doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com how valid is the shake test?..

how valid is the shake test when determining looseness of the joint with the forend off??
specifically,on a new gun,if it wiggles a little-but is nice snug with the forend back on,this is normal??
thanks,
B

Ain't normal in my book. Years ago I bought a new A&F Knockabout by Rizzini, a 20 bore with ejectors, BT forend, POW grip and NSST, $242 if I remember correctly. Within a month the top lever had moved to the left of center, and when the shake test was applied (should have done that before I left the A&F gunroom), the barrels slid around on the water table and rattled like castinets. My two cents worth.

I agree with chopperlump. The action bar could be loose causing the movement. A good gunsmith can rectify this for around 400.00.
One of my Webleys had some looseness and the action bar was a little loose. It isn't going to fix itself so if you own the gun I would get it addressed.

Just my 2 cents, Gordon

Play detected with the forearm off grasping the gun by the bbls is indicative of the gun being off face. Continued shooting will only loosen it further. If it is a quality gun, best to get it tightened up now while it is easily asccomplished. If a hardware store gun then it kinda becomes a personal call. You will probably pay a smith a minimum of one six bits to tighten a double up and put it back on face correctly. That's minimum, you can easily spend more.

Also, in the FWIW area, I know of and have seen guns with slight play that don't see much shooting use each season, but get carried about in the field as if they did. A box or two of appropriate cartridges per annum does not seem to have worsened matters much, if at all. I suspect, but cannot prove that many older SxS's with a bit of looseness got that way from 'magnumitis', i.e., shooting cartridges wholey unsuited to the guns intended use.

Some inexpensive guns were just that and they developed play quickly because of improper hardening, poor fit or both. Repairing one of those is generally not satisfactory.

The gun that brought this about is a merkel 147el 20ga 3"
mfg 2000,that I got used but minty new.I may have put 1000 rounds of skeet loads thru it.
I `m believing it came from the factory that way as it opens alot easier than the merkels I usually see.
On face it is,wont close on the dollar bill test,yet it shakes just a wee bit with forend off.
Actually,it has the same play as another merkel I had Kearcher put back on face,so it still may be spec.
Could this be one of the guns that Merkel made easier to open because some Americans were complaining about too tight?

Check under 'Quick Barrel Inspection Procedure' . Gee, do ya thinka is only gut for Olinchester?
PS. I hope you have a real rough calloused hand!
Hint>>>>$2 Rubber mallet from BigLots.

Since this topic has been brought up, I have an old German double that is a little loose and the lever is loose. Any suggestions on gunsmiths are really appreciated. Thanks.

Duke(writing from Kuwait)

Extra factory honing is not an option on 147el. Oh, don't worry. Some "Gringo" (think Hee Haw) used too much Arkansas stone und honing oil combo, that's all.

When you get home, contact Mike Orlen.

Jim,

I did not realize that Mike did this type of work. I did not recall seeing this offered as a service but I am glad that he does. He is a pleasure to deal with and does great work. Thanks for the info. I may contact him and see if my son can send the shotgun to him while I am away.

Again thanks.

Duke