 single-shot rifle with a design similar to the old Winchester High Wall. Production of the B-78 High Power rifle began in 1973. A "Bicentennial Model" was produced in 1976 and the B-78 was discontinued in 1982. Browning has a history of this rifle under "B-78 High Power Rifle". Parts for the B-78 have dried up but many are scattered in local shops.

Ahlman’s Custom Gun Shop (Ahlmans.com, and Lee’s Gun Parts (LeesGunParts.com, are two places to begin your search for parts. I am guessing that apart or two are missing completely from the rifle, but it could be the extractor or ejector firing assembly is damaged. I am not certain which Browning Authorized Repair shop took the rifle in for a year, but I see that Alhman’s is one for this particular rifle. Lee’s should have parts if Alham’s does not.

To start working on a B-78, install some old scope rings and remove the top half of the rings. Turn the 78 upside down and you have a stabilized rifle to work on, better than putting the receiver in a vise. Install the spring and the plunger that you ordered into the extractor. To install the breech block assembly, move the extractor rod a bit to get it to slide down all the way (easy to do). Insert the lever pin. Slide the pin in enough to catch the lever ring, hitting the plunger pin.

With a small Philips screw driver, insert on the opposite side and compress the plunger and spring to finish inserting the lever pin (also easy to do). Now ready for the hard parts. On the bench, assemble the trigger housing assembly, the mainspring guides, and the springs and hammer along with the pin flats. With one hand on each side, pick this assembly up without it falling apart. Carefully start the trigger assembly down the slots on the inside of the receiver.

Manipulate the hammer around so the spur of the hammer is sticking out the top slot of the receiver. You might have F. M. "Doc" to compress the two springs just a bit by pushing on the hammer. Push the trigger assembly all the way down till it bottoms out. This is the magic tip: Start to close the lever just as you would when you are loading it. You might have to wiggle things a bit but when everything is lined up the lever will compress the mainsprings and the whole action will close.

When this happens, slowly lift the lever until you can see the holes to insert the breech block pin and the trigger housing pin. Be sure to insert the right end of the pin in the right side as there is a difference.

Stuck Case Removal Here’s an alternative way to remove a case stuck in a reloading die when traditional ways will not work. One job I regularly do as a gunsmith is to remove stuck cases from reloading dies. Normally this is achieved by drilling and tapping the primer pocket and using a bolt and socket to remove the case. Occasionally I will have a job come in that is not as simple.

In this particular case the owner of the die had already tried to fix it himself, and in doing so had separated the case head from the rest of the case. To remove this particular case I used an epoxy to fill inside the casee and then beat against it with a hammer and punch. I started by removing the stem and bushings that might be in the die. Then I use acetone to remove any oils that may have been inside of the case. I used modeling clay to plug the case neck.

With the reloading die upside down I then filled the case with an epoxy made for adhering to metal. After the epoxy cured for 24 hours, I removed the clay and screw and put the die into a press. Using a punch, I drove the case out. or post a letter to Falls Church, VA 22041. For subscription questions or mailing problems contact American Gunsmith