Old 16ga break action issue

[Tenntrapper]

Neighbor has an old 16ga break action shotgun. Last year during squirrel season, it started getting spent shells stuck in the chamber. He said he hadn't shot it in years. Also, appears that the firing pin is hitting really hard and deep. I thought maybe it was a 2 1/2" chambered gun, so I bought him a box of 2 1/2" shells to try. He just called to let me know he tried one, and no change. Also said he could see light through the primer. What could possibly be going on with this old shotgun? Any help will be appreciated. Thanks

 

[DaveB]

Can't tell from here what is wrong.

Probably the ejector is not closing around the metal lip. Cleaning sounds in order.

Might want to look for any kind of work done that was meant to insure a tight close of the action.

I can say a punctured primer on just about any weapon is a safety issue. I would not fire the gun until someone competent had examined it.

 

[Tenntrapper]

He let me have the shotgun to look at. I cleaned the chamber to have a look. It almost looks like someone has tried to rebore the chamber...but got the angle off just a bit. I can see a line about 3/4 around the chamber, but it's only about 1 1/2 deep. Beyond that, the chamber feels a little rough. Maybe it got really corroded and got a ...something ran down in it. Also, where the shell drops down in the chamber, there is a hair thick lip around part of the chamber. When fired, the shell is expanding under that lip, possible being the cause of the shell getting stuck. The spent shell will only go back into the gun if you index it back to the extractor..and it's easy to tell, as the shell is slightly bulging into the recess in the extractor. My neighbor is an older man in his 70's, and this shotgun was either his grandfather's or his wife's grandfather. I'm guessing it needs to become a wall hanger. I told him I'm would look at it, now I have.

 

[Tiny]

Can't tell from here what is wrong.

Probably the ejector is not closing around the metal lip. Cleaning sounds in order.

Might want to look for any kind of work done that was meant to insure a tight close of the action.

I can say a punctured primer on just about any weapon is a safety issue. I would not fire the gun until someone competent had examined it.

Agree..

Make ?? It may well be a wall hanger or because of Make n Whom it belonged worth haveing a a Good Smith Look at it ..if you know of 1 in the area.... Just a thought.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[DaveB]

Your explanation tells me the gun is a wall hanger. Shooting modern ammo might not be such as good idea.

The home gunsmithing may have ruined whatever value may be associated with the gun but I would take a look anyway.

 

[Tenntrapper]

I returned his shotgun to him. He's content with it being a wall hanger...he has other shotguns. I took him a few boxes of 20g shells since he can't use the 16...just traded him for them. The gun is an old Springfield 992 or 994, don't remember. It's in pretty bad shape and wouldn't be worth fixing. He says it's value is only sentimental to him anyway.

 

[Tenntrapper]

It's a Springfield 929...sorry.