Side by Side, Double Discharge problem

[DCChE]

I am a revolver guy who recently purchased his first shotgun - it's a side by side, 20 gauge, single trigger model (Stoeger Double Defense).

On its first trip to the range, it fired the first 8 shells just fine. From then on, it would consistently discharge both barrels with a single trigger pull. While admittedly interesting, I figured that it wasn't such a great idea to keep firing a malfunctioning weapon, and put it away after a few of these double-discharges.

When I got home, I called the manufacturer and sent it in for a warranty repair. Benellli sent it back about a month later with a note explaining that the sear was adjusted and the stock was inlet (when I first bought the gun, the fit was terrible and it was very difficult to assemble the forearm).

So last night I took it out for it's second trip to the range. I brought 50 shells with me - the first 36 shots were fine. Double discharge on shots 37-38, and the remaining 12 shells operated fine.

If you guys would be kind enough to answer a few questions for me:

1. Is it unreasonable for me to expect a single trigger shotgun to only fire one barrel 100% of the time, or are occasional double discharges par for the course? In other words, if I want consistent single discharges, should I have bought a double trigger model?

2. Just how big of a concern is this? I'm not so worried about an occasional really big ba-boom, but could a malfunctioning sear eventually cause a hang-fire?

3. From several internet threads, Stoeger seems to be a fairly-well respected company. Did I just get a lemon? Or is this more common than I am aware of?

4. I plan on calling them this morning and sending it back a 2nd time. But if this happens again, paying the shipping repeatedly is going to get old rather quickly. They have already made it clear to me that under no circumstances do they pay the incoming shipping for warranty repairs. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can obtain a replacement?

Thank you for your time, and any comments would be appreciated.

The shotgun in question can be found here - http://www.stoegerindustries.com/firearms/stoeger_double_defense.php

 

[CZ223]

No itsnot par for the course

Nor is it unreasonable for you to expect it to work right. Talk to them again and ask them to pay for shipping. They should be able to send you a return shipping container with the postage already paid.

 

[ArmedBear]

1. Is it unreasonable for me to expect a single trigger shotgun to only fire one barrel 100% of the time

No. Nearly all the guns you see at the Olympics, and on clay ranges across the world, have one trigger, two firing pins and barrels. They work fine.

In other words, if I want consistent single discharges, should I have bought a double trigger model?

No, but there are certainly higher-end guns out there... That said, if you're wearing gloves, or if you just have a bouncy trigger finger, it is possible to double a gun that is working fine. This will not cause simultaneous discharges, though. It's really just accidental "bump-firing".

2. Just how big of a concern is this? I'm not so worried about an occasional really big ba-boom, but could a malfunctioning sear eventually cause a hang-fire?

I'd call it a huge concern whenever you don't have complete control of when your gun fires, no matter what gun. Malfunctioning sears are a bad, bad thing, as you have guessed.

3. From several internet threads, Stoeger seems to be a fairly-well respected company. Did I just get a lemon? Or is this more common than I am aware of?

I have seen stock Stoegers go through thousands of rounds at a trap range, without any problems. They are very rough internally, but with gunsmithing and some aftermarket parts, they're used quite a bit for the gun-busting sport of Cowboy Action Shooting -- although these might be mostly double-trigger guns.

 

[oneounceload]

Is it unreasonable for me to expect a single trigger shotgun to only fire one barrel 100% of the time, or are occasional double discharges par for the course? In other words, if I want consistent single discharges, should I have bought a double trigger model?

Not unreasonable at all. I have several double barrel shotguns of the vertical and horizontal variety and have NEVER had a double discharge.

2. Just how big of a concern is this? I'm not so worried about an occasional really big ba-boom, but could a malfunctioning sear eventually cause a hang-fire?

Big enough concern - pressure spikes notwithstanding, it is not safe.

3. From several internet threads, Stoeger seems to be a fairly-well respected company. Did I just get a lemon? Or is this more common than I am aware of?

Stoeger is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Beretta; however many of their guns are sourced world-wide. Sounds like a lemon.

