1894 opening problem

[JKN]

I have a 1894 c grade that is very hard to open.
The gun works fine after droping the hammers on snap caps, live rounds are another problem. Any sugestions?

Thanks Jim

[2shooter]

What shells are you shooting?If it works on snap caps and not on live shells that could be the problem check shells and chamber.Assuming the chambers are good and shells are correct..There are couple of things,the firing pins not releasing. There are two type early ones are part of the hammer later in the receiver they have springs to push back out of primer. Also the cocking levers have to cock the springs and hammers, releasing the firing pins,timming has to be right...

[Researcher]

I have found after many years of this that many old doubles seem to stick on Winchester primers, but work fine with Remington primers. My Father's old 1896-vintage AE-Grade had this problem when he first got it, and he found that the firing pins protruded thru the breech face much farther then on his KED-Grade. Probably the reson the gun was still pristine when he got it during WW-II. So, he made a templet the thickness of the KED-Grades protrusion and filed the AE-Grades down to match. Worked just fine for the rest of his life, over 50 years. With over 50 years of use, the AE-Grade is no longer "pristine" but still tight and on-face!!!

[JKN]

I am shooting reloads of AA with win primers, will try another combo. I broke gun down and cleaned throughly very very dirty with thick crud.
Will post resuls.

Thanks for the info. Jim