Break Barrel Slam Shut?

[speedturtle]

This is one of the reason why manufacturers ship the gun with a very hard trigger pull for springers - to avoid lawsuits caused by faulty trigger action. Hehehe.

Speedturtle

[airgunandy]

Watch the Gamo ads on TV closely. The guy cocks the gun, leaves the barrel hang and then loads it.
Always gotta hold the barrel like TJK says.
I like to break the gun open, insert the pellet and then cock it. Most of mine break open just right foe loading like this.

[gamo2hammerli]

I always hold on to the barrel and brace the butt stock on my hip and leg junction.  Safety first.  I've also read that if the trigger was accidently pulled (Caught on clothing or some other objects) the airgun might fire, causing the barrel to flip up and catching important digits in the process.  Bent barrel, broken stock and pellet shot in the air might also result.

[toolmkr]

After reading this thread, a question comes to mind:
Is there a way to safely have the barrel broken?
I'll no longer leave it in the load position lying on the table, but say for cleaning, shipping or backpacking?

btw, great forum

[CharlieDaTuna]

Most often the trigger bear trap will fail and the barrel fly up because the tab on the bear trap link does not clear the fat pin and not set under the fat pin allowing it to be blocked. Then, if the trigger is pulled with the barrel in the cocked position, there is nothing stopping it from being pulled.

This is something that I used to check on every trigger on every gun using the Gamo/Theoben trigger. Over the years and a couple thousand guns or more, I've seen probably over a hundred, maybe a hundred fifty that had fat pin/bear trap tab clearance issues. Many more the had clearance problems but would clear enough to function but still have interference. If the safety is working properly, it is virtually impossible to pull the trigger and the barrel fly up regardless if it is a Gamo break barrel or under lever. They all use the same safety device on their full size guns.

Checking and repairing it is very easy. Just go to my website and get the trouble shooting guide for the GRT-III trigger.

  GRT-III Troubleshooting Guide

http://charliedatuna.com/airgun_docs/GRT_III%20Troubleshooting.doc

[RedFeather]

It is always best to control the barrel throughout the cocking/loading cycle.  I've seen many post/pictures of broken guns due to the barrel slamming shut.  Even on a break barrel, you can catch a finger or have the gun come up and whack you in the head.  Regardless of your damage, the gun can well be ruined with a smashed breech and broken stock.  So you say your gun has a properly functioning anti-bear trap?  Well, if you are like most air gunners, sooner or later you will try someone's gun or buy yourself a different one and, guess what? Not all springers have an anti-bear trap!  If fact, practically any gun from the "olden times" didn't have them.  Shoot an old Diana or Walther springer and you won't have that safety net to catch you, so practice makes perfect.

[gamo2hammerli]

Sam, a big welcome to the GTA forum and family.  Glad you read this thread and know about the safety issue.  Shoot Often Shoot Safe

[Bentong]

The best safety for me on cocking/loading my springers is my hand on the barrel until it's locked upright and trigger finger on blade only when target is cenetered on X.

[Bogey]

I watched a 12 year old boy one day shooting his break barrel pellet rifle.   During the entire proceedure of cocking and loading, not once did he remove his left  hand from the barrel and the kept his other hand away from the trigger.   He did not rely on any safety mechanism but his own.  When he  loaded a pellet,with his right hand, the buttstock was usually held by his knees and the left hand controlled the barrel until closed.   He had picked up this habit while in Europe.

[eddie1976]

I have read on many different sites that you should control the barrel at all times. I do this, mostly because I have a gun that has no safety (cheap chinese gun) and therefore, I could really get hurt if something were to go wrong. I have built up a habit and carried this procedure to my other gun (RWS 350).

[atchman2]

Dang, I never knew this could happen!  I'll be careful now!  I'm a guitar player and I NEED my fingers!

[gamo2hammerli]

If a barrel slammed shut on you....and hit you in the face in the process.....it`ll give you some character for those groupies to hang on to. heh heh

[crowpopper]

over on TAG a kid on there had a bsa lightning and the barrel slamed shut spliting his lip up to his nose needed stitches for that mess
i always hold bbl when loading it just to be safe

[RJMcElwain]

Before I changed triggers on my Whisper, a slam shut never crossed my mind, because the trigger was so hard, I didn't think it was possible. Now that I've got a really smooth trigger, I follow all the safety rules, to the letter.