external hammer on shotgun refuses to stay cocked back

[blendingnoise]

I have a sxs shotgun with external rebounding hammers and for some reason the left hammer refuses to stay cocked back. The couple of times it actually did stay cocked back at the start, both hammers would drop when the front trigger (right barrel trigger) was pulled. I did not get a chance to test and see if pulling the rear trigger (left barrel whose hammer is the one I think is an issue) would shoot both barrels as after the second shot when I figured out what exactly the problem was, the left hammer refused to stay cocked back.

short version: Currently the right hammer, trigger, barrel shoots and works fine. The left barrel, trigger was working fine but the left hammer would drop when the right trigger was pulled with ammo in the gun. As of now the left hammer refuses to stay cocked back.

Any help or ideas?

 

[peacemaker45]

The sear engagement is poor to nonexistant. That's not much of an answer in and of itself.

A sear is simply the top of the trigger which engages a ledge or notch on the hammer. The trigger is forced under the notch by spring pressure when the gun is cocked. When the trigger is pulled to the rear, it pivots around its mounting pin/screw, and the top portion or sear moves forward out of the hammer notch, allowing the hammer to fall. Take the gun apart and inspect the hammer notch and sear surface. One or the other is likely deformed. Compare to the other side for an example.

Options for fixing, depending on what is wrong, include replacing the trigger, reshaping the sear, replacing the hammer, or welding up and recutting the hammer notch, depending on your level of abilities.

~~~Mat

 

[BCRider]

Reasons for the sear not holding could be grunge inside the works or the lip has worn or broken away to some extent. Either issue will require a trip into the works to either clean or repair depending on what is found inside.

Ah... that's pretty much a repeat of Mat's answer other than the possible bit of flotsam that may be messing up the works....

 

[blendingnoise]

this recently found it's way into my hands so hopefully it might be just some gunk. Thanks for the really helpful replies.

Are there any website that show some pictures of a generic sxs external hammer detail strip/disassembly by any chance?

 

[rcmodel]

It could also be caused by internal stock inletting interfering with the sear or springs.

There is no such thing as a "generic" S/S shotgun, or generic schematics & instructions.

There are dozens of different action types and lock types, using flat springs, coil springs, or a combination of them all.

If you don't know how to take it apart to look, you don't know how to fix it either.

I'd really suggest you take it to a gunsmith and get it fixed correctly.
It isn't safe to ever load it right now.

rc