I found this: Amazon.com: Double Guns and Custom Gunsmithing: 9780892727353: Hughes, Steven Dodd: Books

Gunsmithing is knowing what to repair, how to do the repair, and having the tools to do the repair. If you don't have a mill, lathe, welder, torch, ect then you're probably finished before you start.

If there is a timing issue, it's due to wear, meaning parts need replaced (probably impossible) or welded up and refit, potentially annealed or rehardened too.

Dragging firing pin sounds more like a burr or deformation in the firing pin or it's hole. If the gun is reliably cocking both hammers, it's probably not a timing issue, if it was cocking so slowly that that's whats causing the drag, it probably wouldn't have enough travel to catch the sears.

 

Thank you very much Skeet Man. I did get a chance to look at the table of contents of that particular book. I'm not sure it has what I'm looking for. It sounds like its gunsmith time.

It cocks both hammers reliably. I cleaned it to see if it would fix the issue. It did not. It has retained firing pins. Both firing pins moved freely while I had it apart for the cleaning. Would a weak firing pin spring let it drag?

Should I try different ammo? I've used Winchester target and AA? Does Winchester have very soft primers?

 

This sounds like a classic timing issue. First thing to check: Remove the forend and look at the rear end that mates with the receiver. Most have a single screw there, Make sure it is tight. Check the cocking toggles inside the rectangular holes, are they worn? Most SxS's I have smithed with a timing problem start right there. There are of course other internal parts involved but I seldom see problems there.

 

 

Thank you Shotsmith. The only screw that I can see is a tiny screw that is putting drag on the middle part that moves the extractors. There is play in the cocking toggles and some shiny spots. It's definitely time to get this to the gunsmith.

 

First thing to check is over all protrusion from the face of the receiver.
Drop the hammers on some snap caps, and disassemble.
Measure.
How far do the pins stick out?

Jim

 

The pins stick out roughly .067", .068" using calipers.

 

If this is a problem that has come into persistence, it’s due to wear of the cocking lever; either between the cocking lever and the forend iron, or between the cocking lever and the tumbler/hammer interface. Easiest thing to do is laser weld said face/s, refit, case harden, time.

Now in the larger picture you might be dealing with a bigger issue, one not uncommon to Spanish guns of particular vintage. Piss poor metal composition and heat treating of lock parts leading to premature wear.

 

Thank you Jim18611865 and TDKK. I appreciate everyone that's responded. It is educational. I've lived and I've learned with this gun. Thanks again y'all.