Artillery firing at chambering a round...
Exciting day at the range today! Though with a few dry runs, my "refurbed" restored (bought on Gunbroker a few months ago) 1917 Artillery would **** and "click" properly; at the range, it had a mind of it's own...
Chambering a round, dropping the toggles on the first round, "bang!"
Then, though it chambered a 2nd round, the trigger wouldn't release the striker / firing pin, "no go" for a 2nd shot...
Had to drop the mag, manually eject the chambered round, still wouldn't "click"...
Pushed the barrel back a touch, pulled down the release lever, pulled the sideplate, manually got the trigger / firing mechanism to seem to be working properly, dry cocked and fired, ok, chambered another round, "bang!" at the drop of the toggles, oh sweet...
(While attempting to look cool and unbothered at a busy Los Angeles shooting range on a Sunday afternoon).
The good news is, my '70's Mauser 6" 9mm shot great (if held firmly) and was accurate, but I was a bit disappointed to not be able to put the artillery through some paces. Hard to gauge accuracy when the only round you can get to shoot is at the drop of the toggles, LOL.
It would ONLY fire upon chambering a round, and there was no pin protrusion, something is a bit amiss in the mechanism...
Again, even after a dry fire "click", you chamber a round, "boom!". (Good reminder to not chamber rounds in the garage or living room to check things out, yeow...)
Before going to the range I did a field stripping (as with my 70's Mauser and VOPO 1913), and lightly lubed the frame rails and such, but this now looks like something is going to need some work...
After the "firing at chambering a round", the artillery wouldn't properly dry **** and click...
I could see the sear & spring protrusion to the side as I pulled the trigger, but no release of the striker unless I did a disassembly / re-assembly.
What should I look for, what clues might this be telling me, re: dry firing ok up until chambering a round, then slam-firing then not cocking / clicking after that, yet the sear / spring "bulges to the side" as it should when pulling the trigger, any ideas on any of this?
Thanks in advance for any tips, suggestions or clues!
Frank H. in L.A. (but soon to move to Oregon!)
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