Recommendations on 311A repair

[markc]

SO, the 12ga model 311A I received from my mother n law has an issue. The left brl fires, the right may or may not fire. It will dent the primer, but may not discharge the shell. This is with 2 different brands of shells. Local gun smith said he could look at it in nearly 2 months, may have to make parts, no parts available for these guns etc.etc...
 
I felt like he just didn't want the business.  Any suggestions? Anyone working on these old shotguns?  Should I look for a new smitty, or put it in the safe and forget about it?  I really want it working, but not for several hundred $.  Thanks

[Rangr44]

I would recommend you find another gunsmith - preferably one qualified to work on double shotguns, and not a parts-changer.
 
At the least, your 311 needs a full teardown & cleaning.
 
It sounds to me like something's retarding FP travel on the problematic side, beit grunge or a shaving in the FP channel, a twisted FP return spring, or an issue with that FP, itself.
 
The trouble for you is, AFAIK the gun needs disassembly to address FP issues.
 
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[ceadersavage2]

Mite try to take the forarm off then barrels then the stock.Now use break free on the fireing pins an give them a good bath  .Got a air compressor or air tank use it to blow the break free an gunk out then use transmission fluid for oiling the thing .Belive me this works. Put back togather should be fine

[markc]

Thanks cedarsavage, I will give that a try. If it still doesn't work then i will do as ranger44 said and find a new, qualified smith to disassemble it.  I did call Savage and after waiting on hold a long time was referred to Numrich Gun Parts in NY for parts. I guess so I could try to fix it myself?  They also gave me info on a historian so I could get info on the Hartford Firearms 12ga SxS shotgun I got from the mother in law.   Think I will write him. Savage web site indicated they had purchased the company that made Hartford shotguns many years ago

[koger]

Any parts needed, Numrichs has them, I have 25 years bench exeprience as a gunsmith. I have had several of these guns do the same thing described over the years, 90% of the time, there is a small sliver of wood, worked loose and impeding the parts from working correctly, I.E., the splinter is between the hammer and firing pin, slowing down the strike, or like the other posts said, gunk inside. Take the stock off and brush all working parts with a toothbrush and Hoppes #9, or spray with a penetrating oil, let stand a few minutes, the spray out the parts with gunk out, re oil where needed. Lots of times this is also the culprit.

[markc]

Thanks guys. I have removed all the wood and am in the process of cleaning all the metal parts and the fp's as best I can.  Will let you know if it worked.  Thanks
 

[markc]

After cleaning as recommended, I reassembled the shotgun and loaded a couple low brass shot.  The right brl click, no bang, the lft brl bang!  I reloaded and now all I get is click with both barrells.  Neither does more than a small dent in the primer.  Guess this gun is going in the cabinet for now. Oh well, disappointing.

[ceadersavage2]

I would work on them firing pins sounds like thier junk in them bad or not comming out far enought use more air preasure say 100 lbs an more break free then the transmission oil .Fix a lot of auto 22 this way

[markc]

might give it one more try

[cybin]

If it still doesn't work--find yourself a  machinist who is interested in guns--he  may be able to make you two new firing pins and make them just a tad bit longer,. I  have done that in years past for several people. May also again in the future once I pick up another metal lathe for the basement.
 
cybin