Browning Bt-99 Owners Manual

							3-A)  The forearm bracket.
3-B)  Barrel lug, hinge pin bearing surface, extractor extension 
and barrel flats.
3-C)  Hinge pin, cocking lever and locking bolt.
2  To attach the barrel to the action, grasp the stock’s pistol grip with
your right hand and anchor the butt stock between your right 
forearm and right side. With the thumb of your right hand, move 
the top lever sideways to the extreme right (Figure 4).
3  Grasping the barrel in the left hand, engage the barrel lug’s circular
recess with the action’s hinge pin (Figure 5). Keeping pressure on the
barrel to keep the hinge pin aligned in the barrel lug’s circular recess,
rotate the barrel upward, fully closing the action (Figure 6).
4  Release the top lever. It should snap back to its central position.
5  Place the butt of the gun’s stock against your upper leg to support it.
10
FIGURE 3-AFIGURE 3-C
FIGURE 3-B
Barrel Flats
Extractor
Extension
Barrel Lug
Forearm Bracket
Locking Bolt
Cocking Lever
Hinge PinHinge Pin
Bearing
Surface
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							Engage the rear portion of the forearm (forearm bracket) with the
action (Figure 7).
6  Pivot the forearm up to the barrel tightly. This will cause the take-
down lever latch to engage onto the barrel. It may be necessary to
depress the takedown lever latch. It should be flush with the wood on
the underside of the forearm. The forearm and latch can be installed
in one motion by positioning the forearm as shown and tapping the
forearm’s widest part sharply toward the barrel with the heel of your
hand (Figure 8). The takedown lever latch should then automatically
lock into position.
CAUTION — WHEN ASSEMBLING YOUR BT-99 SHOTGUN, DO NOT USE
UNDUE FORCE IN CLOSING THE ACTION.If the action and barrel are not properly aligned, undue force will only
cause them to grind together and score or mar the finely fitted surface.
If there appears to be interference, start over at Step 2, being careful to
mate and align the barrel lug and the receiver hinge pin properly.FIGURE 4
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 7
FIGURE 8
11
Strike here with
palm of your hand
Engage the rear of
the forearm with
the action Move the top lever to
the rightEngage circular recess with
the hinge pinClose the action
Circular RecessHinge Pin
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							DISASSEMBLY PROCEDURESDisassembling your BT-99 into two parts — the action/buttstock 
and the barrel/forearm — is ideal for storage or for cleaning 
and maintenance.BEFORE BEGINNING ANY DISASSEMBLY PROCEDURES, MAKE CERTAIN
THERE IS NOT A SHELL IN THE CHAMBER.1  With the action closed, anchor the buttstock against your upper leg
and pull the takedown lever latch outward.
2  At the same time, grasp the forearm with the other fingers of the left
hand and with the help of the right hand pivot the forearm away
from the barrel (Figure 9). Set the forearm aside.
3  Break open the action in the usual manner.
4  Carefully disengage the barrel lug from
the hinge pin and lift the barrel upward
out of the action.
5  Reattach the forearm to the barrels as
explained previously, except with the 
barrels separated from the receiver. This 
is an ideal way to store your shotgun — 
in two separate pieces.NO MANUAL SAFETYCAUTION: REMEMBER, THE BT-99 SHOTGUN HAS NO MANUAL SAFETY. THE
BT-99 IS DESIGNED SOLELY FOR TRAP SHOOTING.A trap shooter does not load his or her gun until moments before a
bird is called for. For this reason, and because trapshooting demands
intense concentration on shooting technique, no manual safety is 
provided. There is then no chance for a lost bird by reason of the 
safety being inadvertently left “on safe.”LOAD YOUR BT-99 TRAP GUN ONLY WHEN SHOOTING IS IMMINENT. 
