Need Help Assembling B-78

[jmh8743]

I was convinced to disassemble a Browning B-78 to assist gunsmith(?) adjust trigger pull. Well it has been that way for 2 years. This rifle is not your average 45-70. The mechanisms are complex, like 45 parts. Found a parts schematic at Brownells. After I recovered lost tiny, little bitty springs, I obtained a field manual for same; albeit poor quality. Finally I am ready to assemble; however cannot ascertain orientation of the extractor spring and its extractor spring plunger. Extractor shown hereon. Thanks for any help.

 

[watercam]

I would bet someone on the ASSRA forum can help you

 

[XTR]

I was once told that the trigger on a B-78 is best disassembled and reassembled in a refrigerator box so you don't loose any of the jillion parts.

Good luck. What they did to the simple effective trigger JMB designed for the 1885 is nothing short of ridiculous.

 

[ireload2]

try contacting texasmac He specializes in these rifles

http://www.texas-mac.com/

 

[Gun Smith]

Been a long time since I had a B-78 apart, and I sold all my assembly books when I retired, so can't say for sure how the Ext. spring goes. I do have some photo's still that show how I installed the action springs with a modified forceps, I believe they are called? Might help you, might not. Best of luck. Joe

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/gunsmither/library/Browning B-78?sort=3&page=1

 

[jmh8743]

I would bet someone on the ASSRA forum can help you

there was a guy there that did it. post was old. I pm'd him but no answer. thats where i got pics of the "field manual". but they are bad quality.

 

[jmh8743]

Been a long time since I had a B-78 apart, and I sold all my assembly books when I retired, so can't say for sure how the Ext. spring goes. I do have some photo's still that show how I installed the action springs with a modified forceps, I believe they are called? Might help you, might not. Best of luck. Joe

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/gunsmither/library/Browning B-78?sort=3&page=1

you are the guy i was hunting. small world. your pics are good; however, that tiny spring came out when i removed lever pin, @#$%^&*. lost same. have 2 now. once I get that far i intend to try that .

 

[jmh8743]

try contacting texasmac He specializes in these rifles

http://www.texas-mac.com/

The 'smith's name I originally contacted was shaffer or something like that. He must have misunderstood my age.
Thanks for all comments. I'm retarded too and this late in life, challenges are NOT fun any more , BUT ireload2:

 

[jmh8743]

I would bet someone on the ASSRA forum can help you

they put me on trail to the "field manual", albeit tough to read

 

[Aero]

The orientation of the spring and plunger is shown in the schematic that you posted, parts 16 and 17. They go in through the hole visible in the pic of the extractor and into a hole located on the far side of the lever pin hole. A dab of heavy grease will keep them in place during assembly. Their purpose is to keep the lever pin in place, the plunger engaging the groove in the center of the lever pin. The trick is getting the plunger depressed to get the pin in. I use a slave pin with an angle cut on one end that acts like a ramp to depress the plunger while the slave pin is pushed in place.

 

[jmh8743]

The orientation of the spring and plunger is shown in the schematic that you posted, parts 16 and 17. They go in through the hole visible in the pic of the extractor and into a hole located on the far side of the lever pin hole. A dab of heavy grease will keep them in place during assembly. Their purpose is to keep the lever pin in place, the plunger engaging the groove in the center of the lever pin. The trick is getting the plunger depressed to get the pin in. I use a slave pin with an angle cut on one end that acts like a ramp to depress the plunger while the slave pin is pushed in place.

many thanks. so the slave pin is left in place until pushed out by the grooved lever pin as it goes through? I'll give it a go......its just been 2 years. appreciate your time.

 

[Aero]

View attachment 994726
many thanks. so the slave pin is left in place until pushed out by the grooved lever pin as it goes through? I'll give it a go......its just been 2 years. appreciate your time.

Yup, slave pin stays in until you push in the lever pin.

 

[jmh8743]

Yup, slave pin stays in until you push in the lever pin.

thats why it vanished. I had no idea. when I got it completed diassembled and FOUND that pin, i knew.....consulted above. the "field manual" assembly pics I got were extremely blurry. So after it I'll go. what i will have to do is rewrite the "assembly procedure" so it can be viewed w/o zooming in on pic....so much. thanks again. what are my chances? thats what I thought.

 

[Gundoktr]

I had one in the ship a few months ago, had to disassemble it for some trigger work,. I agonized over it, couldn't figure out the assembly so I went to Google and found a video after a search. It was the slave pin that was the secret. Look it up, it will help.

 

[jmh8743]

I had one in the ship a few months ago, had to disassemble it for some trigger work,. I agonized over it, couldn't figure out the assembly so I went to Google and found a video after a search. It was the slave pin that was the secret. Look it up, it will help.

thanks for heads up, but could not find video. found thousands of comments.

 

[jmh8743]

thought some of you would be interested.....after I got McLerran's book, I read the entire publication. Then again. Finally started today. Really after 2 years. In all fairness I was therapy for 16 mos. The extractor is installed. Took 4 hrs. Set trigger housing this afternoon and fumbled with main springs to this point. Tomorrow a new day. So when a smith says "remove trigger housing"...dont unless you research first. Find another smith.

 

[Tommie]

Years ago a buddy disassembled the trigger on one of those rifles. Pissed him off so much he turned around and sold it. OMG he cursed that thing for years.

 

[jmh8743]

Years ago a buddy disassembled the trigger on one of those rifles. Pissed him off so much he turned around and aold it. OMG he cursed that thing for years.

Ive got 2, 22-250 & 45-70. trigger on 22-250 so bad i put it in safe. many think b-78 is top notch. thought id fix 45-70 trigger. looked up specialist. not. Your friend is not only 1. there are 100s of threads......both are for sale.

 

[jmh8743]

Yup, slave pin stays in until you push in the lever pin.

extractor is in. functions. as you said. my thanks. now to hard part.

mike

 

[Tommie]

Ive got 2, 22-250 & 45-70. trigger on 22-250 so bad i put it in safe. many think b-78 is top notch. thought id fix 45-70 trigger. looked up specialist. not. Your friend is not only 1. there are 100s of threads......both are for sale.

Before selling it (but loudly cursing the thing) I shot that B78 a couple times. It was chambered in 223. Sheesh, my 870 Wingmaster has a better trigger. No idea how someone could actually use it as a varmint gun. So sad. The guns are gorgeous.