243win handi-rifle - malfunction???

[btomlin]

I killed my 1st (221 yrds) and 2nd (182yrd) does on friday evening in a drizzling rain.  They were within the 1st 1/2 hour of sitting in blind.

The 3rd doe was a tad luckier as when I shot at her my gun popped open from the recoil and she didn't even run, so I have no idea where the bullet went.  It hadn't done that before and it freaked me out so I didn't shoot anymore.

Anybody have an action pop open before??  I was thinking that maybe the moisture wasn't letting the latch mate with the barrel or something, since 1st 2 shots were deadly and no action pop open.  They were pretty close to getting out there and moisture wouldn't have had much time to get into gun.  I'm at a loss.

Thanks.

[whitetailmaniac]

Congrats on the deer. Look in the FAQs under pop open medicine. It is a pretty easy fix.

     Chris

[gcrank1]

You have to slap them closed with authority until 'broken in' and it doesnt hurt to give a tug to see it it really latched up, Just be prepared to catch the cartridge if it pops open, they like to fly well behind you.

[quickdtoo]

As stated in the pop open medicine link in the FAQs, any oil or solvent on the latch/shelf can cause pop opens, I've often wondered if rain  would cause it, but you're the first to report a problem, you might try it at the range to see if it will under controlled conditions, it may just have not been closed and locked up properly tho too, trying to close the action quietly while hunting isn't conducive to closing it properly to insure proper lockup.

Tim