ONCE LOADED, THIS GUN IS READY TO FIRE AND SHOULD BE RESPECTED
AS SUCH. 12
FIGURE 9Pivot the forearm away from 
the barrel
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							Always keep the muzzle of your shotgun pointed down range at all
times when on the shooting line. When leaving or moving along the
line always open the action. Never load the chamber until you are
ready to shoot. Never have the action of your BT-99 closed except
when you are on the line, ready to shoot, when your gun is cased, or
when it is set in a gun rack at the range. When you retrieve your gun
from its case or from a gun rack, always immediately open the action
and check to assure that no shell is in the chamber.ALWAYS KEEP THE MUZZLE OF YOUR BT-99 POINTED IN A SAFE 
DIRECTION. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE ABOVE INSTRUCTIONS COULD
RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH TO YOURSELF OR OTHERS.GENERAL OPERATING PROCEDURESHighly skilled techniques of hand-fitting and polishing have been used
to accomplish the hairline fitting of metal parts on this gun. These
painstaking operations are necessary to prevent looseness, even after
long use. You may consider your new gun to be slightly stiff. This close
fitting, however, assures you of long lasting dependability.
OPERATION OF THE TOP LEVER — 
The top lever operates the locking bolt, which is very closely hand-
fitted to its barrel lugs. Provision is made for the gradual wear of
locking surfaces by allowing a slight excess of metal. This exacting
metal allowance keeps the breech of the gun tight for many years.
Upon closing your gun, let the top lever snap into position — do 
not retard its action with your thumb. If closed in this manner, the 
top lever spring will return the top lever mechanism to the locked
position. It is not necessary that the top lever return to a completely
central position; in fact, it usually will not do so in a new gun. Many
experienced shooters cultivate the habit of lightly pushing the top
lever to the left after the gun is closed. It becomes automatic and is 
a quick method of assuring yourself that foreign matter has not 
interfered with the complete closure of the breech.
The breech is so tightly hand-fitted that foreign matter, sand, etc.
may prohibit complete closing.
13
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							IF THE BREECH WILL NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES
SHOULD YOU ATTEMPT TO FIRE THE SHOTGUN.Break the action of the gun and unload it. Carefully examine the
breech surfaces, and remove the foreign matter. Remember to always
keep the polished breech surfaces clean and lightly oiled.
LOADING —CAUTION: REMEMBER, THE BT-99 SHOTGUN HAS NO MANUAL SAFETY.
LOAD YOUR BT-99 TRAP GUN ONLY WHEN SHOOTING IS IMMINENT. 
ONCE LOADED, THIS GUN IS READY TO FIRE AND SHOULD BE RESPECTED
AS SUCH. AT ALL TIMES DURING THE LOADING AND UNLOADING 
PROCEDURES BE SURE YOUR MUZZLE IS POINTING DOWN RANGE, 
IN A SAFE DIRECTION.1 Break the action as explained above.
2 Insert a shell fully into the chamber.
3 Close the action by lifting up on the forearm. The lever will snap back
to center when properly closed. Remember, keep your finger away
from the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
UNLOADING —
1 Open the action by pushing the top lever to the right, as explained
previously.
2 Pull down on the forearm. The BT-99 has an automatic extractor
extension. This means that a shell — fired or unfired — will lift from
the chamber of the shotgun when the action is broken open and be
conveniently lifted slightly out of the chamber for easy removal with
your fingers.
Remember, never have the action of your BT-99 closed except
when you are on the line ready to shoot, when your gun is cased,
or when it is set in a gun rack at the range. Also, never load the
chamber until you are ready to shoot. It is a courtesy to other
shooters, and a wise safety practice, to keep your action open and
unloaded at all other times.1402-260-BFA_Revised BT99 OM  8/11/03  11:48 AM  Page 14 
						

							FIRING — 
With the chamber loaded, and the action closed, the BT-99 is fired by
simply pulling the trigger. Never pull the trigger unless the muzzle is
pointed down range, at the clay target. Make sure people — other
shooters, spectators, trap operators — are not down range. If there is
any doubt about down range safety, open the action immediately and
remove the shell until you are certain all conditions are safe.OPTIONAL BARREL PORTINGYour BT-99 may or may not have optional barrel porting. The drilled
holes in the top of the barrel are desired by some shooters for their
tendency to reduce barrel jump and give a feeling of lower recoil
against the face. They require only an occasional cleaning as described
under “Cleaning Suggestions” later in this manual.BT-99 MODELS WITH ADJUSTABLE COMBSome BT-99 shotguns feature an adjustable comb on the stock 
(Figure 10). The adjustable comb can be adjusted the achieve a 
perfect, personalized fit for the shooter. When properly adjusted,
this feature will allow for a customized sight picture for faster target
acquisition and better accuracy.ADJUSTING CAST ON AND
CAST OFFThis adjustment allows you to adjust for
cast on and cast off to achieve a perfect fit
of the stock against your face. This is a most 
crucial adjustment, as it determines how
correctly and consistently your eye will line
up with the sight plane along the barrel rib.
