O/U Shotgun ejectors

[Rob!]

Getting tired quickly of hitting my shooting mates in the head with spent hulls from my Franchi Instinct Catalys O/U. The action is new and stiff and sometimes takes two hands to fully open.

I'm doing sporting clays only, so I was wondering about maybe pulling ejector springs out. Is this something relatively simple or one of those "don't go there" things. Haven't been able to find an exploded parts diagram yet.

I'm no gunsmith - pretty comfortable with smithing the 1911 - but unfamiliar with the innards of the O/U.

I thought the auto safety was going to be a problem, but that pretty much becomes habit in a hurry.

Rob!

 

[Trinimon]

This vid is for a Beretta O/U, not sure if it somewhat applies to the Franchi.

 

[Rob!]

Now that looks easy - but it looks like spring tension is part of what holds it all together. Maybe just a weak spring substitute?

 

[Trinimon]

I read on a brianernos thread that guys were cutting down the ejector springs so they only toss the shell a few feet away. Maybe someone with physical experience on this will chime in.

 

[Rob!]

Well, getting it apart wasn't hard, but as suspected it isn't as easy as just removing the spring. The extractor needs some spring tension to move and properly position in it's channel. I suppose I could just shorten the spring, but I've emailed Franchi asking for guidance. Maybe there's a specific part for the task.

 

[Claybuster]

Tell your friends to get the hell out of the way. Anyone hit by shells ejecting from an o/u only has themselves to blame.

If you are going to cut the springs get a spare set to have full-strength replacements should you decide to sell the gun. Once the gun loosens up a bit with use you could open the gun with your forward hand and use your other hand to cup the shells and prevent them from ejecting. It's what reloaders do when they want to keep the hulls.