jmoser
Senior Member
Probably not an issue for you 'peach staters' but up here in MI we sometimes hunt in the cold.
Sighting in my Browning pump last weekend; first 5 shots went fine but after a target change and some downtime I couldn't fire a shot. Just a faint 'click' and no hammer drop. Tried many times with loaded and empty chamber; cycled action; etc etc. Temps were probably high teens; 20 F max.
Figured it froze up; sure enough after coming indoors it quickly functioned again [dry fire.]
Sooo - pulled the trigger group out [like an 870; complete fire control assembly pops right out] and put in a baggie in the freezer for an hour.
Was able to reproduce the failure; there is a disconnector linkage on right side coupled to the slide release lever. Believe some old factory grease was the culprit; froze stiff and kept the link from resetting fully after cycling the pump.
Total disassembly is a PITA so I flushed it with solvent and slid a paper slip in the gap to wipe out what I could. Couple drops of synthetic lube and back in the receiver.
Going to leave the assembled rifle in the shed for a couple hours tonite and see if it happens again; now at least I know I can pull the lever back by hand if it happens again.
In any case if you ever plan a trip in the cold be sure to test your guns first - funny things happen.
Sighting in my Browning pump last weekend; first 5 shots went fine but after a target change and some downtime I couldn't fire a shot. Just a faint 'click' and no hammer drop. Tried many times with loaded and empty chamber; cycled action; etc etc. Temps were probably high teens; 20 F max.
Figured it froze up; sure enough after coming indoors it quickly functioned again [dry fire.]
Sooo - pulled the trigger group out [like an 870; complete fire control assembly pops right out] and put in a baggie in the freezer for an hour.
Was able to reproduce the failure; there is a disconnector linkage on right side coupled to the slide release lever. Believe some old factory grease was the culprit; froze stiff and kept the link from resetting fully after cycling the pump.
Total disassembly is a PITA so I flushed it with solvent and slid a paper slip in the gap to wipe out what I could. Couple drops of synthetic lube and back in the receiver.
Going to leave the assembled rifle in the shed for a couple hours tonite and see if it happens again; now at least I know I can pull the lever back by hand if it happens again.
In any case if you ever plan a trip in the cold be sure to test your guns first - funny things happen.