doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com What Does it Take For an SXS to Shoot Loose?

Anybody who believes the only reason doubleguns get loose is because of lack of cleanliness and lubrication just hasn't been around as much shooting in their life as I have. I OWN a double that was not loose when I bought it but now is loose and off face ..... a modern made double. And, I NEVER let it go uncleaned or unloved, but I have shot the h--- out of it for about 7 years with some pretty stout modern loads. I do agree that most wear is caused by dirt and lack of lube, but certainly not all of it.

No one can answer your question because no one knows what the current condition is. I.e., it may not exhibit looseness now, but how close is it to being that way right now?

SRH

I hear ya Stan. I may have loosened up a dozen or more over the years meeself.

Poor mechanics, Loose machining, and crude metallurgy. Not grease.

In 40K rounds a brand new Browning O/U that was too tight to cock when new, will be too loose to safely shoot. And that's a modern gun in most respects, with an optimized design, modern machining, and modern alloys. It'll shake like a RRL.

I agree 100%, but we're in the minority in that opinion, CZ. That is the modern O/U that is the most likely to shoot loose among all the most popular ones for clay target shooting sports. I have seen it over and over, with shooters who care for their guns ...... clean them religiously and keep them lubed. I can't tell you how many I know of that began opening the top lever upon firing the first shot. I have seen them with rubber bands around the top lever and action to help keep this from happening. And, these are guns owned by regular Joes, not pros who put 50,000 rounds a year through them. I know one sporting clays shooter, who competed a lot with Brownings, who owned two exactly alike. One would be in the shop being refitted while he shot the other.

My theory is that part of the reason Brownings are so prone to this wear is the height of the action, putting the barrels higher above the plane of the hook and pin than so many others. This "extreme" distance from the plane of the hook/pin to the plane of the top barrel especially, gives the recoil greater leverage to try and defeat the bolt, causing it to have a greater tendency to open itself. But, I'm no engineer, just a shooter/competitor/hunter, and I could be all wrong with that theory.

SRH

The No. 215 was introduced and manufactured by by J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. and later J. Stevens Arms Co., but marketed as a Riverside Arms Co. or after 1929 a Springfield Arms Co. No. 215.



The No. 215 was made from about 1915 to at least 1932. So, it was in production for at least a decade after the progressive burning powder, high velocity, 3 3/4 drams equiv., 1 1/4 ounce loads were introduced.

Youz guys are sooooo cynical

You left out a few Drew

A gun goes off-face when the connection between barrels and action wears enough that the barrels are no longer in firm contact with the breech face. Usually, the gun is considered a must-fix when the barrels will close on a 0.004" feeler gauge.

Wear comes from all sources: cyclical movement, firing caused movement, poor lube and dirt, stretch from over-pressure, fatigue, and a few others probably. The quality of the bearing fit and finish, along with proper steel and lube, play a significant role. As the gap grows, the wear accelerates form increased "slamming" (hammer backswing).

Action and barrels are affected by pressure and care less about recoil. Wood and shooter care about recoil.IMO, the wood knows about the recoil acceleration force. Shooters differ in perception of recoil. Consider that recoil acceleration is directly proportional to pressure and that peak pressure is reached about the time the shot clears the forcing cone. High pressure loads are going to give the stock a pretty good whack. Old wood is always best treated with respect and low pressure loads.

DDA

A shotgun you shoot well is priceless. If it shoots loose then take it to a gunsmith and have it fixed.

Its an old field grade that's just not worth pouring money into it.

It is to me.

But you'll lose money when you go to sell it.

It ain't for sale.

One of the issues that Stevens 215's seem to be prone to is cracking at the top of the stock head along the top tang. If you're going to be shooting the gun much you should consider glass bedding the head.

Regards
Ken

Okay, I've thunk on it since last night ......... Rock and Roll Library?

(Actually had to do a Google search)

Favorite saying for that down heah' is ....."shake like a bird dog passing a peach pit".

SRH