Very unhappy camper..
I was at my local range getting some smoke time. I opted to use real black today, over the cheap sub I have. Fired about 4 rounds, maybe 5. The lady on the bench next to me with her significant other commented how she really liked the sound my rifle made so I offered to let her shoot it.
Powder, Patch, Ball; ram it home!
I explained the double set trigger, and then handed he the rifle after capping it. She opted to just squeeze the front trigger. POP!!
Wait what? no boom?! OK, cap again let her go again. POP....
manure...
At this point the range calls a cease fire so now not only am I embarrassed because my baby is being temperamental, but I have to get a range officer involved so I can clear the rifle before they let folks down range.
So after explaining, (fortunately this RO knows muzzle loaders and apparently has one) I pull the clean out screw and trickle some 3F into the drum. I seat the screw cap and fire. She goes BOOM!
After the cease fire is over, everyone is back and the range is hot I pick it up, mention to the young lady she is welcome to try again and prepare to load. I pull the hammer to half cock. No click and she drops back to the nipple.. Hmmm..
Pull it all the way back; no telltale clicks and it drops back down. (I'm of course holding the hammer so it didn't snap on the nipple)
So, I bugger my finger up trying to pull the lock without putting it at half cock. I inspect the lock, not seeing the jagged metal where the sear broke just yet and determine that the fly isn't dropping all the way out of position. (Wrong answer Sherlock!)
At this point I decided I needed more tools than I have so I go ask the RO's who kindly invite me into the range office where there is an abridged version of a gunsmith bench and tools.
I pull the bridle, I unscrew the hammer screw and make a feeble attempt at pulling the tumbler away from the lock plate. At this moment I see the sear is busted...
So I reassemble the lock, sort of.. wrap it in a plastic bag, and head to my bench because my range day is over...
Here is hoping Traditions still stocks the internal parts of the left hand lock I have, (they don't sell this model in lefty any more)
Just venting.. its been an interesting day. Oddly enough I'm not nearly as disappointed as I should be. I'm sort of seeing it as a chance to get hands on with a part of my rifle I've never really explored outside of drawings and schematics..
Before anyone laments the quality of Traditions note:
I've had this rifle for 25+ years.
I have on several occasions forgotten to draw the hammer from half to full cock before tripping the set trigger. I didn't today, but I suspect it had been weakened from the multiple times it has been done..
In short, for what I have its a damn fine rifle that just had a part wear out.
I was at my local range getting some smoke time. I opted to use real black today, over the cheap sub I have. Fired about 4 rounds, maybe 5. The lady on the bench next to me with her significant other commented how she really liked the sound my rifle made so I offered to let her shoot it.
Powder, Patch, Ball; ram it home!
I explained the double set trigger, and then handed he the rifle after capping it. She opted to just squeeze the front trigger. POP!!
Wait what? no boom?! OK, cap again let her go again. POP....
manure...
At this point the range calls a cease fire so now not only am I embarrassed because my baby is being temperamental, but I have to get a range officer involved so I can clear the rifle before they let folks down range.
So after explaining, (fortunately this RO knows muzzle loaders and apparently has one) I pull the clean out screw and trickle some 3F into the drum. I seat the screw cap and fire. She goes BOOM!
After the cease fire is over, everyone is back and the range is hot I pick it up, mention to the young lady she is welcome to try again and prepare to load. I pull the hammer to half cock. No click and she drops back to the nipple.. Hmmm..
Pull it all the way back; no telltale clicks and it drops back down. (I'm of course holding the hammer so it didn't snap on the nipple)
So, I bugger my finger up trying to pull the lock without putting it at half cock. I inspect the lock, not seeing the jagged metal where the sear broke just yet and determine that the fly isn't dropping all the way out of position. (Wrong answer Sherlock!)
At this point I decided I needed more tools than I have so I go ask the RO's who kindly invite me into the range office where there is an abridged version of a gunsmith bench and tools.
I pull the bridle, I unscrew the hammer screw and make a feeble attempt at pulling the tumbler away from the lock plate. At this moment I see the sear is busted...
So I reassemble the lock, sort of.. wrap it in a plastic bag, and head to my bench because my range day is over...
Here is hoping Traditions still stocks the internal parts of the left hand lock I have, (they don't sell this model in lefty any more)
Just venting.. its been an interesting day. Oddly enough I'm not nearly as disappointed as I should be. I'm sort of seeing it as a chance to get hands on with a part of my rifle I've never really explored outside of drawings and schematics..
Before anyone laments the quality of Traditions note:
I've had this rifle for 25+ years.
I have on several occasions forgotten to draw the hammer from half to full cock before tripping the set trigger. I didn't today, but I suspect it had been weakened from the multiple times it has been done..
In short, for what I have its a damn fine rifle that just had a part wear out.