Stoeger Double Firing Problems

[DocWard]

I have a Stoeger double trigger coach gun. At yesterday's match, I was having a large number of light primer strikes. Sometimes the right barrel, sometimes the left, sometimes not at all. I didn't manage to have both misfire at the same time, that is once closed, before reopening. I already have Long Hunter extended firing pins, because I ran into the problem once before.

I looked and say the possibility of build up in single trigger models, so, does this effect double trigger models as well? I have a CZ Sharptail off being tuned, but I don't think I will have it back before the Ohio State Match. Any help would be appreciated!

[The Surgeon]

First thing would be to take it apart and give it a good cleaning. sometimes something can get into the action. How old is the gun and how often has it been shot. Before I upgraded I had one that i had dry fired a lot.. started to get light strikes and had to stretch the hammer spring. that's only going to be a temporary solution though and the hammer springs may need to be replaced. 

[DocWard]

5 hours ago, The Surgeon said:

First thing would be to take it apart and give it a good cleaning. sometimes something can get into the action. How old is the gun and how often has it been shot. Before I upgraded I had one that i had dry fired a lot.. started to get light strikes and had to stretch the hammer spring. that's only going to be a temporary solution though and the hammer springs may need to be replaced. 

 

I will do just that tomorrow. I've had it for a number of years, now, but it hasn't seen the shooting that many see over the course of that time. I was finishing another project this evening, so tomorrow will be the day for that. 

[Sedalia Dave]

Make sure the nuts holding the firing pins in are tight.

[Dapper Dave]

Not the loose nut behind the buttplate? That has always been my problem...

Seriously, I'll keep an eye on mine, I think I have about 300 rounds through it so far without issue. 

 

 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Deep clean the action and make sure the firing pin nuts are tight.

[Old Man Graybeard]

Also...not sure on double trigger models...but on single trigger models...make sure the wood of the stock hasn't swelled up and rubbing on the hammers. I had that happen on a single trigger model. Took a dremel with a sanding drum and took a bit of wood off...end of problem

[DocWard]

12 hours ago, Sedalia Dave said:

Make sure the nuts holding the firing pins in are tight.

 

38 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

Deep clean the action and make sure the firing pin nuts are tight.

 

By "nuts" are you referring to the firing pin collars that screw into the breech face? I don't think I can go any tighter without risking damage, to the gun, the wrench, and / or myself.

[John Kloehr]

Are you sure the gun is closing tightly, and also not slightly opening when fired? This will result in light strikes. Something to be aware of in case the above great suggestions do not solve the problem.

[DocWard]

33 minutes ago, John Kloehr said:

Are you sure the gun is closing tightly, and also not slightly opening when fired? This will result in light strikes. Something to be aware of in case the above great suggestions do not solve the problem.

 

It seemed to be but I will double check this evening.

[Sedalia Dave]

2 hours ago, John Kloehr said:

Are you sure the gun is closing tightly, and also not slightly opening when fired? This will result in light strikes. Something to be aware of in case the above great suggestions do not solve the problem.

 

1 hour ago, DocWard said:

 

It seemed to be but I will double check this evening.

 

Easy test is to fire the shotgun while pushing up on the forearm. Then repeat by pulling down. 

 

If you fire it from the hip while doing this watch the unlocking lever to see if it moves.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

2 hours ago, DocWard said:

 

 

By "nuts" are you referring to the firing pin collars that screw into the breech face? I don't think I can go any tighter without risking damage, to the gun, the wrench, and / or myself.

Yes 

[Cypress Sun]

 

Happened on both sides, at different times?

 

Might want to look at the ammo also.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Just now, Cypress Sun said:

 

Happened on both sides, at different times?

 

Might want to look at the ammo also.

Agree, try factory ammo.

[Ya Big Tree]

 

I had a similar problem (only on one side) that took months to figure out. I even had a major SASS gunsmith work on it at an EOT shoot.

I tried: 

Deep cleaning, New firing pins, Extended pins, New springs, Reliving wood that the hammers could be dragging on, swapped the firing pins from side to side.

 

The solution: I swapped the firing pin retainers from side to side and the misfire followed the retaining nuts. I replaced both of the nuts and the problem has not recurred for the last 4 years.

 

Midwest Gun Works

[DocWard]

1 hour ago, Cypress Sun said:

 

Happened on both sides, at different times?

 

Might want to look at the ammo also.

 

1 hour ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

Agree, try factory ammo.

 

I was using Winchester factory ammo. There were noticeably light primer strikes, compared to the ones that fired.

 

[Cypress Sun]

3 minutes ago, DocWard said:

 

 

I was using Winchester factory ammo. There were noticeably light primer strikes, compared to the ones that fired.

