Browning B-92 failure

[PatientWolf]

Picked up a used B-92 and in operating the action, I found that sometimes the hammer does not lock back. I was running snap caps through, but thought it could have been an embarrassing situation. I made sure I was operating the lever to its full range.

Has anyone experienced this and does anyone have any suggestions?

[PetahW]

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There's either crud built up in the hammer's sear/cocking notches, or something amiss/fooled-with.

If you don't absolutely know what you're doing, I would suggest getting it to a gunsmith before shooting it - so nobody gets hurt or worse.




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[Molasses]

You already said you'd made sure to work the lever for a full stroke, so that one's out. But I thought I'd mention it for the RIF crowd.

It's used. You might be the "beneficiary" of a poor attempt at a trigger job that's messed up the ability to hold full cock. Possibly the trigger return spring is weak or messed up.
OR you could just have varnish-ified old oil and gunk down in the works that's impeding the sear from fully engaging.

I'd suggest pulling the buttstock and giving it a look up in there, see if you can spot what's up. Maybe hose out that area with a spray degreaser and apply a good oil while the buttstock's off and see if the problem goes away.

Edited to add: beaten by 8 minutes. That's what I get for stopping to run down to pull one of mine out of the safe and take a fairly worthless picture.

[PatientWolf]

Thanks. I had thought of the "Trigger Job" risk as well, which concerned me. It is now in the hands of a gunsmith I trust.

[PatientWolf]

Turned out the previous owner was DIY gunsmith. My smith fixed the botched trigger job and replaced the front shotgun bead front sight with something that should actually work.