Breaking in an over/under shotgun question

murph

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Today I picked up my first o/u. A Savage Milano 28ga. My question is how do I loosen up the action? It is very stiff. I would like to get it to where it falls open when the latch is released. Thanks
 
After several thousand shells it may open like that .personaly I want my O/U the stay stiff as long as possible.that way I know the gun has lots of life in it.
 
If you wanted an O/U that flopped open, best choice would have been a Ruger Red Label.

Not sure why you would want your O/U to open like that, but yes near every other manufacturer's O/U's will be somewhat stiff opening at first.

Usage while keeping the bearing areas properly lubricated will wear in the mating surfaces and loosen it to where it should let the barrels fall gently away from the breech though I would not let any break open action's barrels drop unsupported by your leading hand.

You can spend time opening and closing it while watching your favorite videos to hurry up the process, just be sure to clean off and re-apply the lubricant to keep from galling the jointing surfaces.
 
Congrats! The 28ga is an excellent Grouse gun.

To echo some of the other posts....the idea of having a double gun simply flop open (as in the movies :)) may have some dramatic appeal but not in the least practical. Besides, a condition like that would actually work to drastically bring down the resale value of that shotgun.

Enjoy the firearm as it is and simply allow that to "loosen" up gradually overtime - on it's own and not via deliberate force.

In other words, as far as a breechloading shotgun is concerned there should really be no break-in period required, so to speak. Well, unless one happens to pick up a new Baikal IZH 27 distributed in Canada 10 yrs ago! :D
 
After several thousand shells it may open like that .personaly I want my O/U the stay stiff as long as possible.that way I know the gun has lots of life in it.

Exactly.

apply some white lithium grease to the hinge surfaces, open and close the action 50 times everyday...keep doing it, do it more

Why would a person intentionally cause more wear to the hinge joint of his shotgun?
 
You got a well crafted gun for a affordable price. You want that to lock up nice and tight, she will get a little loose (as you want it) over time as all girls do but you want it to be nice and tight, we are talking about guns right?
 
I've got a Superposed that was made in 1937. When you swing the lever open it opens nice and gently, smooth like the hood on a Maserati. That's what you should aim for, not floppy as a freshly-clubbed trout.

Open and close, hundreds, even thousands, of times. Then you'll get there.
 
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