Shot my new Franchi 612

[Justin]

Well, yeseterday I took Larry up on his invitation to come down and bust a few clays.

Had a really good time, and did a bit better than expected. Also, Larry let me put some rounds through a few of his guns, it was neat to be able to shoot different types of shotguns in different gauges one right after another.

I did have a problem though, my shotgun didn't cycle any of the rounds at all. This was with Remington sporting rounds, 3 inch shells with #7-1/2 shot. I also tried Estate rounds, but they didn't cycle either.

Tried lubing the gun, as well as flipping the piston around, but to no avail. My supposedly semi-auto Franchi 612 steadfastly refused to act as anything but a single shot, not even extracting the spent shell all the way out of the chamber.



Any thoughts as to what I'm doing wrong? It kind of has me bummed out.

Other than the shotgun not working though, I had a lot of fun. (Thanks, Larry!)

 

[sm]

I'm sorry to hear the shotgun misbehaved for you.

Did you get to take any of Sandy's Salsa Home though?

Not familar with that gun...have piddled with other Franchi's though...
You mentioned 3" shells and not fully extracting.

First thoughts run to chambers, this is where we see most hiccups, even new guns. I would use Scotchbrite around a bore brush and using either elbow grease or battery operated drill - clean that sucker but good.

Easiest way to clean a barrel as well, LEAVE choke tube in to protect threads...then remove choke and re-apply anti-sieze.

-New guns, sometimes that icky stuff (factory preservative) is really icky and hard to remove.
-Older guns, guns getting used, the plastic hulls "plasticize" and leave a gritty, grimey, sticky residue. In the old days of paper hulls , which had a wax coating, the chambers did not have this problem.

Meaning, chamber held onto shell and would not allow "proper" extraction.

-Next-

Some chambers are tight, just the way Factories do them, or a run of that particular lot.

Some ammo is "off specs". See above reasons. Hence the reason reloaders ALWAYS re-size shotgun hull all the way down to brass head. Chambers vary and what may have fired a round, will not work in another gun...or same gun.

Off specs can also apply to "too long".

I would also suggest 2 3/4" shells. I do not like what the folks have done to brass on some promotional loads. I would buy some Rem Target loads, (STS hulls). This will be better spec'd and the hulls are great to reload.

Visit Uncle Larry and Aunt Sandy...he reloads your STS spent hulls and you eat Sandy's cooking . I recommend the homemade canned Field Peas with snaps and pickles on the side

Ports- this gun have gas ports? If so Dills Pipe cleaners. Red carton is coarse, yellow is regular and fluffy. Use these to clean and keep that way. If this gun does not gas ports...

...Use on extractors as well. There "may" be the slightest possiblity the extractor is cut wierd. Rare - but happens. Competent gunsmith can check. These promo loads with off spec'd bases often get fouled up and whomper-jawed in a proper extractor.

-Firing pin channel. I dunno what some factories use to lube and preserve now-a-days - some really awful icky, gooey stuff. Firing, heat and this stuff is like glue.

Take a empty antifreeze gal jug, rinse it good. Make a parts cleaning "bin" by cutting one side inside label...about 5" X 6". Toss in low odor mineral spirits, toss in bolt, and whatever and let soak. Old toothbrushes , pipe clean, soak.

Then carefully remove antifreeze cap, and pour back into a container to re-use. You can strain if need...

These ideas/suggestions often take care of the Culprits of the gun not acting right.

Let us know if you need anything else.

psst...I ever make it out to CO, I may need someone to pull me out of a well I get tossed into, or bailed out being tied to a tractor. Can I count on you Justin? I mean Sadie will...best can - she is just not quite tall and strong enough to bail me out of the stuff I have coming my way.

 

[Carl]

For a second I thought the title was "Shot my new friend."


But like every new gun, you of course need to break it in. Just keep putting rounds through it and it'll eventually start extracting the shells like it should.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

Great fun, and we busted more than a "few" clays too. Three big piles of hulls (Smoke Rizen was there too). I bought some 20 ga shells to try out a little Stevens 311 I have, what a sweetheart! Justin agreed too. I know I said I've never fired a 20, never said I didn't have one though.

Forgot the salsa! I'm in trouble now. Next time.

