Inconsistent ejector function

[Bill Graham]

The gun is a Savage-era 20ga ejector. This is the second such gun I’ve been involved with that has this problem. The first was cut on both ends, problem never resolved, and given away to a friend. Looking at the notes will illustrate the behavior, but essentially you get 50% correct behavior firing right barrel then left, 100% function left then right. Lite strikes on the left when it misbehaves, and the left ejector is tripped. Stumped.

Fox 20ga Test Fire Notes
24 total shots fires
Notes in order of firings

2 shots
Right fires and ejects
Left lite strike then ejects

2 shots
Left fires and ejects
Right fires and ejects

1 shot
Right fires and ejects

1 shot
Left fires and ejects

2 shots
Right fires and ejects
Left fires and ejects

2 shots
Right fires and ejects
Left lite strike then ejects

2 shots
Right fires and ejects
Left fires and ejects

2 shots
Right fires and ejects
Left fires and ejects

2 shots
Right fires and ejects
Left fires and ejects

2 shots
Right fires and ejects
Left fires and ejects

2 shots
Left fires and ejects
Right fires and ejects

2 shots
Right fires and ejects
Left lite strike then ejects

1 shot
Right fires and ejects

[Jeff S]

You've collected great data, but this is way out of my "wheelhouse". Hopefully someone else will have an opinion.

[Sporrns]

I had this same problem in a 28 ga. Browning Citori and one of my Fox Skeet & Upland Game 16 ga. guns. In the case of the Citori, I pulled the stock off and observed that the innards of the gun were dry as a bone with what looked like old cheese (dried lubricant) in the rear notch of the hammer striking the lower barrel, where the striker pushrod makes contact with the notch. (The lower barrel most often gave the trouble). I cleaned the action with solvent spray, dried it completely using canned air, then very lightly lubricated the points of contact (trigger, hammers, etc.). I put the stock back on and the next time I used it later in the week it functioned perfectly. My diagnoses: lack of lubricant.

On my Fox SKUGG, I likewise pulled the stock and inspected the mechanism(s). In that case it was a combination of very little lubricant and that remaining having attracted dirt, burnt and unburnt powder, & etc. I repeated the cleaning process I used on the Citori above, reassembled the gun and the next time I used it, it worked perfectly, Diagnosis here: congealed lubricant trapping crud and debris into almost a paste medium that slowed the momentum of the hammer fall and subsequent primer strike(s) enough to dimple the primer but not detonate the shell. Kevin

[Sporrns]

BTW - forgot to mention in my previous post that the SKUGG is not an ejector gun; the Citori of course is. So the message re: ejector problems is that I would first inspect and give a good clean if warranted; it could be further that there are worn or out of adjustment ejector parts that need to be replaced or 'smithed. Kevin

[Bill Graham]

Thank you. The owner reported the problem prior to arrival. When I disassembled then gun, there was sand inside. The gun was completed disassembled, ultrasonic cleaned, lightly lubed as it was put back together. The problem remains, and now the gun is clean, so dirt or old lube is not the problem. I inspected the hammer spring guide rods, which hold the ejector trips, for completed freedom of motion. Interesting that two Savage 20ga ejectors exhibit the exact same problem.

[vaturkey]

I'd recommend you contact Jason Barden who has all the Fox parts and run this by him. I probably have the wrong terminology, but perhaps the ejector tabs which show on the face of frame on ejector guns are worn. I seem to recall having a similar problem as you mention and Dan Rossiter replaced the ones on a Savage era Fox ejector 20 gauge and that problem was solved. PS. Freely admit I could be wrong, but it might worth as shot.

[Bill Graham]

Thanks. I’ve worked with Jason on several things, seeking many parts, etc. I know he’s a busy fellow so hadn’t thought of troubling him with this.

I have partially disassembled again and recognized that the left hammer spring did not have a much freedom of movement as the right, so I swapped it out with one that does. Also adjusted the tension of the left sear spring leg. Will be testing it again today.

[Bill Graham]

All fixed. The sear spring tension was certainly a part of the behavioral issues. I think though, that the oversized OD of the left hammer spring, and how it's movements were restricted, had more to do with light strikes, which would still trip the ejector sear. Anyway, the gun is fixed and threw 24 hulls consistently to the same landing zone every time.

[Mike of the Mountain]

Good to know. Thanks Bill.