 

 

About 7 or 8 years ago, I noticed that some folks were having problems with light strikes on Winchester AA's. It only happened on S x S's. Primer depth on the factory shells varied considerably. On some shells, the primer was recessed so far down that they wouldn't even fire out of my 97. These were people who had never had trouble with light strikes previously. 

 

Also, Winchester ammo made during the plague seemed to have quite a few manufacturing defects.

 

Not saying that there isn't a problem with your shotgun, just saying to eliminate the possiblility of ammo problems before tearing the shotgun apart and "fixing" something that doesn't need fixing.

[Ya Big Tree]

16 minutes ago, DocWard said:

 

 

I was using Winchester factory ammo. There were noticeably light primer strikes, compared to the ones that fired.

 

 

Mine also showed light primer strikes on the misfires. I learned to open and close the shotgun and then it would fire, but the misfires were very random. 2-3 times per shoot. That's 10-15 seconds in a match for me. 

[DocWard]

3 hours ago, Cypress Sun said:

 

About 7 or 8 years ago, I noticed that some folks were having problems with light strikes on Winchester AA's. It only happened on S x S's. Primer depth on the factory shells varied considerably. On some shells, the primer was recessed so far down that they wouldn't even fire out of my 97. These were people who had never had trouble with light strikes previously. 

 

Also, Winchester ammo made during the plague seemed to have quite a few manufacturing defects.

 

Not saying that there isn't a problem with your shotgun, just saying to eliminate the possiblility of ammo problems before tearing the shotgun apart and "fixing" something that doesn't need fixing.

 

I have some other ammunition I can take to try. High brass, but worth it to eliminate that as an issue. I will also look at the ammo that I had the light strikes on to see if there is a noticeable difference in depth.

It probably won't hurt to give it a good cleaning though.

[DocWard]

So, I pulled the stock off. No evidence that wood was the issue. In fact, not much at all to be noticed. I cleaned it, paying particular attention to the area the pins go, and snugged everything down. When I grip the foregrip like I am trying to open it, it remains tight and both triggers appear to work. Hold it tight, same thing. I'll look at the ammo later. I had a busy day.

[Dacotua]

I had a similar problem with my SXS double trigger Stoeger. The firing pins that come with those guns are soft, I ended up ordering new firing pins from Long Hunter (carbon/stainless) and that fixed my problem. I believe the firing pins from the factory are a bit soft and will mushroom slightly and will not pass thru the retaining nuts without rubbing.

 

[Dapper Dave]

So, following along, the firing pins with the Stoeger shotguns are a usual suspect - best place to get new ones? I like to eliminate problems before they start, if I can - I don't have any spare guns right now for backups.

[Choctaw Jack]

Long Hunter Shooter Supply has them listed on their website.

They also have the retaining nuts and the spanner wrench for them.

[Dapper Dave]

Thank you! Something to get on payday!

[Rye Miles #13621]

At the last shoot my Stoeger was not firing from the left barrel. It turned out it was the Winchester Factory loads, AA low noise rounds. It worked fine with my reloads. I believe the primers were set in a little too deep. I don’t know why it was just the left barrel though.🙄

[Four Feathers]

I have a Stoeger double trigger shotgun also; worked well for many years. I started having occasional light primer strikes. Took the shotgun to a gunsmith who checked it out and verified proper part dimensions and operation with factory shells. He questioned that it might be my reloads. Like everyone else, I had assumed it must be the shotgun, it couldn’t be my reloads. That is until I took a caliper and measure the distance from the back surface of the shotgun barrel to the primer of a shell placed in the barrel. (Note: remove the barrel from the action so the extractor isn’t in the way and use the end of the caliper where the rod will stick out). My reloads, which had been reloaded many times, had a larger distance from back of barrel to primer than new factory ammo did. That would translate to a larger distance from the breech face to the primer. Find out if the shotgun misfires with factory ammo and measure the distance to the primer using factory ammo and your reloads. If the factory ammo your using exhibits the light primer strike, measure distance to primer and compare to other factory ammo. Using a caliper to check is cheaper and has less recoil.

[Gunner Gatlin, SASS 10274L]

On 4/8/2025 at 12:56 PM, Ya Big Tree said:

 

I had a similar problem (only on one side) that took months to figure out. I even had a major SASS gunsmith work on it at an EOT shoot.

I tried: 

Deep cleaning, New firing pins, Extended pins, New springs, Reliving wood that the hammers could be dragging on, swapped the firing pins from side to side.

 

The solution: I swapped the firing pin retainers from side to side and the misfire followed the retaining nuts. I replaced both of the nuts and the problem has not recurred for the last 4 years.

 

Midwest Gun Works

Maybe this is what was happening to me last match.... thanks.

 

My Stoegy Coach is from 1996.

 

GG ~