Need help with DHE

[bob lyons]

I have had a problem opening my 12 gauge DHE. I have used this gun since 1982 and has worked fine. In the early days I used it for everything other than deer hunting. I had taken it to shoot it about 3 weeks ago and difficulty opening the gun after it was shot. I could take the gun apart and open the gun. I got the gun to work (dry firing ) however when I tried it again this past Thursday it would not open.
Any ideas what is wrong with it ?

[edgarspencer]

Are you able to manually return the safety to 'Safe'?
If not, does pushing one or both triggers forward allow you to open the gun, or manually move the safety?

[Brush Buster]

Is it possible one of the firing pins are stuck in the spent primer , seems to me I had this happen years ago with a 28 Gauge Ithica ! I took the gun back to Cabelas where I bought it , the fella sort of bumped it over his knee to open it !

[B. Dudley]

It is likely the shells sticking in the chambers.

[bob lyons]

- I got the gun home removed the fore end knocked out the shells and it works fine with some snap caps. This happens when it is shot.

- safety; the safety is operating correctly I will have to try it just after it is shot to check to see if it can be moved.
- not sure on triggers I will have to try, but when dry firing it now the triggers do not move
- the firing pin maybe sticking out slightly, but I need to confirm while shooting as for now they are not sticking out.
- I will try some factory shells as I shoot all reloads.

It seems that the mechanism that cocks the hammers is not working correctly.

Thanks for all the help

[Keavin Nelson]

Bob, check the chambers to make sure you don't have any rust film build up from salty fingers in our hot weather. Will make cases stick.

[edgarspencer]

Ignore what I said above. I was mistakenly thinking you said it wouldn't open when dry firing.

[BRDHNTR]

Are you shooting reloads? If so, they may be tight due to inadequate resizing

[bob lyons]

Back to range today. Shot some light factory loads same effect would not open.
The safety works
Any other ideas ?

[Mike Franzen]

I bought a gun from Brad Bachelder several years ago and it did the same thing. I sent it back and I believe he said a spring had failed. Easy fix and never had another problem.