doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DIY Gunsmithing @ doublegunshop.com Westley Richards style ejector problems

I purchased a beat up WJ Jefferey back action sidelock with Brazier locks and Westley Richards style ejectors as my first sidelock stocking project. I have the stock finished and am now trying to get the gun up and running. I'm having issues with the ejectors tripping even if the triggers have not been pulled. Particularly the left barrel ejector. When I take the metal out of the stock and assemble it, the ejectors run correctly. So it appears I have a problem with wood interfering somewhere with the ejectors. This is the first time I've stocked a gun with the Westley Richards style ejectors. Any advice on where to look for the interfence would be appreciated.

The bottom of the ejector box has some parts of the ejector assembly that extend through the box. There was a light rub mark in the wood at that location that I've now relieved. I haven't re-assembled the gun yet to see if that resolved the problem. Just wondering if there are some other places I should look that aren't obvious to me?

Yes, you want clearance so that the hammer and swivels move freely(the parts sticking out of the bottom of the box), additionally the sears will want clearance as well.

forester,
If it still doesn't work properly, try it several times and check again for "rub marks". You may have to relieve the same place more than once or you may find additional places.
Mike

I have spent several hours today relieving any rub marks in the forend wood inletting associated with the ejector hammers, pivot pin and the ejector cocking dogs. The right ejector works correctly when the front trigger is pulled. However the left ejector also trips the right ejector when the left trigger is pulled.

This gun has an Anson push rod latch and this is the first forend of that type I have stocked. I am starting to wonder if I don't have the forend wood relieved enough on the barrels to let the forend iron seat up high enough. The Anson button has about 1/8" of movement when off the barrels. It has only about 1/16" of movement when latched. So it seems that it is only about half way seated.It looks like the forend hook has about a 1/8" of depth for the latch to engage. I've been reluctant to remove more wood in the barrel channels worried that I might get it too deep and causing the forend to be loose. Any thoughts on if this might be the cause of the ejector problems?

The ejectors continue to work correctly when I hand hold the iron up to the barrels and open/close the action and then pull the triggers. So based on that I don't think I should go in to the Westley Richards ejector box.

Any additional thoughts/recommendations would be appreciated.

forester,
I can't think of any else, except maybe checking the latch for fit and burrs. SKB may have a better idea, he certainly has more expertise.
Mike