Auto 5 Magazine Cap Stuck

mosinmaster

mosinmaster

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I haven't taken out my Auto 5 from storage since May, and it was cleaned and I oiled the magazine cap threads. However, today I took it out and the cap doesn't budge. I tried depressing the barrel to take the tension off and no dice. I put a couple drops of Hoppes oil and let the threads soak in it for a bit, but still no dice. I don't really want to use a tool quite yet. Should I try something like G96 CLP instead? This hasn't happened before.
 
If it’s a wood forend the wood has probably swollen enough to cause extra pressure against the magazine cap base. I’d wrap a piece of leather around the cap and use a a set of channel locks to slowly back the cap off. I’ve done it often in the past under the same circumstances and it worked every time. Just grip tight enough for the pliers not to slip or dent the cap. It was common when I lived in a humid environment.
 
I do live in a humid environment, darn. I guess I can seal off the inside of the forearm when I do get it off to prevent it from taking up moisture.

P.S. Looks like I'm sticking to the pump gun for waterfowl season. I wanted to try a semi-auto this year.
 
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I'll second the use of a strap wrench. Had a SX-1 and the cap wouldn't budge that the strap wrench removed with very little torque and no chance of marking the gun.
 
mosinmaster said:
I do live in a humid environment, darn. I guess I can seal off the inside of the forearm when I do get it off to prevent it from taking up moisture.

P.S. Looks like I'm sticking to the pump gun for waterfowl season. I wanted to try a semi-auto this year.
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Take it out and shoot it! No need to have it sit because the wood swelled a bit. Thats very common for wood to swell and contract and the mag cap to be tight.
 
A drop of oil on the detent ball and spring will help. They will get stiff if they dry out. Remove , oil and replace tight to the new dimension of the swollen wood. These guns don't swell so much that they won't work. I have owned several and never noticed any swelling issues in the first place.

Darryl
 
I’ve had the same thing happen with my Franchi 48’s. As suggested, a set of channel locks and leather or rubber to protect the cap will get the job done. I also find the pushing the barrel in while putting torque on the cap helps as well
 
If you check out Art's Gun Shop videos on Auto-5 teardown, they use a pair of vise grips with leather strips glued in to the jaws. It's pretty common for auto 5 mag caps to be tough to remove, had it happen to me. Like 1963 Beretta says, cushion the jaws of a pair of pliers and it will come off without much effort.
 
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