question on doubling

[charlie cleveland]

i was hunting doves with the 3 frame ph grade hammerless 12 ga and it began doubling on me after about 15 shells shot in the gun.am just wondering what to look for on the average that causes this problem..one thing for sure its not me making it double first i said i could have caused it to double but after the 5 th time that day i said its definely the gun..i will take the old gun apart and look at it any advise appreiated...charlie

[Brian Dudley]

First thing is to make sure of which side is the problem. If it doubles all the time when pulling the right trigger, but never when pulling the left first, then the left is the issue. Or visa versa. Usually doubling is a worn sear, hammer or both.

[Bill Murphy]

I am now up to two single trigger Parkers that no longer double, but once did, no work performed. I have a double trigger Parker that doubles for me but not for its previous owner. I haven't tried to switch sides.

[Jerry Harlow]

Charlie,

Besides worn sear(s)/hammer(s) it can also be a perfectly fine Parker with the tang screws cranked down so hard the trigger is actually depressing the sear partially when assembled. Happens when people tighten a loose action into a spongy stock.

Also look for a replaced trigger, too tall, that is doing the above.

Take the stock off, clean everything, clean and put no oil on the sears and hammers if they are not worn, put the gun back together with the tang screws tightened to the correct depth (flush with the top and bottom tangs) and use snap caps to see if there is a light trigger pull, after determining which way it doubles as Brian suggested.

p.s. Assembled you should have a little play between the sears and the triggers that is taken up by the very light flat or round double spring. Look for the trigger to be pressing the sear when everything is assembled correctly and the rear screw not overtightened. I've had to take a few thousandths off triggers that the replacement stock had lost too much wood when made.

[Jerry Harlow]

Charlie,

I was not clear in my instructions. Assemble the gun completely without the stock and all screws to the proper depth so you can see what is happening and how light the triggers are and all the clearances at the triggers without the stock.

[charlie cleveland]

thanks fellows i will definetly look for all these possibilitys...old gun only doubles when firing shells in it...charlie

[Jerry Harlow]

We understand Charlie, but the first shot is jarring the second barrel making it shoot. If it is the sear and hammer are worn, I'm told Del Grego has the jig to recut them properly. Can't trust to just anyone.

I have a 20 ga VH that busted my head open one opening day as every time I chose the left/full barrel, both went off. Three times it did it. Gave it to a trusted smith and he took apart, and found nothing wrong. Put it back together and it would not do it again through a whole box of shells. Can't explain. But I've been gun-shy to use it since.

[Harry Collins]

Papa's 20 Trojan started doubling on me and I was heart broken that it might be an expensive fix. I took it apart and there was a glob of gook under one of the sears. Cleaned everything up and all has been well for years. I hope that is your problem as it is an easy fix.

Harry

[Destry L. Hoffard]

The help of a trusted professional would be what I'd seek out. Messing with hammers and sears is a tricky business.

Destry

[Grantham Forester]

A friend had a nice 20 VHE- but he felt that the trigger pulls were quite heavy, so he had a "rookie" gunsmith re-work the sears- he closed it with the muzz;les down, pointed towards the ground about 3 feet from his prized grouse dog's head- and it discharged when he closed it, with the safety slide in the SAFE position. Ruined the dog for hunting, became gun shy (wonder why?) and he sent it to Larry DelGrego to get it fixed right-

[Mills Morrison]

Classic Gunstocks fixed the Miller Single Trigger on her VH 16 that was doubling

[Jerry Harlow]

The help of a trusted professional would be what I'd seek out. Messing with hammers and sears is a tricky business.

Destry

Destry,

You are correct. That's why if it is the hammers and sears I recommend Del Grego.

A family member gave me a L.C. Smith Damascus gun. I had my amateur "smith" check it out. He took it apart and cleaned it, so I loaded up some black powder shells.

Was having a good dove day and needed a couple more. Put up my auto and got the L. C. Smith out. My young son was with me.

I put shells in both barrels and closed the action. Luckily it was pointed straight ahead as both barrels went off into the ground when I pushed the safety off and a cloud of black smoke covered us up.

The gun drove the opening lever back into my thumb splitting the nail and thumb wide open. Spent the opening day night in the emergency room having my thumb put back together.

He had over-tightened the lock screw pressing the locks into the wood which acted as the triggers making the sears barely hold. Have never touched it again since I put it away.

[charlie cleveland]

fellas i know it would be the best to have a pro like delgraygo fix this gun or some of the other good parker gun smiths but to be honest i cannot afford to have one of them fix it...i fixed the old ph 10 ga the left barrel on it would go off just looking at it...if i run into problems i will have to ask ya lls advise....charlie

[Jerry Harlow]

Charlie,

If anyone can do it themselves I know you can. I may be wrong, but I am guessing you can just send the sear and hammer and have them recut by them on their precise jig. That should not cost much. I don't know though.

[charlie cleveland]

just got through putting up my tools andwent out and tried the old 3 frame 12 out ...only shot it 4 times but no doubling..i will put a box through it tommorrow but i believe its fixed...i took the old gal apart she musta not been cleaned inside since mr parker made her..i could see no worn parts in fact this gun has very little wear...somebody blued the barrels and bottom plate and trigger guard but who ever did it sure did not clean the thick grease inside it...i took everything apart and cleaned and scraped and air blowed it...if the sears and triggers had been worn bad i guess i would have to called on brian to help me out with some used parts..but then again i guess i coulda tig welded them..anyway i think its fixed will no tommorrow for sure i sure appreciate ya lls advice..if i keep working on these things i m gona get me a gun vice though cause two hands aint enough for me had to get the wife to help drive in the sears pin....charlie

[charlie cleveland]

just got thru putting a box of federal 1 1/8 ounce of lead thru the 3 frame 12 ga she done fine...charlie

[wayne goerres]

Something about sending a gun off without taking it apart my self. Just cant do it. I have been dismantling stuff since I was a little kid. I suspect Charlie is the same way.

[Mills Morrison]

In addition to all the obvious reasons for having a good gunsmith repair a gun, I have found it a whole lot less expensive than you think. Dad had a bad barrel dent in his LC Smith, the local idiot here told him it was beyond repair and I think even charged him for that news - 20 years ago. I take it up to Darlington Gun Works last year and $150 bucks later, it is good as gold and shot a limit of doves last weekend.

[charlie cleveland]

yes i too have took apart lots of things but in doing so i found out i was no watch repair man...usally could build 2 watches out of one watches parts... the old 3frame was only super dirty inside nothing wore out..i could not believe someone could reblue some parts and refinish a stock and leave such a mess inside of a gun...i know now why some of you take everygun apart and clean it good...charlie

[Mills Morrison]

Anyone who can get the silent auction 8 gauge working can fix anything. How is she doing Charlie?

[charlie cleveland]

the old 8 is doing fine..she s restingin my kitchen at the momentbeen having armidila trouble..but since the 8 s been in the corner where i can get to her quick that hole digger s been some where else...charlie

[wayne goerres]

Must be related to the armadillo that has been terrorizing my yard. Be for I can get to my gun it dispersers. There faster than they look.

[Mills Morrison]

My parents have an armadillo problem too and have traps and a 410 out all the time.

[Byron Teates]

see thread "parker vh doubles" from 4-12-13, under restoration,.Larry Delgrego did an excellent job for me and I was surprised at the low cost to get it repaired. BT...