GH: trouble opening after firing, your help is requested

Matthew Winter · 01-23-2013, 11:25 AM

I own an 1895 GH model that has difficulty opening on occasion. I have only used it with Winchester loads with a steel base. The gun will work flawlessly for 20 rounds or so, then I am unable to open the gun easily. I assumed a firing pins was still in the primer of a shell because the gun would not budge but a 64th of an inch or so, but I am not sure. I am able to open it after gently bumping the butt on a rubber pad on the ground.
Is this a problem with ammunition, brass vs steel, or is this a problem with a sear spring or other internal issue?
Thank you fellow patriots!
Matt

Richard Flanders · 01-23-2013, 12:08 PM

Some Parkers have rim recesses that are a tad tight for the poorly made ammo of today which often has out of round extractor rims that jam into the recesses when you close the gun and make it very difficult to open. I have a 28ga Repro that does this also. Remington STS ammo works in my DH12 but Win AA's can lock it up tight so that it has to be broken open over my knee. The recesses can be reamed but it is a touchy thing to do. All vintage paper shells also work in my DH12. Take a few shells and put the rims into the recesses backwards and rotate them to see if they are fitting or not. Take a block of something and push on your firing pins also to see if they're retracting properly or hang up. Could be enough gunk/corrosion inside to bind them up.

Blind Dog · 01-23-2013, 12:12 PM

I had a similar problem with my Trojan 16 a few times. Found that the auto safety was not moving fully, keeping the top lever from swinging completely.

edgarspencer · 01-23-2013, 12:17 PM

It is either rim or firing pin. As Richard says, see how the rim fits the extractor groove. My BHE hates Winchester, and loves RST (Figures; Winchesters at $64 a flat, RST at $110/flat) RST use steel primers, and Winchesters are either copper or copper plated, but definitely softer. It's only the Left barrel, and I just need to get it apart, see that it's isn't gummed, restricting the rebounding action, or that the firing pin isn't pitted, needing honing. Protrusion is good, so it's likely the two reasons for me. I know it's not rim swell, as the gun will be locked tight, and then as soon as it's freed up, opens with no drag.
Take a look at the indentation in each fired shell to determine if one is deeper than the other.

Pa SxS · 01-23-2013, 03:34 PM

I'll verify that some Parkers had problems with the rim cuts plus tight chambers. You should notice that the gun is hard to close on these shells. I do know that some manufacturers shells have different rim profiles. Many modern trap guns have trouble ejecting steel base shells.

If it happens often enough, try dry firing on a snap cap and see if you can get it to reproduce

edgarspencer · 01-23-2013, 05:16 PM

If it's a gummy hammer, not rebounding, the spring inside the snap cap is just going to push the hammer back. Not sure it would tell you anything.

Andy Kelley · 01-23-2013, 05:57 PM

Had a similar problem with Fox A grade .My gun would jam on attempts at breaking with WinchesterAA shells but functions fine with Federals. You are not alone...

andy stone · 01-23-2013, 06:06 PM

I also had the same issue with a GH and a Fox A grade with Winchesters. Switched to Federal game loads and have had no further problems. I even experienced it with my 16 ga reloads with Win 209 primers. Went to Remington type primers and again no problems.
A

Matthew Winter · 01-23-2013, 06:48 PM

Thank you guys! I will try the federal loads.
I use snap caps all the time and have not been able to reproduce the issue until after firing both with live rounds. So, because it has not hung up after the right barrel has gone off, it could still be a left side issue with the internals.
What makes me suspect that it may be internals is that after I butt the butt lightly on a rubber pad or bang the receiver with the palm of my hand to try to loosen a possible stuck hammer, it would be seemingly locked tight. But when it was ready to open, it would just release nice and easy. Not as if something was hanging up like the rim of a shell.
Any more thoughts?
Thanks

Parker Bachelder (Brad's Profile) · 01-24-2013, 08:41 AM

Matthew,
This is a problem that we run into quite frequently with vintage barrels. Steel based shells expand very differently than the old brass based shells. The thin steel flattens and expands to conform with the chamber. In addition many early chambers tend to be slightly undersized and short rimmed. Our fix for the problem is to fully recut the chambers and rims, polish to a mirror finish and the problem is cured, It works every time.

Brad