16ga.com ~ View topic - V. Bernardelli Italia SxS Hammer Gun- Fail to Fire

I have a V. Bernardelli Italia SxS hammer gun made in 1969. I shot sever boxes of shells through it last June, and it worked flawlessly. I tried shooting skeet with it in October, and halfway through the firs t round, the left barrel failed to fire on several shots in a row. By the end of the first round the right barrel also failed to fire about every third shot using Remington Gun Club shells.

I would appreciate recommendations for a gunsmith who has experience repairing this type of shotgun. I live in Southeast Virginia.

Joined: 07 Mar 2010 Posts: 483 Location: South Eastern PA

You should try to use it with different brands of shells first before going through potential expense of having a gunsmith fiddle with it. Some brands have primers that are harder than others and some also have deeper set primers that could be the culprit.

I had an Ithaca at one time that hated Winchester shells.

*Last edited by skeettx on Tue Feb 14, 2023 4:39 pm; edited 1 time in total*

On my Bernardelli SxS hammer gun, the firing pin retainer unscrews.
Please insure these are screwed down tight or the hammer
will hit the retainers and not the firing pins.

Mike

Joined: 12 Sep 2010 Posts: 1973 Location: Maine

What Skeettx said.

It is possible the primers are set too deeply, but not very likely. I have had that happen. But I would first look at the firing pin retainer for having worked loose.

Mike & Dave,

You gentlemen beat me to the advise I was going to give, good stuff guys!

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. smith Man

GREAT and good luck
Mike

Joined: 21 Mar 2019 Posts: 523 Location: Texas

Gunter is well worth the wait. He has done work for me, and I have always been satisfied.

BakeyVa,

Good luck getting your gun repaired, hope all works out!

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Let us know how that turns out. I'm curious what the issue might be.

I finally got around to sending the gun to Gunter Pfrommer in Rocky Mount, VA on Wednesday, February 1 (USPS 2-day Prioirity Mail). He received the gun on Friday, February 3.

Imagine my surprise when UPS delivered the gun back to me on Tuesday afternoon, February 7!

Gunter charged $147 (plus Shipping and Insurance) to: "Make and Function right and left firing pins. Harden and temper two new firing pins. Install new firing pin return springs, Clean and oil sidelocks. Test fire and clean."

When I called him to thank him for the quick service, he told me that he made the firing pins a little longer than the originals and test fired three different brands of shells.

BarkeyVA,

Sounds like you are back in business, have fun with you Hammer Gun!

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Great to hear. Hammer guns are fun and easy to work on, and relatively easy to make parts for, which is great since they don't make them any more. Good stuff.