Shells sticking?

[Hawk]

All the recent talk about old SxS's weakened my resolve: an L.C. Smith followed me home. Got it on the cheap as the owner had taken a header while hunting and put a big old crack in the buttstock rendering it unshootable. Anyhow, I just got it back from the local SxS guru who did a magnificent job of repair ('course the package isn’t really all that cheap anymore. Live and learn, I guess).

Prying the thing open after the first couple of shots proved to be a challenge – rather like trying to break a 2X4 over one's knee. There's no stiffness except with fired rounds in the chamber.

Rather of a mystery: the bores are mirror shiny. Breechface is pristine. Shining a flashlight into the chambers shows some rust - more of a discoloration - didn’t actually feel rough.

Could the discoloration indicate enough roughness to be the problem? Is this a known issue with old (1948) SxS's?

I'll try loading one chamber at a time this weekend to see if the issue is unique to one barrel - just wondering if anyone has some light to shed in the interim(?) There were only a few rounds fired on her first trip out - I was a little concerned over possibly damaging the thing by forcing it open.

I’ll admit there’s a certain charm inherent in a sidelock that’s a couple years older than I am. The L.C. (apart from the crack and some scratches from the tumble) was in really good shape. I can't hit the broad side of a clay barn but I think I hear it whispering to me that I need some exercise and dove season is coming up...

 

[Whole Hog]

Could it be that the effort is due to cocking the gun instead of shells sticking in the chamber? You could dry fire the gun with the chambers empty to see if it's still difficult to open.

Scott

 

[TrapperReady]

I'd clean the chambers thoroughly with steel wool. The "rust" might be plastic buildup (or just plain rust), which is causing the shells to stick. This might make opening dificult as there is extra friction the extractors/ejectors have to overcome.

On a shotgun, shiny bores really don't mean squat. You want the chambers to be the spotless part.

 

[BozemanMT]

The impression I get is that when you crack it open normally it's fine. but after shooting two off it's very difficult to open. Am i right?
I have this same problem with my CZ Ringneck. It's the crappy cheap steel ammo. The primers must push out a little or it expands and you have to wait like 20 seconds for them to not be out so much and then it pops open. When i shoot the AA or the STS's, no problem, pops right open.
That's what i notice. (gets worse the more you shoot, as the gun gets hotter)
but, do you like the SxS?

 

[Hawk]

It's definitely way more effort than just cocking the thing - you really have to put your back into it. Cocking after dry-firing is pretty effortless. In fact, when the thing finally "let go" after firing, the extractor turned into an ejector - cracking the thing that hard into the stop made me shudder - thus the "quit now and get advice before we damage it" post.

I'm off to get some steel wool. Resuscitating the old girl is definitely worth some effort - she kinda puts me in mind of the shotgun equivalent of a ballerina.

What's the best way of working the steel wool? I'm guessing wrapped around a bore brush like cotton candy, soaked with CLP and maybe chucked into a low speed drill with a short rod...

 

[PJR]

Check your primers on the fired shells to see if the indents are slightly elongated. It may be that the firing pins are not retracting completely and dragging in the primers. If so change the brand of shell. Sometimes than can make the gun easier to open.

Paul

 

[Hawk]

They were Winchester AA's.

In one instance, it didn't "fly open" it stayed pretty sticky through the first third or so of its travel. Might be a combination though, I guess. Didn't think to hang onto the empties - won't make that mistake again.

The firing pin springs seem to be doing their job, tho.

 

[Hawk]

Addendum (got the digicam working)

I still haven't grown the heuvos to touch off the 335 in the background - that's the puppy that the Nolden forum turned up as dubious barrel steel.

And, in anticipation of the anguished cries about the Elsie's benighted sideplates, the jeweling, if that's what it is, is very light - letters intact and all that.

They were both good honest working guns and may be again. I do get the impression that the Elsie is the ballerina counterpart to the Stevens lumberjack, not that that's a bad thing for either - I think they make a nice couple.