What gauge? What chamber length? What payload and fps are your 'value loads"? What "action collar" are you referring to?

 

Guess that would help. 12 gauge shooting 2 3/4. Was shooting , I think, 7/8 oz. #8's, not sure about the fbs, 1100 plus I'm sure. This "action collar" or "gas collar" I'm not sure what the gentleman was talking about.

 

The chamber length of the barrel is stamped on the barrel. 3 inch chambered guns are not designed or intended to cycle 2-3/4 inch target loads.

The standard 2-3/4 inch load has always been 1-1/8 oz. 1200 fps 1-1/8 oz. loads are not a problem, nor are faster good quality 1 oz. loads, in a 2-3/4 inch chambered barrel.

7/8 oz. is a 20 gauge payload, and a 20 gauge target load at that. They aren't supposed to work well, or at all, in 12 gauge B-80s. They rarely are reliable in 3 inch chambered 20 gauge B-80s without opening gas ports.

 

Thanks Randy. I think you may have hit the nail on the head. 2 3/4 shells instead of 3in.I'll pick up some 3in shells and give them a try.

 

Perhaps the guy that told you about turning the "action collar" was thinking about the old recoil-operated Browning Auto-5? For that gun, there is a part (actually called the "friction ring") that allows you to adjust the gun for heavy or lighter loads. The B-80 does not have such a arrangement.

Anyway, for the Browning B-80 (which is a gas-operated gun), there is a part called the "Recoil Adapter". I'm not sure if all B-80s came equipped with it. It's a sheet metal plate that you can attach to the gun in order to use light(er) loads. It goes between the front of the receiver and the rear of the forearm and is attached by two screws. Here's a link to Midwest Gun Works so you can see what it looks like:

http://www.midwestgunworks.com/page/mgwi/prod/C-021-3/PO13350

Basically, inserting the Recoil Adapter creates a tiny gap in how the barrel fits to the receiver, allowing barrel/bolt to move rearward slightly when the gun is fired. The theory is that this gives an extra recoil-assisted "boost" to the gas system, allowing light loads to be fired.

From what I've heard from B-80 owners, the Recoil Adapter may not work very well. Interesting concept, but might not deliver what it promised. I've never owned a B-80, so I can't provide any personal experience . . . I've owned only the Beretta A303 (upon which the B-80 is based . . . both guns were actually made by Beretta). As far as I know, Beretta never offered a Recoil Adapter with their A303 (maybe for good reason?).

If you have a Recoil Adapter (or if you can locate one to purchase), it might be worth a try for light loads.

 

I have shot 2 3/4" target loads through 3" chamber B-80 guns, both in 12 and 20 gauge, without issues. I always use loads that cycle the action all the time, everytime. You just need to shoot a target load that has enough "power" to cycle the action.

 

I regularly shoot a B-80SL with target loads. It has a 3" beretta barrel and the recoil adapter installed. It has shot every 1 1/18 and 1 oz load I've tried. I have not tried 7/8oz or cheap loads.