Closing versus Slamming your double gun

I was told many, many years ago by a very competent gunsmith that you should always close the action on a break action by holding the lever open then letting it back after the action is closed. I found my 101’s and Citori’s work better by just closing them and letting the lever snap back on it’s own. The action feels as if it locks better that way but with my Perazzi the way my gunsmith friend suggested seems to work much better and seems to prolong the life of the locking block? Now probably this is just more perceived than real as I haven’t done an actual round count to test the theory. It feels gentler on the gun though and so that method obviously cannot hurt? I’ll probably never live to see the next locking block change. It will likely be around 150,000 rounds from the last change in 2016 and I have yet to fire a round since having it done. Oh well maybe one of my nephews will wear it out when I pass it on?!
 
I think that holding the lever aside when closing the action may have been a good idea with some of the older break action guns but I believe more modern guns are designed to be closed by not holding the lever aside.
I've tried closing some of my guns while holding the lever, the locking mechanism doesn't engage as far as it does if I don't hold it and a push with the thumb is needed to seat the locks fully. If your only getting partial engagement then your wearing the locks out much quicker in my opinion.
 
The word Slam or Slamming suggests to much force when I hear or read it.... as in door slamming.
I use enough force to close the action positively and no more so I don't consider that "slamming"

My over under is still quite tight and a modern gun, maybe if I had an old gun that was well broken in I might consider closing it gently...... but I think I'd rather have a gun that doesn't need to be "babied".

I have a single shot Baikal that will have light strikes if it's not closed with authority, it's a tight gun and the locking mechanism does not seat deep enough and will interfere with the striker if the gun is closed gently.
 
the spank said:
I was told many, many years ago by a very competent gunsmith that you should always close the action on a break action by holding the lever open then letting it back after the action is closed. I found my 101’s and Citori’s work better by just closing them and letting the lever snap back on it’s own. The action feels as if it locks better that way but with my Perazzi the way my gunsmith friend suggested seems to work much better and seems to prolong the life of the locking block? Now probably this is just more perceived than real as I haven’t done an actual round count to test the theory. It feels gentler on the gun though and so that method obviously cannot hurt? I’ll probably never live to see the next locking block change. It will likely be around 150,000 rounds from the last change in 2016 and I have yet to fire a round since having it done. Oh well maybe one of my nephews will wear it out when I pass it on?!
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A 150k rounds is close to $150,000 in shooting costs

Ribs fall off, barrels sperate, forend hangers let go, wood splits ect.

That took a lot of time, dedication and money to wear out that locking block.
 
JIMMY 808 said:
A 150k rounds is close to $150,000 in shooting costs

Ribs fall off, barrels sperate, forend hangers let go, wood splits ect.

That took a lot of time, dedication and money to wear out that locking block.
Click to expand...

At $85/flat, 150 000rds is *only* $51 000... Lol

Add $6/rd for clays cost, 7500rds of clays... Another $45k... Still well short of $150 000 though... And it would only take 20 years to shoot that if you did one round of trap a day lol
 
Suther said:
At $85/flat, 150 000rds is *only* $51 000... Lol

Add $6/rd for clays cost, 7500rds of clays... Another $45k... Still well short of $150 000 though... And it would only take 20 years to shoot that if you did one round of trap a day lol
Click to expand...

Some shoots are charging $1 for just clay.

You can melt wheel weights and sleep in a tent but regardless of what it costs it makes the price of a good gun look cheap!
 
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