Picked up my first Double Automatic yesterday: early 1957, steel receiver, 26" barrel with a Polychoke. Disassembled it last night and gave it a good cleaning. Took it out for a round of sporting today and it consistently refused to eject the first shell. From light to heavy. Tried some anemic 1 oz #8 Herters at 1145, some reloads of 1oz 7.5 at 1250, and some Rhino Roller AAs 1 1/8 oz 7.5 at 1350 fps. Same thing with each.

So, since it got a good cleaning, I am leaning towards an ejector problem, but thgis being my first Double Auto, I know nothing. Advice and counsel appreciated.

Check out this thread and see my reply on page three. I had this same issue with my steel receiver double auto.

https://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewto ... e&start=40

Thanks very much. Found some other references to a gunked up recoil spring, which I did not get into in the clean last night. I’ll give it a go.

I would take a chamber brush and really make sure the chamber is clean.
Doug

Well gentlemen, thanks for the tips. Gave it another good clean with special attention to the action springs and an aggressive cleaning of the chamber and it shot without incident today Rio #9 1 1/16 oz at 1200 fps.

I must say that the recoil impulse is going to take some getting used to!

As much as I admire the design of the DA, I have to say that I found the felt recoil on mine to be quite "snappy". More so than expected, but IMO a large part of that is the weight only being 6 3/4 lbs. Of course, in the field it never was noticeable.

I purchased a DA from a local gun shop several years ago. I walked in just perusing to see what they had and just about had palpitations when I saw the DA in the rack. They had picked it up in an estate sale with several more guns. The guy behind the counter said - not much interest in this one so we’d take $375 for it. I almost hurt myself pulling out my wallet so fast.

Anyway, when I got home and cleaned it; I took off the butt plate and there was an oiled rag filled with bird shot stuffed in it. I had never seen this before and have since learned it added weight to reduce felt recoil. Not sure if that works; but I left it in there. I have shot this gun many rounds at dove and clays and really notice no recoil issues with target loads. Maybe it helps.

I couldn’t hit with mine until I bought a barrel with a Poly Choke. The extra weight up front smoothed my swing.

I got mine for $400 landed so happy with that. It’s a steel receiver so felt recoil did fine, it’s just that springy “thawaaaaang” that’s odd. Stocks are in bad shape, with the left side of the forend quite badly gouged up. I have a forend coming from Sarco and will refinish the buttstock.

I love the "thawaaaanga" With a vent rib it is musical.
It is BEST suited in carried in the field.
Doug

Replaced the forend today. Took quite a bit of fitting actually. Now stripping the buttstock for a refinish.

That flat knob stock is not original to the gun. The flat knob stocks were only 1969-1971. The steel guns were only made this first few years 1955-1959ish.

Doug

Thanks. What is a "flat knob stock"? I am guessing it refers to the rather cheapish pistol grip as opposed to a more round POW style?

Presumably a replacement for the over-torque cracking at the top of the wrist?

Anyway, stripped it down. It should lighten up a bit after drying a few days.

Have stripped buttstock that came with the gun and the SARCO sourced forearm down



The forend was a much, much lighter Walnut than the buttstock; very different cuts of wood:



But staining came pretty close:



Both got several coats of BLO and are currently getting a Waterlox finish.

Pleased with the result. Need to work a satin sheen in to mitigate the glare of the Waterlox finish.



Before:



After:

I wish I could see your pictures. What is required?

Hmmm. Not sure why those aren’t showing...

Good job, it looks nice.