Jaan Posted May 20, 2019 Share Posted May 20, 2019 Hello everyone, I have a Cimarron 1878 Coach Gun that I bought new 2 years ago... https://www.cimarron-firearms.com/1878-coach-gun-12-ga-20-barrel-standard-blue.html ...Now I've not shot this gun much so I took it out to the range the other day to break it in a bit on the skeet field for fun. After firing I was having trouble breaking it open to extract the shells. Now, if the gun is empty, it opens very easily. I was using target loads. What could be the issue? Do I need to buy better shells? Will it "break in" eventually? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Pipe Classic Posted May 20, 2019 Share Posted May 20, 2019 What brand shells are you using? I've seen youtube videos of people with that same issue and in most cases it seems the issue is caused by using Winchester ammo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted May 20, 2019 Share Posted May 20, 2019 I think they may not like hulls with steel bases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex Jones, SASS 2263 Posted May 20, 2019 Share Posted May 20, 2019 Steel based shells? Sometimes they can cause that issue. Try some low brass shells if you haven't done so.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheyenne Ranger, 48747L Posted May 20, 2019 Share Posted May 20, 2019 new guns can be ammo sensitive when just starting out. everything needs to rub againt each other knocking off the high spots. Hand fitting is a thing of the past--at least for the price of most cowboy guns I just spent yesterday working on a single shot 12 ga that wouldn't lock with or without ammo. worked on both sides of the barrel catch, the rear of the chambers and the half notch where the barrel mate with the receiver. After 3 hour I had taken off enough that it locks up like a champ now. also reducted the force of the auto ejector so the buckaroo that uses it doesn't loose and eye when he breaks open the gun. short of doing something like that repeated shooting will loosen the gun though it will take much longer. I've also knowns folks to cover all the moving parts with toothpaste and repeatedly work the gun--the grit in the toothpaste will do a good job polishing the mating surfaces--just be sure to clean it out when done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted May 20, 2019 Share Posted May 20, 2019 6 minutes ago, Tex Jones, SASS 2263 said: Steel based shells? Sometimes they can cause that issue. Try some low brass shells if you haven't done so.. Low brass as in Winchester AA or Remington STS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillbilly Drifter Posted May 20, 2019 Share Posted May 20, 2019 the box on mine said "brass shells only" meaning brass base, not steel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted May 20, 2019 Share Posted May 20, 2019 Here I'm shooting a Cimmeron 1878 taken right out of the box and shooting Remington Gun Club 1oz loads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrel Cody Posted May 20, 2019 Share Posted May 20, 2019 1 hour ago, Hillbilly Drifter said: the box on mine said "brass shells only" meaning brass base, not steel. I think it means all brass only, no plastic, paper or steel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted May 20, 2019 Share Posted May 20, 2019 Is it still hard to open if you cock the hammers before trying to open it? Most likely problem is that the firing pins are not retracting due to either sticking in the primers or there could be a burr on the firing pin or the hole it protrudes through keeping one or both from retracting. Talk to a competant SXS Shotgun smith and I am sure he can help you correct the issue. Has nothing to do with steel vs brass bases on the shells. It is possible that a different brand of ammo may help as some brands of primers are more suspectible to this than others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted May 21, 2019 Share Posted May 21, 2019 49 minutes ago, Sedalia Dave said: Is it still hard to open if you cock the hammers before trying to open it? Most likely problem is that the firing pins are not retracting due to either sticking in the primers or there could be a burr on the firing pin or the hole it protrudes through keeping one or both from retracting. Talk to a competant SXS Shotgun smith and I am sure he can help you correct the issue. Has nothing to do with steel vs brass bases on the shells. It is possible that a different brand of ammo may help as some brands of primers are more suspectible to this than others. Could be... Maybe check to see if hammers are rebounding to safty notch. Examine primers in fired hulls to see if they look excessively deep or marks where firing pins plowed out. Check firing pins to see if they have mushroomed or otherwise sticking. I seem to recall someone selling hardened replacement firing pins for these guns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Graybeard Posted May 21, 2019 Share Posted May 21, 2019 If you are using Winchester...or another brand with a softer primer...try some Remington STS. They have a harder primer. I know of someone that has an expensive shotgun that couldn't hardly open it after firing using Winchester low noise low recoil. She switched to Remington STS...no more problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaan Posted May 21, 2019 Author Share Posted May 21, 2019 Thank you everyone, you've given me a lot of food for thought. When I figure it out I'll post here. These are the best forums these days! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 Posted May 21, 2019 Share Posted May 21, 2019 The newer 1878 clones are using real light springs inside the firing pin caps. These light springs caused a newer (5 years old?) 1878 of mine to lock up after firing. I had to bang the stock hard against the floor to get the pins to release from the primers. Put in springs that were about 50% stronger from a Brownells spring selection set. Same outside diameter, but thicker wire and a tighter coil pitch. That has solved the problem for me. Oh, I was using Remington STS shells, factory loads. Those are high quality brass case heads. Case head material will usually not lock up the beginning of opening a double barrel. Steel bases can cause the hulls to stick badly and not be extractable, though, but that still allows action to at least crack open. Good luck, GJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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