A shotgun correctly adjusted for cast on and
cast off will have you looking directly down
the center of the rib with the front and 
middle beads in alignment.
15
FIGURE 10Adjustable Comb
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							The adjustable comb features an adjustment range of
1⁄4 for cast on
and cast off adjustment in 
1⁄16 increments. Cast on and cast off angle
adjustments of a maximum of1⁄8 are also possible. To adjust cast on
and cast off perform the following procedure:
BEFORE PERFORMING ANY ADJUSTMENTS, ALWAYS MAKE CERTAIN THERE IS
NO SHELL IN THE CHAMBER.1 STANDARD MODEL: Loosen the comb by inserting a 
7⁄64 Allen
wrench through the hole found on the upper left of the recoil pad
and into the Allen screw located within the recoil pad (Figure 11).
Turn wrench counterclockwise three full turns to loosen Allen screw.
This will sufficiently loosen the Adjustable Comb, allowing adjust-
ments to be easily made. The cheek piece
comes set from the factory with cast in the
center position.
GRACOIL MODEL: Remove the butt 
plate by inserting a 
3⁄32 Allen wrench
into the single hole on the right side of
the butt plate and turn the set screw
counterclockwise two turns to loosen the
screw (Figure 12). Removing the butt
plate gives access to the the hole found
on the upper left of the stock plate. (Figure
13). Loosen the comb by inserting a 
7⁄64
Allen wrench through the hole found on
the upper left of the stock plate and into
the Allen screw located within the stock
plate (Figure 14). Turn wrench counter-
clockwise three full turns to loosen Allen
screw. This will sufficiently loosen the
Adjustable Comb, allowing adjustments to
be easily made. The cheek piece comes set
from the factory with cast in the center
position.
16
FIGURE 11Standard ModelFIGURE 12GraCoil Equipped Model
Insert Allen wrench here
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							17
2 Carefully adjust comb to desired cast on or
cast off position (Figure 15) by sliding each
post equally in the desired direction.CAST
ON AND CAST OFF ADJUSTMENTS
ARE A MATTER OF TRIAL AND
ERROR.Adjust in small increments until
the desired sight picture on the rib is
reached. Each increment represents 
1⁄16.
Move the posts to the right for cast off
and to the left for cast on.
3 Right handed shooters may desire some cast
off, with left handed shooters preferring
some cast on. The terminology is the same
for right or left-handed shooters. The net
effect is to move the cheek piece to allow
the face to move farther over the stock for
better eye-to-rib alignment.
4 When properly set, the front and rear
sight beads should line up perfectly each
time you shoulder your shotgun.
5 STANDARD MODEL: Once desired cast
has been obtained, tighten the Allen screw
in the recoil pad. The screw needs to be
firmly tightened, but be careful not to over
tighten. If drop at comb has not been set,
leave the Allen screw  loose and proceed to
“Adjusting Drop at Comb.”
GRACOIL MODEL: Once desired cast has
been obtained, tighten the Allen screw in
the stock plate. The screw needs to be
firmly tightened, but be careful not to over
tighten. If drop at comb has not been set,
leave the Allen screw loose and proceed to
“Adjusting Drop at Comb.”
