Help with a Sterlingworth
 

Shot my 12 gauge Sterly for the first time in about 30 years. Gun has been very lightly used over its lifetime. It was restocked about 25 years ago by a well-known outfit in the midwest (sellers of many stock blanks. Also now out of business, apparently). Who it might have been?

More importantly,
the gun is very hard to open after shooting, and was also hard to open after shooting on spent shells. Opened rather easily after shooting on empty chambers.

Any guesses?

Thx

Most likely the firing pin is dragging on the primer. Common issue with Foxes. If you look at the spent shell see if the primer has a drag line. East fix for a gunsmith or try hulls with a Remington primer.

Craig - Looks like that's the problem. Thanks
I've only lived in Michigan for about 45 years, and rarely had need for a smith. Anyone have a name to serve up in Michigan?

Maybe try different shells first

I reload anything I can buy these days. Presently using Federal primers in AA hulls

It is likely the shells.

Del Whitman of Lake Ann, MI. Check out on his Facebook page: D.C. Whitman Custom Gunsmithing

Try Remington STS hulls. I have far less trouble with those than with AA hulls, which tend to stick in the rim recesses in the bbls and make the gun impossible to open.

hey sir. my 16 gauge Sterlingworth also did this since i bought it a decade ago. it too was a restock gun. i was directed to look at primers too. noticed a dragline across 1/2 of spent primers. happened with my usual 8500 psi loads with win 209 primers/cheddite hull. after this i switched to fio 616 and fixed it. now only loading 7/8 oz and cx2000 cheddite primers. the gun has opened like butter ever since. just my 2 cents worth. mattly

If the gun is not opening up at all, then the firing pins are likely sticking in the primers. If the gun is opening a little and stopping before the extractor starts pulling the shells out, then it is the shells sticking in the chambers.