Shotgun Forum banner
  • Whether you're a greenhorn or a seasoned veteran, your collection's next piece is at Bass Pro Shops. Shop Now.

    Advertisement
1 - 8 of 8 Posts

Bushman

· Registered
Joined
·
176 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
I have had a Franchi Alcione 12 gauge 26 inch barrels for approximately one year now. The gun has had approximately 1 1/2 cases of shells through it. The gun is still tight. Not so tight that you cannot open it, but much tighter than a brand-new Weatherby Orion that I saw in a store yesterday.
It has a different locking mechanism, where the Weatherby locks on the top, the Franchi locks on the bottom. I do not know how the Weatherby construction quality is, however it did look pretty good.

Ifwhen I purchased the Franchi, and asked about the tightness, people told me to shoot it. Now that I have shot yet, I would expect that it would be looser than it is. My definition of loose is easily movable, but not sloppy. I would expect that it would have more of a fluid movement by now.

I use grease on the locking lug and sides (Militec 1) I use oil (Militec 1) on all other moving parts. I do realize that some of that that may be perceived as stiffness, is from the hammers cocking, but even with the hammers cocked, it still is a bit stiff.there appears to be no significant abnormal wear marks on any contact surfaces. That would make me think that something was not honed correctly.

Does anybody have any suggestions on how to smooth out the action of this gun?

second question regards the trigger mechanism. The trigger has some play before it gets a solid spot to and then at about 4 lbs. -5lbs., it will break. Is there any way to remove this slop at the front end of the trigger? There appears to be no rearward play.

thank you in advance, for your help.
 
Your Franchi has a locking bolt like many other break-open gun on the market. It's located near the bottom of the receiver.

Shoot your gun for a little while more. Just be sure to keep the joint roll (between rec and forend iron) very well lubed.(I prefer wheel bearing grease)

It takes a little time for the 2 pieces of steel to "mate up" properly. It may take a few 1000 rds.

Each time you fire the gun and open it, the microscopic highs and lows will level out and become smoother.

If after say 3000 rds, it is still way too stiff, check back here. There is a way to loosen it up...NOT USING LAPPING COMPOUND!! :x

Working on triggers is recommended for the experienced. A lot of pride is gotten working on and repairing your own firearms, but some things are just pretty tricky to work on, and on occassion...unsafe. Slam firings, doubling, and a gun firing with the safety on, are not good.
 
I'd suggest taking up the slack on the trigger with your finger before calling for the rock, if you are shooting the "games". If not, in the field it isn't a problem. My opinion on shotgun triggers is: they are not bench rest or varmint rifles, I don't need a trigger without any creep or slack in it to get along fine. Worry more about keeping your Head on the stock and your eye on the rock and the trigger situation will correct it's self. It won't get better, you just won't notice it anymore. I used to have a Browning that was pretty snug after heaven knows how many thousand rounds fired through it. My new Berettas are snug too, even my Veloce is still stiff, and it has had a few thousand rounds through it already too. You could sit down in front of the TV and just open and close it about a bazillion times, that will help loosen it. If you want loose, you should try a Ruger. :roll:

BP
 
There is a way to loosen it up. My wife has the Alcione Titanium. The gunsmith took a file and carefully filed a little metal from the front face of the lug on the barrel that the forearm locks on. Go slow and check the tightness frquently.
Good Luck
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
That is another problem when I put the forearm on the gun and press it in firm into the barrels, The "take down" lever never goes down, I have to physically push it down. I just bump it with the palm of my hand. Is that why the action is so stiff?
 
Bushman,

IT WILL loosen up. To loosen it now, and if you shoot every week, you'll have a gun that's sloppy when you open it.

The forend latch will snap in also in a short time. What's holding the latch from snapping in right now is the wood at the front end of the forend. The grain of the wood will compress enough to eventually allow the latch to snap close.

PATIENCE, PATIENCE :roll: This is a sign of quality fitting foresight.
 
First, as to the tight action, I doubt there's little to do, but wait for it to break in. You might try some different greases, some may be slippery than others and make a difference.
The trigger slop, is pretty normal, and doesn't bother some, yet is a big deal to others. My best advice is to just shoot and put it out of your mind, after a while you probably won't notice it. Most O/U have it to some, maybe lesser, degree.

The Weatherby is a modified Greener type action and they do seem to open and close easily without sacrificing solid lock-up. They are VERY strong and I like them very much. I've shot Weatherbys and SKB's, which makes Weatherbys, that have had literally thousands upon thousands of rounds through them and they simply dropped open when the lever was moved to the side, yet they locked up like a bank vault.
 
1 - 8 of 8 Posts