Chrome Chamber only on "Clay" autos?

[wacki]

The browning gold only has chrome chambers on the 2 3/4" chamber "clay" semi-autos. Why is that? How much of an advantage is it to chrome a chamber? Can you have someone chrome a chamber for you on a 3" hunting semi shotgun?

 

[ArmedBear]

Brownings are known -- rightly or not -- for having rust-prone chambers.

When you shoot a gun to the point of being hot, then leave it in the range rack on a cold day, water can condense, especially in the chamber. This has happened to me with various kinds of guns, not just Brownings, but for some reason, it's axiomatic that you should wipe the chambers of a Browning with RemOil, Sheath, Rusthunter, or somesuch, before casing the thing.

Perhaps Browning wants to overcome this reputation (I can't say whether it's justified).

AFAIK barrels tend to be chromed, including the chamber. One reason a clay gun might not be would be that people like to have the insides of their barrels modified (forcing cone lengthening, backboring, etc.). That's easier to do with a plain steel barrel, and there's no expectation that the gunsmith will re-chrome it if it's not chromed to begin with.

All told, I wouldn't sweat it. And your hunting gun is probably chromed anyway, if it's recent.

 

[wacki]

Thanks for the response. There's a 99% chance that I'll be buying this gun sometime this week:

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=010B&cat_id=011&type_id=259

And your hunting gun is probably chromed anyway, if it's recent.

It's new, but unlike the clay version:
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=010B&cat_id=011&type_id=104

No "chrome" listed. Seems like browning is an exception to the rule.

 

[ArmedBear]

Seems like browning is an exception to the rule.

Hence their reputation for potential rust problems, I guess.

I have old guns with no chrome, and they're not rusty inside. I just wipe them when appropriate with Bullfrog Rusthunter Wipes or Rem Oil Wipes. At the range, I use the dowel meant for removing stuck wads to shove the wipe through a couple times per barrel.

In the field, it's usually not a serious issue, since the gun doesn't get really hot unless you're on a dove hunt in Argentina or something. No heat, no condensation. Still, I carry a couple RemOil Wipes in my vest or game belt in case it rains or something, and I do a bit of rust prevention when I get home -- whether or not the gun is chromed.

Enjoy your new gun!