Cranfield Posted June 29, 2014 Report Share Posted June 29, 2014 I have a Franchi Falconet O/U 12ga that gets very little use. I took it out a couple of days ago for a 100 bird round of Sporting clays and noticed that the hinge pin feels loose. The gun fits tight on the face, is completely tight when closed and shoots just fine, but when broken (and shaken slowly side to side) the looseness can be felt. I have never had a gun with a loose hinge pin before, does anyone have any idea of Gunsmaith repair costs ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunman Posted June 29, 2014 Report Share Posted June 29, 2014 Slackness in the action of an OU is not unusual and is not necessarily a loose hinge pin or pins .Without seeing the gun then any comment would be a guess . If you have any doubts then see a gunsmith it will cost nothing for him to look at it . Cost of any repair should it be required will depend on what he says . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted June 29, 2014 Report Share Posted June 29, 2014 This is an easy fix! Here is the perfect solution, nothing important to come loose at all http://www.guntrader.co.uk/Guns-For-Sale/Navy-Arms_Shotgun-Black-Powder_For-Sale_140412120553001 U Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted June 29, 2014 Report Share Posted June 29, 2014 (edited) Last time I had one done - £100 - about two years ago. I would have a chat to Dennis at UK Gun Repairs - mine was collected from my home and delivered back to me. Painless. Edited June 29, 2014 by Gordon R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted June 29, 2014 Report Share Posted June 29, 2014 This is an easy fix! Here is the perfect solution, nothing important to come loose at all http://www.guntrader.co.uk/Guns-For-Sale/Navy-Arms_Shotgun-Black-Powder_For-Sale_140412120553001 U Oh dear no, don't make him go down that route! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted June 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2014 Thanks for the responses, at least nobody suggested putting it in a vice. My local Gunsmith has recently retired, so I will have to have a look around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted June 29, 2014 Report Share Posted June 29, 2014 It needs looking at I am sure there is someone else you will find Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted June 29, 2014 Report Share Posted June 29, 2014 Thanks for the responses, at least nobody suggested putting it in a vice. My local Gunsmith has recently retired, so I will have to have a look around. I'm sure any gunsmith will put it in a vice to work on it. Sorry I'll get my coat taxi for WW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted June 29, 2014 Report Share Posted June 29, 2014 (edited) Last time I had one done - £100 - about two years ago. I would have a chat to Dennis at UK Gun Repairs - mine was collected from my home and delivered back to me. Painless. Thanks for the responses, at least nobody suggested putting it in a vice. My local Gunsmith has recently retired, so I will have to have a look around. I would give dennis a call he knows the falconette well, the issue is that it is alloy action frame and not steel, i dont think it has replaceable stub pins like a beretta and not sure if it can be welded. Edited June 29, 2014 by HDAV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted June 29, 2014 Report Share Posted June 29, 2014 I would not worry about it, as long as the gun is NOT loose when fully closed. I have owned a Falconet for a few years and it has always been 'loose' when open. The old Winchester 101's were the same and nobody worried about them. The only point to watch out for on the Falconet is the forend fixing screws coming loose, this will cause the forend wood to split unless tightened. I removed the screws and coated the threads with Loctite and that sorted it. I would not like to shoot a 100 birder with it, even with 21 grams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted June 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2014 Thanks for the further comments. I replaced the alloy forend catch with a steel one and used Loctite on the fixing screws, as I had been made aware of the problems in that area when I bought the gun. I also knew that the frame was alloy, but hadn't thought that might cause a problem. I will take it to a Gunsmith, its worth sorting out. Most of my guns, 12ga or 20ga, weigh under 6.5 pounds and I shoot up to 32 gms through them (usually 28-30gms), never had any sore shoulder issues . I shoot most days and cannot hold a 7+ pound gun all day. The secret is that I make sure all my guns fit me with the right LOP, that makes a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted June 30, 2014 Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 You are correct on the fitting Sir Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted June 30, 2014 Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 as said dennis uk gunrepair,just up the road from me,very good man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted July 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 Just a quick follow up on my "hinge pin" problem. Visited The Cottage Gun Repairers at Aylesford, Kent yesterday, having telephoned to make an appointment and spell out my problem. A quick examination by Rodney (a gunsmith of note) and he didn't think it was the hinge pin. I expected to have to leave the gun, but the examination continued and after much cleaning up in the corners (and instructions on how to clean a gun properly) , the problem clearly centred on the forend. The internals were straightened, reset and tightened up and the looseness miraculously disappeared. I escaped with paying a very small charge for the repair and an interesting hour chatting about guns, cleaning tips and shooting. I have definitely found a "go to" Gunsmith to replace my recently retired friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 Good stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 Brill...but dont put off getting that muzzleloader :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 Intugued as to how not cleaning it properly caused it to feel loose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westward Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 (edited) Intugued as to how not cleaning it properly caused it to feel loose It wouldn't, but the smith had to come up with something because it's £100 to a pinch of lizard snot that it got a judicious little squeeze in the vice when no one was looking. It's standard practice on the "Rizzini" style actions. Forend tension makes the gun feel tighter but whilst it might get rid of forend slop it doesn't cure a loose action. Edited July 3, 2014 by Westward Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted July 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 The action was not loose, the "looseness" when shaking the open gun was from the forend, there was no "looseness" when the gun was shaken with the forend removed. As I was present the entire time and watching what was going on, I will take your £100 to a pinch of lizard snot bet, because the gun went nowhere near a vice. The not cleaning it properly comments came up when he was checking the face fit and the lugs. Its fair to say that he did find quite a bit of oily waste tucked away in the corners. It was never suggested that cleaning this out would affect the "tightness". What a bunch of cynics and non believers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westward Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 Okay fair enough but when you said "Loose hinge pin" I (and others presumably) thought you meant loose in the action, not the forend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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