Gunsmith for Double rifle issue

Dholupko

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I have a 1925 William Evan 470 NE boxlock that when both barrels have been fired is very hard to open. I believe it is due to firing pin drag. Cartridge examination suggests this. I took the firing pin out and examined them in an optical comparator, along with the spare pins under the grip cap, and found two nose profiles. One is spherical or parabolic and the other is a bit more blunt nosed. The rifle exhibits the same issue regardless of the combination of firing pin I use. I wonder if I have excessive firing pin protrusions.
I do a lot of work on my own guns however I leave for a buffalo hunt in August and would like to get this issue behind me so I can get back to practicing. Does anyone have a recommendation of a good gunsmith that does quality work on higher end double rifles with reasonable turn around?
Thank you for the help!
 
I have a 1925 William Evan 470 NE boxlock that when both barrels have been fired is very hard to open. I believe it is due to firing pin drag. Cartridge examination suggests this. I took the firing pin out and examined them in an optical comparator, along with the spare pins under the grip cap, and found two nose profiles. One is spherical or parabolic and the other is a bit more blunt nosed. The rifle exhibits the same issue regardless of the combination of firing pin I use. I wonder if I have excessive firing pin protrusions.
I do a lot of work on my own guns however I leave for a buffalo hunt in August and would like to get this issue behind me so I can get back to practicing. Does anyone have a recommendation of a good gunsmith that does quality work on higher end double rifles with reasonable turn around?
Thank you for the help!


ANY competent side-by-side shotgun gunsmith can trouble shoot this issue for you as the mechanicals are identical.

Dan Morgan. Steve Bertram. JJ.

Any good doublegun smith will solve it.
 
Be sure it's not that the cartridges are too high pressure. Will a spent cartridge slip easily back into the chamber after it's fired? If not the issue is pressure.
 
So, unloaded, the rifle lever and hinge operate smoothly and normally?
If you want to check the cocking, hold a dowel down each barrel against the breech face and dry fire the gun without cases or snap caps in the chambers and then open as normal - this will tell you if it’s purely a pin drag issue or something mechanical internally.
 
Another vote for JJ he did some work on my Merkel and was fast and very helpful.
 
Aaron Little is another option in TX. I use him or JJ for all of my vintage gun work.
 
Be sure it's not that the cartridges are too high pressure. Will a spent cartridge slip easily back into the chamber after it's fired? If not the issue is pressure.
I’ve taken the factory cartridges that I fired and put them back in and pulled the trigger on both of them and the gun opens easier. Spent cartridges slide in and out without any issue.
 

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