Sabatti Shotgun Questions...

[redactor]

Does anyone know anything about Sabatti shotguns? I had a nice 12 ga O/U follow me home last week (SN: 22XXX). I paid $335 for it. This one is in pretty good shape, but could stand to be refinished. This is a fairly "no frills" model. Double triggers, extractors (not auto-ejectors), etc...

I know that they're made in Gardone Val Trompia like Beretta, but that is about all I know... They have a web site, but it doesn't say much either.

This is my first O/U, and I've found that if I fire the second (top) barrel, the action is very hard to open... to the point that I have to hold the lever with my right hand, and smack the hinge on my left arm to get it to break. The primer on the top shell shows a tear-drop mark. If I've only fired the bottom barrel, it drops open with no trouble. Is that normal?

Thanks

 

[Oldnamvet]

It sounds like the firing pin on the top barrel is sticking out a little and not retracting after firing. That is what is dragging across the primer to make the teardrop shape. When I had that happen on an inexpensive shotgun, I had to go into the internals and polish a bunch of rough edges. Problem ended. I'd start with a real good cleanout of the internals - remove stock so you can really blast crud away. That might cure it.