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Offline 30gman

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Hammer spur problem
« on: August 28, 2012, 11:18:38 AM »
Took my, new to me, Topper 30-30 out today with it's new hammer spur installed. Did not have one on before. First 3 shells no boom. Primers dented, looked normal .This is no good. Took spur off and put  first three dented ones back in and all went boom. No problems after that.
I am going to get higher rings so I don't need a hammer spur.
I really don't think I can remove enough weight from the spur to make it work.
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Offline Slowhanddd

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Re: Hammer spur problem
« Reply #1 on: August 28, 2012, 11:36:24 AM »
Probably not the weight.The top of the spur is hitting the bottom of the scope.Have had it happen several time.A little file work on the spur and some magic marker and your done.Maybe.
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Offline cwlongshot

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Re: Hammer spur problem
« Reply #2 on: August 28, 2012, 11:37:08 AM »
Many have found the addition of a WOLFFE hammer spring solved a number of ignition problems.
Brownells, Midway both have these avalible.

CW
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Offline 30gman

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Re: Hammer spur problem
« Reply #3 on: August 28, 2012, 11:52:44 AM »
Quote from: Slowhanddd on August 28, 2012, 11:36:24 AM
Probably not the weight.The top of the spur is hitting the bottom of the scope.Have had it happen several time.A little file work on the spur and some magic marker and your done.Maybe.


Definitely not hitting the scope. Rings will be my solution.
Thanks
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Hammer spur problem
« Reply #4 on: August 28, 2012, 12:39:58 PM »
Sounds more like a weak hammer spring problem to me, old H&Rs are notorious for having weak hammer springs, and a Topper is pretty old, unless it's been replace already, it's over due for a new spring, Wolff extra power springs are an excellent option, much better than changing to a higher mounted scope IMO, specially as high as it has to be for quick manipulation of the hammer while hunting if it's a late Topper with the high spur compared to old Toppers with the low spur.

Tim
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Offline gcrank1

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Re: Hammer spur problem
« Reply #5 on: August 28, 2012, 03:23:50 PM »
A little fresh lube in the internals wouldnt hurt either.
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Offline 30gman

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Re: Hammer spur problem
« Reply #6 on: August 28, 2012, 03:35:29 PM »
I went out to my shop and drilled a hole in the end & cut off about a quarter in of the spur. I will see tomorrow if this helped.
I looked at wolffe springs at Midway. They show a single spring and a double spring for the topper.
Which do I need?
I plan on doing a trigger job on it this winter before deer season. Measured trigger pull today at 8lbs.
This one has the low hammer.
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Offline Sprint

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Re: Hammer spur problem
« Reply #7 on: August 29, 2012, 03:34:05 AM »
Single leg spring if the shotgun has a transfer bar and double leg for the older, rebound hammer type.
 
Sprint
 
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Hammer spur problem
« Reply #8 on: August 29, 2012, 04:34:31 AM »
What Sprint said, single coil if it has a transfer bar, double coil if not.  ;) Just a heads up that the old(double coil) style sear notch may be very deep and is hard to hone, I've done one and it was a bear, I did get it down from ~8lbs to 4½lbs, but it took a lot of effort to avoid changing the angle.

Tim
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Offline gcrank1

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Re: Hammer spur problem
« Reply #9 on: August 29, 2012, 04:54:48 AM »
If it is an older model with a fair number of rounds through it the sear and notch are already burnished in. I suggest you get those contact surfaces very clean and dry and apply a dab of 'anti-seize' compound (silver or copper does not matter); it should reduce the pull by at least 30%, often more.
FWIW, I do not recommend removing metal on those surfaces unless you are very skilled at such things.
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Offline LaOtto222

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Re: Hammer spur problem
« Reply #10 on: August 29, 2012, 05:53:17 AM »
I think you are talking about a hammer extension. If there was no problem without the extension and now there is; either the extension is hitting the scope (maybe just brushing it) or you have a weak spring.


Good Luck and Good Shooting
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Hammer spur problem
« Reply #11 on: August 29, 2012, 10:03:49 AM »
A quick primer on hammer terminology, what many refer to as a hammer spur is really a hammer spur extension, all H&R single shots have a hammer spur, the piece added to aid cocking the hammer on a scoped firearm is an extension for the hammer spur, the knurled part of the hammer is the actual spur.  ;)

Tim

http://www.americanrifleman.org/blogs/terminology-hammer-spur/
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Offline 30gman

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Re: Hammer spur problem
« Reply #12 on: August 29, 2012, 12:48:05 PM »
Thanks for all the info.
It is hammer spur extension I was talking about.
It is a 30-30
The serial #starts with AL.
The rifle is in very good condition and I don't think it has been shot that much, although that is hard to determine by the condition. Maybe just well taken care of.




I have remedied the problem by putting medium rings on it instead of low. Now I can get my thumb in to cock it with gloves on. No hammer spur extension needed.
Still going to do a trigger job this winter.
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Offline atvmudder

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Re: Hammer spur problem
« Reply #13 on: August 31, 2012, 10:02:44 AM »
AL = 1973
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Offline LaOtto222

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Re: Hammer spur problem
« Reply #14 on: August 31, 2012, 11:13:42 AM »
Quote from: 30gman on August 29, 2012, 12:48:05 PM
I have remedied the problem by putting medium rings on it instead of low. Now I can get my thumb in to cock it with gloves on. No hammer spur extension needed.
Still going to do a trigger job this winter.

Now that you put higher rings on, if you placed the hammer spur extension back on and the problem returns, then you know it is a spring problem. If it is then when you do a trigger job, it would be a good time to replace the spring. Then you could put an extension back on.

Good Luck and Good Shooting
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