NEF's Unlock when Fired!

[jimwill48]

I have 2 NEF's - 1 .22 Honet and 1 .45/70, these are about 9 years old. They have lived in the back of my gun safe for the 8 or so years and neither has been shot more than 50 times. I took them out this weekend and both rifles when fired would sometimes unlock. They would not open but just unlock.

I know the 1st thought is to send them in for repair but I want that to be my last resort ( even thou one is going back for a new .44 mag barrel).  I removed the barrels and the locking bolt looks like its working ok. This week when I get time I plan on cleaning the action well and the barrel locking lug and relube with BreakFree.  Any one have any other ideas to fix this issue.

The loads were all handloads the .22 Hornet where factory equiv. and the .45/70 when 460gr LCB loaded to around 1500fps (a lot of recoil).

James

[Brett]

The old lube probably just got dusty and gummy so the latch does not engage all the way.  Was it cold at the range? That could make the old lube gummier too.  I'm betting that a good cleaning and fresh gun oil will fix it.  Also don't pamper them, close them sharply.

[Mainer]

The same thing has happened to me.  I have a brand new .243 Handi (2004 mfg., purchased in January 2005).  It has unlocked several times during a total of 80 rnds fired.  It did so once during my last range session on Saturday when I fired ~30 rnds.

A couple of the 80 fired cases have primers with drag marks on them.

And, yes, I have cleaned the heck out of the gun.

That said, the issue seems to be getting better as the gun gets broken in.  It may be a "new gun thing."  (I notice that even though your Handis are 9 yrs old you say they've been shot very little.)

[Nuttinbutchunks]

I just got a .243 and it does the same thing. I will shoot it more and see if the problem goes away.

[BUGEYE]

being a southpaw, sometimes my left thumb will unlock it by hitting the release during recoil. you might check your thumb position.

[Paul5388]

More than likely, the problem is too much material on the locking shelf.  I f the release button doesn't come all the way up, the lock isn't being allowed to fully seat.

Usually you can see any excess material when you have the barrel off of the action.  The angled portion just below the ejector/extractor is where the problem may lie and will look like slag or a forging seam.  A hone used on the surface to make it flat (make sure you maintain the same angle) will many times fix the problem.  Don't get carried away with the hone.  Check for fit periodically.

After the honing operation is finished, use some cold blue on the locking shelf to make everything look like it is suppposed to.

[cheatermk3]

I could be mistaken, but I seem to remember reading several posts here that caution against having any lube on the latch or the recess in the lug where the latch engages.  The reason being the angles and forces involved may cause the latch to unlock if there is any lube in this area.

[quickdtoo]

Fred states that no oil should be on the latch or latch recess(shelf)...

Any oil on the latch or the latch recess will make the latch move. It is most important to keep these areas totally oil free.

http://www.angelfire.com/ma/ZERMEL/tweakultra.html