So I picked up an old Lefever 12 ga SxS cut down to 18" off gunbroker last week. I have always wanted a short barreled side by side but never had the heart to chop anything decent. So I found one somebody else chopped, paid too much, did the transfer, and took it out the other day.

 

I was shooting rear trigger, left side barrel at clays- shot great. Put a shell in right side, front trigger, great. Put two shells in, pulled rear trigger and ba-boom. Both barrels went, I thought the gun blew up on me. Quite a suprise.

 

I then fired a couple of shells out of each barrel one at a time and put it away. I did not clean it when I received it. I am hoping it is just gunked up and nothing major. I plan to bring to Joe Winters, he is probably the best SxS gun smith I know of.

 

I have heard of guns doubling, I have seen people try to fire both barrels at once, but I have never seen this, not sure if it is mechanically possible, but it really seemed as if they both went at the same exact time.

 

I would love to get some opinions / input for anyone who has experienced this before. Thanks.

Single-trigger shotguns are more prone to doubling, but double-trigger shotguns can occasionally double. Looks like an Ithaca Lefever Nitro Special you have(?) The culprit could be a worn sear/hammer engagement. Nitro's are considered a utility grade double when it came to American side by sides, but they were durable. Those parts are something best left for a gunsmith to replace.

 

However, you can inspect the area, it could just be gunked up. Remove the buttplate, insert a long-handled screwdriver and remove the through-bolt. Remove the rear triggerguard screw (the triggerguard may unscrew from the frame or there will be a screw in the forward portion that you can remove.) Once removed, pull the buttstock rearward, exposing the frame's lockwork. You can clean the hammer & sear notches and lightly lube things from here without further disassembly.

I'd have a gunsmith look that gun over and make sure it doesn't malfunction again. The ATF considers a double shotgun that fires both barrels the same time with one trigger pull to be a "machine gun" and you don't want that kind of potential legal aggravation.

I have an old SxS I just got that may get fired the first time with a string at a distance. Not really sure about it at all.

I have an old SxS I just got that may get fired the first time with a string at a distance. Not really sure about it at all.

 

Joe,

 

If you want some help with that, just let me know. I'll give it a once-over to check to see how well it's together before you/we test it.

 

Dave

As far as doubling goes, YES it has happened to me. I had a sear break during live-fire at a clay and both barrels of the mighty 10 ga. spit lead and fire. Went for a nice ride, lol, but no damage done. Got gun fixed right away, works fine. All it needed was a new sear...

 

Dave

 

 

Joe,

 

If you want some help with that, just let me know. I'll give it a once-over to check to see how well it's together before you/we test it.

 

Dave

 

Thanks Dave. I will take you up on that offer. I know very little about this gun and SxS's in general