I need help. First it wouldn't unlock, now it won't lock.

[rustycarr01]

I just joined your association. Today is September 11th. I shot doves on September 1st with my newly purchased Fox, 12ga, auto-ejectors. Everything went well. I wiped down the gun and drove home and placed the gun in the safe. On September 7th, I pulled the gun out and it wouldn't unlock. The lever was stuck at about the 5:30 position. I forced it over, it unlocked but it will not lock up again. Shooting the old gun was great. I had one when I was a teenager but I sold it. I'v regretted it ever since. I used to shoot everything from 1oz #8 shot to 1 1/4 oz Duck and Pheasant loads. I never had a problem. This day, I shot 1 oz Steel shot because I live in The Peoples Socialist Republic of California and I have to shoot steel if I'm going to hunt...even doves.
The lever moves but the locking piece does not move/engage the hole at the end of the barrel.
Can anyone help me with this.
I'm not exactly handy when it comes to gun smithing but I'm willing to try.
Thank you all.

[vaturkey]

what is the model of the Fox your discussing? Is it an AH Fox, or a later model B Grade made by Savage? Also, no Fox IMO should be shot with Steel. Barrels were not made to take it.

[rustycarr01]

The Fox in question is a Sterlingworth. 12ga. 59xxx serial number range. I was hesitant to use the steel shot but I wanted to hunt with the old gun. If I can get it up and running again, I'll load up 7/8 or 1oz lead loads and stay off the steel. The gun was doing just fine and I was able to shoot close to 50 rounds through it. It functioned flawlessly. I put the gun away after I was done. When I went to clean the barrels about 6 days later, it wouldn't break open.

[vaturkey]

I'll let others chime in that no more about the internals of the Fox. Just wanted to confirm the model.

[spyder]

It sounds like the rotary bolt has some issues. It was stuck closed and now is stuck open hence the free play in the lever. Does anything happen when you push the retaining pin down? That’s the pin at the bottom of the slot between the breech balls. In any case it would mean a trip to the gunsmith for me since those parts are tough the access for my skill level. Also you should not shoot steel through those barrels. Good luck.

[rustycarr01]

I am able to push the pin down. Nothing happened. Currently, I have the barrels and forearm installed on the receiver. So the pin is pushed down whenever I close the action but it doesn't lock because the rotary bolt, as you mentioned, does not move. As for the steel shot I'll stop but I'm going to have to buy something really ugly and boring to shoot doves with because I don't own anything that was designed for use with steel. Last year, I used a Winchester model 59 (the aluminum frame and weird plastic, carbon fiber-ish barrel, modified choke) version of the Winchester model 50 all year with steel number 7 shot and no perceived ill effects except a frustrating inability to bring down birds.

[simcgunner]

not sure what happened to the spindle but you can shoot bismuth. backridge ammo is not to expensive.