Browning Gold w/ gooey DuraTouch stock

[esheato]

I bought a Browning Gold Auto (3" chamber) for duck hunting back in 2005 when I was doing a bit of waterfowl hunting. It shot great for a few years, then I moved to a less ducky location and tossed it in the safe. It's been there sitting there hardly used except for the occasional skeet training for going on 9 years.

I cracked open the safe the other day and went to move it to get to a gun further back in the safe and the entire DuraTouch stock is gooey....totally unlike the feeling when it was new. I spot tested some solvents to clean it up and nothing worked. I ended up putting it back in the safe for a few months and resigned to work on it later.

Well, today I decided to tackle it and tried rubbing alcohol, additional solvents and even Goo Gone and nothing worked. I called Browning and they passed me around for a bit before I reached the parts department and they told me they were out of the Mossy Oak Shadow Grass DuraTouch stocks, but could warranty me black or walnut as a direct replacement. I opted for black as it's a hard use hunting gun. Looks like some rattle can is in my future.

The parts gal stated that there are a lot of Gold Autos out there, and they're getting calls on a few of them with stocks that are "melting".

It's unfortunate a 1k gun came apart like that, but I applaud Browning for how they dealt with it.

Here's hoping it looks decent.

Ed


---------------EDIT------------------

I just noticed that my Limbsaver recoil pads on two of my shotguns were "melting". A quick call to Limbsaver at 877-257-2761 and new ones are in the mail. One of their suppliers provided a bad batch of rubber a few years ago and they'll replace them for free (upgraded models even!).

 

[Virginian]

You would think after the salt issue they would have learned by now. Glad they took care of you.

 

[oneounceload]

Both items are having issues sitting in your safe? Is there something gassing in your safe harmful to the plastics used?

 

[esheato]

I thought of that and can't think of anything in there that would cause a problem. I keep the door closed as often as possible to save on re-charging the desiccant.

Just guns....no ammo, no boxes, no powder, no magazines...just guns.

After removing the recoil pad and checking out some other guns, I remembered that I had a Browning O/U with DuraTouch and that still feels new. I'm going to be real pissed if the second one melts too. Maybe I should sell it now?

 

[multigauge]

Their manual advises to never allow the coating to come into contact with insect repellant such as DEET, since it will melt the product. Obviously it is susceptible to other chemicals also.

 

[esheato]

Makes sense, but I can't recall even one occasion that I used insect repellent while waterfowl hunting.

I spot tested probably 10 different chemicals to remove the melt (bore solvent, rubbing alcohol, rust prevent, hot water, kitchen cleaner w/o bleach, lube, Goo Gone, etc) and nothing worked.

Prior to it melting, I was always super cautious with it. I mean, it's a shotgun....where 95% of the metal is coated. No need to coat it in any chemicals when cleaning besides the plumbing the bore, anti-seize on the choke and re-greasing the hinge.

Considering that Browning admitted they were receiving calls about it and offered a free replacement, I'm inclined to believe they know this is an error on their part.

 

[1KPerDay]

Melting! Mellllll-tiiiiiing! Oh, what a world!


sorry.

Glad they took care of you.

 

[sealer]

I have BPS 10 ga. in MOBU doing the exact same thing.
Dennis

 

[d2wing]

The manual for my Browning says to not use any solvents of any kind on the stocks. Only wash them with soap and water. the attempts to clean it may have made it worse. Maybe that includes Gun Oil.

 

[JohnBT]

I bought a used 2003 Winchester SX-2 Waterfowl in 2005 and a couple of years ago the Dura-Touch shadow grass stock got quite a bit stickier. Not melting, but really tacky. Looks like it's time to give 'em a call and see what they say.

John

 

[esheato]

Maybe melting is too strong of a word....tacky like football stickum.

Either way, it doesn't feel like it did when it was new. The freaking forend is HARD TO LET GO OF! LOL

 

[JohnBT]

That's a good way to describe it.

Maybe I'll get around to contacting them next week. My girlfriend needs a new garage door opener and there's a trash trailer piled high with limbs that needs to go to the dump and I'm redoing the wiring on my little fishing boat.

John

 

[vtsteve]

I had the same thing happen to a couple of BSA scopes that I purchased before I knew better than to buy cheap junk. They had been sitting in a drawer for a few years and were not exposed to anything that would have caused it to happen. I was able to get all the "goo" off with oven cleaner and elbow grease, but it took quite a bit of work.