FIGURE 13GraCoil Equipped ModelFIGURE 14GraCoil Equipped ModelInsert Allen wrench hereFIGURE 15With Allen screw loose, adjust
comb to desired position
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							Unless adjusting drop at comb, reinstall the butt plate by sliding it
back into the stock and tighten the set screws using the 
3⁄32 Allen
wrench. Do not over tighten.
ADJUSTING DROP AT COMBAdjusting the drop at the comb allows you to align your eye perfectly
with the plane of the rib. A correct sight picture for most shooters
should have you looking down the rib with the bottom of the front
bead resting on the top of the middle bead. This forms a “figure eight”
or “stacked” configuration. Some of the rib will be showing as you
sight down, but no rib will show between the beads. The important
thing is to line up correctly each time you shoot.
The Adjustable Comb has an height adjustment range of 11 increments,
at 1⁄16 per increment, resulting in approximately 
5⁄8 of height 
adjustment.
CAUTION: DO NOT GO BEYOND THE RANGE OF ADJUSTMENT
INCREMENTS. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE COMB WILL NOT BE PROPERLY
SECURED AND COULD RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE FIREARM.
The drop measurement is determined by measuring the distance
between the plane formed by the top of the rib and the top of the
cheekpiece itself. The higher the cheekpiece, the lower the drop.
To set drop perform the following:BEFORE PERFORMING ANY ADJUSTMENTS, ALWAYS MAKE CERTAIN THERE IS
NO SHELL IN THE CHAMBER.1 STANDARD MODEL: Loosen the comb by inserting a 
7⁄64 Allen
wrench through the hole found on the upper left of the recoil pad
and into the Allen screw located within the recoil pad (Figure 11).
Turn wrench counterclockwise three full turns to loosen Allen screw.
This will sufficiently loosen the Adjustable Comb, allowing 
adjustments to be easily made. The cheekpiece comes set from the
factory with comb in the lowest position.
GRACOIL MODEL: Remove the butt plate by inserting a 3⁄32 Allen
wrench into the single hole on the right side of the butt plate and
turn the set screw counterclockwise two turns to loosen the screw
(Figure 12). Removing the butt plate gives access to the the hole
found on the upper left of the stock plate. (Figure 13). Loosen the
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							comb by inserting a 
7⁄64 Allen wrench through the hole found on the
upper left of the stock plate and into the Allen screw located within
the stock plate (Figure 14). Turn wrench counterclockwise three full
turns to loosen Allen screw. This will sufficiently loosen the
Adjustable Comb, allowing adjustments to be easily made. The cheek-
piece comes set from the factory with comb in the lowest position.
2  With Allen screw loose, carefully adjust comb to desired position
(Figure 16) by sliding each post equally in the desired direction.
DROP AT COMB ADJUSTMENTS ARE A MATTER OF TRIAL
AND ERROR.Adjust in small increments until the desired sight
picture on the rib is reached. Each increment represents 
1⁄16.
3  To decrease drop at comb, carefully slide each post up equally. To
increase drop at comb, carefully slide each post down equally. Sliding
each post equally will reduce the chance of the comb binding.
4  STANDARD MODEL: Once your desired
drop at comb is obtained, tighten the
Allen screw in the recoil pad. The screw
needs to be firmly tightened, but be 
careful not to over tighten. Drop is now
set on your shotgun.
GRACOIL MODEL: Once your desired
drop at comb is obtained, tighten the
Allen screw in the stock plate. The screw
needs to be firmly tightened, but be 
careful not to over tighten. Drop is now 
set on your shotgun.
Reinstall the butt plate by sliding it back into the stock and tighten
the set screws using the 
3⁄32 Allen wrench. Do not over tighten.
THE GRACOIL SYSTEMSome BT-99 shotguns feature the GraCoil system (Figure 17). This
highly adjustable unit allows you to tailor the gun to suit your specific
fit requirements. The GraCoil system features an adjustable 
compression unit to reduce recoil, adjustable length of pull and an
adjustable butt plate.
19
FIGURE 16With Allen screw loose, adjust
comb to desired position
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