On one of my doubles (extractor only) the case in the left barrel SLIGHTLY sticks and will not fall free with gravity unlike the right side. With only the lightest of touches it will fall free. The chamber is clean but I am wondering if a very light polishing would cure my problem.
The fired case from the right barrel will slide into the left side smoothly but also hangs up. I think minor polishing will fix it but wanted your opinions and techniques before proceeding. Any thoughts?

I have watched J.J. polish chambers...Mine! He used a long metal bar (easier to keep straight) with a slot cut lengthwize in the end, chucked in a drill. Put a strip of fine emory cloth in the slot and wrapped it around the rod, so it sort of had a loose flapper...oiled the chamber and kept it moving. It doesn't take much. I sure wouldn't try my first time on a nice double rifle though. Find someone who is qualified...use super fine emory cloth...and check your progress often. It's much easier to polish some more out, than to polish some more in. A good gunsmith won't charge much for 15 minutes work.
ND

quote:

Originally posted by Nitrodave:
I have watched J.J. polish chambers...Mine! He used a long metal bar (easier to keep straight) with a slot cut lengthwize in the end, chucked in a drill. Put a strip of fine emory cloth in the slot and wrapped it around the rod, so it sort of had a loose flapper...oiled the chamber and kept it moving. It doesn't take much. I sure wouldn't try my first time on a nice double rifle though. Find someone who is qualified...use super fine emory cloth...and check your progress often. It's much easier to polish some more out, than to polish some more in. A good gunsmith won't charge much for 15 minutes work.
ND

Excellent advice.

465H&H

A mop with fine polishing compound works well.

I have polished a few chambers (not on a dr, wish I had the problem) by taking a case fired in the chamber, drilling out primer pocket and tapping, attach to rod, coat with polishing compound, and spinning in drill. Nice thing about using fired case is that it tends to hit the spots causing the problem.
C.G.B.

Some really good ideas listed above... I would start with the most conservetive method, like compound.
As some here may remember, my Harkom 450BPE wouldn't chamber a case when I bought it. This was good in a way, as the rifling was as new. I had JJ chase out the chambers which was minimal. The polishing was somewhat aggressive in the left chamber, right at the breech, as a former Owner/Jackass had forced a standard dimention case in and stuck he'll out of it. Then, with his surgical expertise, attempted to dig it out with a screwdriver! Thank God for gunbuilders like JJ, and many other talented craftsmen, who can repair these idiotic screw-ups.
ND

All good advice on polishing your chamber and that may be your problem but also check your extractor. The empties may be hanging up on it. You don’t tell us the caliber but normally once the extractor has moved the brass rearward they will fall free. Take the barrels of the action, insert two cases, seat fully with the extractor down, push the extractor rearward then forward, tilt the muzzle up and if the cases fall free the problem is with the extractor not your chamber. I had this problem with a 9.3 x 74R and the extractor turned out at fault, admittedly she was an O/U but this is worth checking.

Chambers on a DR need to be kept spotless, on my old rifle (.470 NE) the chambers are well worn and corroded slightly, this aggravates any problems. I use a 12G bronze brush and patch for the chamber and clean every night when in Africa, never had any problem, I have staked my life on her reliability with full confidence. Good luck.

Left over lube on cases?

Mike

John H., thanks for the good advice. I sat and really looked it over for about 20 minutes and discovered that the lower edge of the extracter was just a tiny bit snug. If you looked at the space between the brass casing and the extracter as it makes its "half moon" around the case it was obviously closer/tighter at the very bottom tip. I took the dremel and a polishing tip and worked it VERY lightly and VERY slowly. Five minutes later it was slick as a whistle and brass fell free like the other side. I am not one to tinker with any of my guns but this was a quick fix on a long term irritating problem!