doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Hang Fire

Three times in the last month, my son has pulled the trigger on a 1930s vintage Model 12, there is audible click without detonation, and then 10-20 seconds later the gun goes off (fortunately pointed donwnrange every time). All three instances involved different "name brands" of factory ammo. The gun has not had any FTFs.

I always thought hang fire resulted from an abnormally slow primer burn caused by a bad primer, rather than a too light a hammer strike. Can a light hammer strike cause the primer to slow burn leading to a delayed detonation?

In any event, the gun is going to the gunsmith, but I would be curious to hear any thoughts on what might be happening.

Thanks in advance, Doverham

The gun might just need a good cleaning. I'd be looking at the firing pin and firing pin spring.

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufacturers/Winchester-33573/Shotguns-42603/12-41794.htm?page=7

Man, that must of been freakin scary..thank the lord for safe gun handling..that seems like a long "Hang" for sure.
You'd think it was the ammo,but three different brands you say?,,that makes you think Gun...hope your smith finds something...or its gonna be hard to trust that gun
Be sure to keep us posted
cheers
franc

It's a mechanical issue not a ammo issue. Send it to a good model 12 gunsmith. Don't shoot it again until it's been repaired. You've been lucky three times and continued use will result in rather bad out comes for something or someone.

When you changed brands of ammo that eliminated ammo as the most likely problem. Unless it a storage moisture issue. Not likely.

I've always left a miss fire in a closed action for a bit, just in case, but I've never had a hang fire. Does anyone know of a shell going off outside of a gun. It seems a ten to twenty second delay might be plenty of time to eject a live shell. I've seen folks that are looking at primer indents, easily within twenty seconds of the empty click.

I have seen it happen to striker pistols with very dirty firing pins and springs. Pull the trigger sear releases but the striker hangs, then lets go. Not that long though just a noticeable delay

Boats

Send it to

Freer Gunshop in Houston
Richard knows the Model 12s inside and out

713-467-3016

I try giving it a good cleaning and re-oiling as recommended above before going through the expense and trouble of sending it to a gunsmith. If it still hang fires by all means send it to a smith.
Jim

What is a FTF please? I own 9 Model 12 shotguns, all made between 1921 and 1950-the two with the most known rounds through them are a 1921 12 field grade 28" mod. and a "inherited" Pigeon Grade Trap mfg. in 1948-old milled rib- no trigger "alterations", as some trapshooters with flinchitis (sic) try- just a big head style safety- the man who gave me that Pigeon Grade had fired over 250,000 known rounds through that, Fed paper Champion paper hulls 1&1/8 ounce 7&1/2 shot-those were his registered target scores, both at the Queen City Gun Club and at the ATA event in August every year at Vandalia-plus he also shot live box birds with it in KY-just a routine cleaning, all that was needed- still on factory setting for take-down adjustment, and I had it out on a crow shoot recently, never missed a beat. So-some questions? Cold weather and too much gummy oil in the bolt could couse a slower firing cycle. Reloads or factory new shells- American mfg. shells, or imports? Re-tractor not releasing when bolt is home in battery-look at the inside top recess of the receiver and see if there is a wear groove from the retractor abutting the top of the receiver inside- where the recess is milled- Also, check page 172 in the Madis book on the "Perfect Repeater"- trouble-shooting- bolt misfires-burred or damaged retractor, broken or damaged hammer spring, excess crud and old gummy oil in receiver- Very unusual for this to happen with a Model 12, in my 60 plus years of shooting them (heavily) by the way. They didn't get the nickname "The Perfect Repeater" for nothing!!

Run With The Fox
From the context, I would guess FTF is "Failure To Fire".
Mike