Mr. 423:
The hammer going to half cock when the action is cycled is because of the fly installed in the hammer. If you open the action and turn the rifle upside down you will be able to see the tail of the hammer, and it will slit. Fit into this slit is an odd shaped piece of metal, the fly, that pivots on a small pin. This fly is designed to keep the sear from engaging the full cock notch, so the hammer settles at half cock. If you were to remove it the hammer would come to full cock when the action is cylcled.
Undoubtedly this fly is just gummed up a bit and a good cleaning would solve the problem. It should move freely.
Glenn