4. I plan on calling them this morning and sending it back a 2nd time. But if this happens again, paying the shipping repeatedly is going to get old rather quickly. They have already made it clear to me that under no circumstances do they pay the incoming shipping for warranty repairs. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can obtain a replacement?

I could see their point about shipping for the first time; however, since this problem wasn't properly fixed by them the first time in for repair, I would not find it unreasonable for them to pay shipping this time.

I had issues with a Ruger O/U - three times back to factory - never was fixed correctly - it soon went bye-bye

 

[DCChE]

"Stoeger is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Beretta; however many of their guns are sourced world-wide."

Yup - this one was made in Brazil.

 

[Tom Held]

refund

Send it back, demand a full refund or a replacement gun. You'll never trust this one. I would demand a full refund and then go out, add a couple of hundred dollars and buy a decent gun. This is not safe.

 

[oletymer]

Stoegers are about the cheapest sxs or o/u's. You are bound to get bad ones.

 

[huntsman]

3. From several internet threads, Stoeger seems to be a fairly-well respected company. Did I just get a lemon? Or is this more common than I am aware of?

low end guns are always a gamble and you just lost.

 

[ArmedBear]

low end guns are always a gamble and you just lost.

Yeah. Note that it costs more to make a functional SxS than a pump gun. So a $350 SxS is lower-end than a $350 pump -- by a fairly significant margin.

 

[Steve C]

Just a thought. Are you sure you are not double bumping the trigger when you are getting both barrel to fire? In shotgunning the trigger is generally pulled rather than gently squeezed like a rifle or pistol trigger. Could be your are milking the trigger a bit and double bumping it during recoil. Depends upon how heavy or light the trigger.

 

[DCChE]

Thanks to everyone for the responses and the advice.

Live and learn - when I bought the gun, I didn't think that it was particularly cheap due to its $450 price tag...but all things are relative, I suppose.

As for inadvertent bump firing, while its certainly possible, I don't think that was the issue, since I am fairly certain that my trigger pull was consistent on each shot.

 

[DCChE]

I just called Benelli - they issued a call tag, and UPS will be here in a couple of days to pick it up, on Benelli's dime. I was told that the gun will be inspected, and it will either be repaired or replaced, at the technician's discrection. The woman on the other end of the line added that this was the first return she has seen for this particular model. So I'll sit tight and see what happens.

For those of you who consider Stoegers to be low-end cheapo guns, would you be able to suggest any particular higher end models? I am interested in a 20 gauge side-by-side with a single trigger and a 20" barrel.

 

[ArmedBear]

Unfortunately, there are few if any high-end hammerless single-trigger coach guns available.

That said, as I posted, I have seen a good number of Stoegers, and they tend to be reliable and durable IME. I have not owned one, but if I ever do buy an inexpensive double gun, that's probably what it will be. One thing that really holds me back from getting, say, an Outback for a defense/Jeep gun is that it's got an inertia trigger.

If you want to know for sure that you have a rock-solid coach gun, one option is to take the Stoeger to a CAS gunsmith who will outfit it with aftermarket parts. That's not a horrible insult to Stoeger, either -- note that people do similar things with Smith and Wesson revolvers, as well.

 

[DCChE]

If it would open the field up any, I have no objection to external hammers. Also would not be opposed to a 410 (this shotgun was intended to be for my wife, and she has decided that a 12 is too much for her).

 

[MAKster]

Since the low priced import sxs coach guns are not great quality it is usually better to stick to a double trigger model since that is a simpler design. Another advantge of the double trigger models is that the gun will still work if one of the triggers stops functioning.

 

[huntsman]

For those of you who consider Stoegers to be low-end cheapo guns, would you be able to suggest any particular higher end models? I am interested in a 20 gauge side-by-side with a single trigger and a 20" barrel.

If I wanted a utility SXS I'd look for a Nitro-special and forget the whole coach gun thing.

 

[tactikel]

Aside from being dangerous, and useless for most hunting, your firearm is quite possibly illegal. Any firearm which fires more than one round from a single trigger pull could be considered an "automatic weapon". Granted this is not the intent, and is clearly a malfunctioning sporting weapon, but be aware of possible legal issues if you don't get the gun functioning properly. Hopefully this time they'll get it right!