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While out dove hunting today (yes, we are still hunting doves in Florida) my old reliable Belgian Guild Gun, 16 gauge, sxs, double trigger did something to really surprise me. I was using both Winchester Game Loads and Fiocchi high velocity 1 1/8 ounce loads. My left barrel would not fire the Fiocchi shells. The right barrel would fire them just fine. Also, the left barrel would fire the Winchester loads just fine. With the Fiocchi shells in the left barrel, there would be only very faint dents on the primer. Is it time to have my favorite 'smith check it out?
xvigauge

*Last edited by skeettx on Sat Dec 13, 2014 7:52 pm; edited 1 time in total*

Or if you have the skills, remove the stock and clean the innards including the firing pin recesses.

Mike

No, I don't have the skills. Could it be a weak spring or something wrong w/ the firing pin itself?
xvigauge

*Last edited by skeettx on Fri Dec 19, 2014 9:19 pm; edited 1 time in total*

Sure,

Dirt
Lack of lubrication/friction
Short firing pin due to wear
Weak spring due to age
Ammo
Wood soaking up moisture and swelling

or Just because

Mike

Thanks Mike. I'm sure some of the reasons you listed will apply. I will take it to Wallace McLeroy in Ft. Meade, FL. He is a genius on shotgun mechanisms.
xvigauge

Joined: 26 Apr 2010 Posts: 3177 Location: NCWa

If it happened suddenly, as it sounds it did, I'd suspect the problem is more a build-up of dirt in the firing pin recess than a weak spring, since a weak spring would come on gradually.

I'll take it to Wallace tomorrow so he can check it out and then I'll know for sure. If it only needs a cleaning, he will do that and he will be very honest about it. If it is something else, he will take care of that too.
xvigauge

Joined: 12 Sep 2014 Posts: 70 Location: Highland, IL

I have a brand new citori that shoots the top barrel every Time and about 2 out of 100 on the bottom barrel does the same thing. Light dent in primer. Move it to the top and it fires

Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Posts: 1358 Location: Twin Cities, MN

Ah, the infamous Citori bottom barrel light strikes. Either your receiver has some powder residue/debris in it or your firing pin protrusion is not quite enough. My last Citori started doing this around 30,000 rounds. Wound up replacing the firing pins and springs with aftermarket parts and had my gunsmith set the firing pin protrusions to maximum. That fixed it. If you don't have a lot of rounds through it a little debris can certainly do this. That wide bottom locking lug on the Citori makes for a big hole to let debris in. Nothing wrong with this design, just have to take this into account in your maintenance program.
Regards,
Jeff

The wife and I were pheasant hunting in very nasty cattails and sage, both of us with Citori's. She came over all angry because her "Gun will not fire" She took mine and BOTH dogs and continued on, leaving me with the 'broken' gun to fix.
I opened it and there was cattail stalks jammed in the action. Shocked

I cleaned it out and fired both barrels in the air. Sigh.
Ribbed her about it pretty good and she has not done it since. Embarassed

Member Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 141 Location: Kentucky

(JNW) You stated you found aftermarket firing pins and springs for your Citori. I have found plenty of aftermarket springs. I have never seen aftermarket firing pins for a 16 gauge. Where did you find yours ?

Thanks; Tom

Tom
Give these folks a call

https://www.jnpgunsprings.com/product_info.php?cPath=15&products_id=6

https://www.jnpgunsprings.com/index.php?cPath=15

Mike

Member Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 141 Location: Kentucky

( Mike) I have talked to these people. I've used their springs and 12 gauge firing pins. They told me they didn't offer 16 gauge firing pins. Unless this is something that is so new that it's unlisted? Their site still does not list 16 gauge firing pins. Maybe I need to contact them again.

Tom

Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Posts: 1358 Location: Twin Cities, MN

Never owned a 16 ga Citori (yet). 12s and 28s. It was a 12 gauge sporter I had redone. Finding a gunsmith who can measure and adjust firing pin protrusion is key.
Regards,
Jeff