sxs accidental discharges taking safety off

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twoshots

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I bought a shotgun on the ee. I'm not going to mention any names as I have not heard back from the other party. This is just a question to more experienced sxs owners.

I won't say the brand for now as I want to hear back from seller first. It is a modern proof 2-3/4" not chinese.

I'm test firing it today to confirm the pattern and alignment of the barrels as I just got it yesterday.

It fires a few rounds fine. Then the safety seems tight.I push it off and bang. Round down range and my thumb is ripped open from the safety, bad. I had checked it dry, before firing and it was functioning. I checked it again dry and three times in a row it fires the left barrel on taking off the tight safety. I try more times and it is functioning properly. This scares me as I could have been seriously hurt or worse had I not had it pointed down range.:mad:

The shotgun was test fired by the seller who apparently had no issues.
 
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The gun is unsafe and I'd never trust it.

Get it back to the owner and make a permanent record of having informed him that it is unsafe.
 
Please take this as a lesson everyone. Don't ever relax on your safety drills. I'm glad I have feet right now.

e.t.a. I changed the misfire to accidental discharge in the title as it is the correct term, and more descriptive of the danger
 
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any ideas as to possible causes, anyone else ever experience this. I've put many rounds down range and this is a first (not counting machine guns)
 
I will talk to my gunsmith to see what he says. It's too bad, I really liked the look and feel of it, I'll give the seller some time to reply. I think I should return it as I won't trust it.

taking 12g recoil directly from the safety to the tip of the thumb really sucks. Stripped my thumb right open. It scared the sh!t out my girlfriend when I came back 5 minutes after I started shooting with blood everywhere too.
 
twoshots said:
any ideas as to possible causes, anyone else ever experience this. I've put many rounds down range and this is a first (not counting machine guns)
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Make up some dummy shells with live primers to check the sears. My suspicion is that the sears are not fully engaging because you may not have opened the gun enough. I had a Parker like that. Try opening the gun sharply because that brings the hammers back a trifle farther. The other possibility is that the sear springs are weak or broken so that they are only engaging sometimes; something you would have to look at on the inside. Also possible that the sear notches are worn and finally that the sears are rubbing on someting. Is the gun a sidelock or box lock?

cheers mooncoon
 
Why is it a everthing or nothing proposition?
You like the gun. As most mechanical problems - it can be fixed.
Have it looked over by a competent gunsmith.
Deduct the amount required to repair it from what you paid for it.
Enjoy new gun.
 
It is a box lock, as I understand it. I am not an expert on sxs terminology. The metal stops square just behind the barrels, no sideplates.
 
lmar said:
Why is it a everthing or nothing proposition?
You like the gun. As most mechanical problems - it can be fixed.
Have it looked over by a competent gunsmith.
Deduct the amount required to repair it from what you paid for it.
Enjoy new gun.
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I agree with you, I would like to see it repaired and useful. I hope to be able to work out a common sense agreement with the seller.
You have to admit it is scary though and makes you a bit nervous shooting it even if you know it has been repaired.
 
Sounds like sear to tumbler engagement problem. Years ago I had a 10ga double that did the same thing. Tip of sear was broken off.
I've also seen several percussion shotguns that had a similiar problem due to the stock restricting the movement of the sear. A quick buzz from a dremmel fixed the latter.
 
I found this image, I'll try to learn from this and share the info.

boxlock-diagram.jpg
 
It should be your option. Have the seller take care of the repair cost or return the firearm for a full refund. In any event, the firearm is not safe and should be repaired so that it will not discharge no matter how you close or open the action and no matter what way you take the safety off.
 
Covey Ridge said:
It should be your option. Have the seller take care of the repair cost or return the firearm for a full refund. In any event, the firearm is not safe and should be repaired so that it will not discharge no matter how you close or open the action and no matter what way you take the safety off.
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agreed on all points.

I have been testing it with snap caps(dummy round) and it is working most of the time when I open it sharply and fully as described above.

If not opened fully (just enough to eject) it does not work (safety sticks), most of the time even though it cocks.
 
twoshots said:
agreed on all points.

I have been testing it with snap caps(dummy round) and it is working most of the time when I open it sharply and fully as described above.

If not opened fully (just enough to eject) it does not work (safety sticks), most of the time even though it cocks.
Click to expand...

You may get all sorts of tips that might help you self determine the problem, but my best advice is take it to a good smith.
 
hungarian,18.5 " barreled "continental" model. Just a user grade shotgun. It was sold to me as a "coach gun" but I suspect it was cut down. I was testing it to see if the barrels are converging or if it would be accurate past 20m. I never got that far in the trial shoot due to the safety issue. It's nothing fancy but I like it still and hope it's a straight shooter. Still no word from the seller.
 
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