Steve, couple things. I'm pretty sure the shells Justin was shooting were 2 3/4" What we didn't even think about until Bud and I were discussing it last night though, Justin was using a replacement barrel, not the one the gun came with. Maybe some other change has to be made when swapping barrels?

Justin, I would suggest maybe a function test with the stock barrel. Wish I'd thought of that yesterday.

 

[sm]

Wait a minute...replacement barrel. YES for sure have a Quality gunsmith look at this one and the Factory bbl. I suspect that is the problem...specs are off.
Oh well...gotta admit my suggestions are still good - huh?

Just another darn minute...Larry, you gotta 311 in 20 ga? You didn't say a darn word about that when in Tulsa and we were looking at all of those...

Smoke was there? Gee whiz! You ever thought of retiring and just having folks come out and shoot on your property? Beats having to drive to town and such.

Need a helper? I figure b/t folks shooting and Selling Sandy's salsa...we could do allright?

Get that bbl checked out, there is glitch in the get-a-long I am sure.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

Justin, some advice: print out and keep Steve's cleaning recommendations.

Shells were indeed 2 3/4, I dug one out of the dumpster this morning and measured.

The 311: I bought my son a new H&R 20 ga single shot when he turned twelve (or maybe eleven). Anyway, my dad calls about a week later and said, "You wanted a 20 ga for Jimmy? I found a nice sxs for $150" What could I do? Couldn't buy Jimmy two guns in one week (he has two sisters), so I bought it and told Jimmy it was "mom's gun" and if she wasn't using it, he probably could.

He did, at least until he discovered 12 ga. Its been in the gun safe since, and I just thought it needed a little limbering up. Those old tight chokes sure smoke them birds.

Speaking of smoking birds, Justin didn't just break them, most of them just disappeared. I thought Sandy was going to take the frying pan to him when he kept smoking the birds she was aiming at.

Oh, and speaking of frying pans, I think Sandy is going to cook breakfast for us in Tulsa. She keeps talking about taking her favorite frying pan with her.

 

[BozemanMT]

Dont' worry, once Justin gets hooked on shotguns, it will all slow down and he'll start to think about it
and once he starts to think about it, his scores will go down.
Ask me how i know this.

Fun huh Justin?

 

[sm]

How does one defend oneself against frying pans?

Whoops!

Please move to Males with Bumpy Noggin's Forum

Justin I hope The Franchi gets figured out, nothing more frustrating.

Breakfast at Sandy's could be very interesting for me in Tulsa.

"No, shotguns are Larry's thing, I do handguns and rifles"
"You will like the 28 ga"
"No, I won't, been married to Larry since earth was flat, I won't get into shotguns"
"Yes you will".
"No I won't, you are guy a Steve, women win arguments".


Justin - just stick with shotguns and such...firearms don't wield rolling pins and frying pans.

No wonder Sandy keeps bugging me to come to CO, since I haven't she will be bringing the frying to Tulsa.

Oh well...any other THR folks show up, I'll be easy to spot, I'll be the guy running from a Lady with a frying pan, Larry will be short guy laughing his rear end off, and taking pictures from cover/ concealment.

 

[Justin]

sm-

Thanks for the info, will be printing it out. Last night took the shotgun down do the bolt, and cleaned it all off with brake cleaner, wiped the bolt down with Tetra Gun Lube, and smeared a bunch of it on the inside of the piston. Though I think the Tetra stuff may be a little too thick, so I'm thinking about wiping it off and doing a light coat of CLP.

Unfortunately, no salsa, but Sandy did serve up some wonderful chili.

Dont' worry, once Justin gets hooked on shotguns, it will all slow down and he'll start to think about it
and once he starts to think about it, his scores will go down.
Ask me how i know this.

Bozeman, funny story regarding that. After busting a few in a row, Larry remarked that I was doing pretty good. I missed the next couple.

And yeah, I feel bad for busting a few of the clays Sandy was going for. I hope that's not bad manners...

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

I hope that's not bad manners...

Nope. Its friendly competition, or, "Shoot faster next time".

 

[BozemanMT]

I use lots of that Tetra grease, I like it a lot
it takes 2 or 3 times to really get into the pores but after that, you need very little and the gun slicks up nicely.

and oh yes, poaching the shots is why you are all shooting in a line.