Chapuis hard to break open

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18 December 2013, 03:57

Dave Bush

Chapuis hard to break open

Guys, I am having some difficulty with my Chapuis ,375 flanged. Is is really tight. If I fire two shots, I can't break the gun without taking it down from my shoulder. I literally have to pull it down from my shoulder and break it over my knee. Otherwise it shoots fine and it is deadly accurate. I only have about 75 rounds through. Do you think it will eventually work loose or does in need a trip to see JJ?

Dave
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Chapuis "Jungle" .375 FL
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18 December 2013, 04:32

cal pappas

If the rifle opens easily unfired, than I would suspect high pressure. Load down a bit and fire it again.
Cal

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18 December 2013, 04:37

dpcd

All Chapuis's are like that when new; they won't break open on their own and require both hands and some serious leverage. Fired or not. Work it about 500 times and it will loosen up a bit. All the Chapuis DRs I have seen and owned are like that. Better than the opposite. If you want it looser, now, you will have to hone and polish the mating surfaces.

18 December 2013, 04:38

Biebs

Dave, good to see you're out shooting. Work it a bit and see what happens. As dpcd says, better to have good tight tolerances when new than sloppy and loose.

18 December 2013, 04:48

Rusty

Did you notice any signs of firing pins dragging on the primers? that could be a cause. Also extended primers.

Rusty
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18 December 2013, 05:59

N E 450 No2

All above posts give good advice.

Are you shooting factory ammo ro reloads???

Try this. Shoot a few rounds from both barrels, and keep the fired brass from the two barrels seperate.

Then take the barrels off the reciever.

If the brass is hard to reinsert back into the barrel it was fired from, the loads are too hot.

As Rusty stated, of the primers do not look right, the load is too hot.

Also be sure and keep the hinge pin, and locking surface on the barrel, well greased.

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18 December 2013, 06:05

N E 450 No2

Dave, after you have had the 375 Flanged for a while, I would like to hear your opinion on it compared to the 9,3x74R Chapuis.

Are those doubles scoped?

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18 December 2013, 07:22

dpcd

Trust me; Chapuis are fitted tight from the factory. Real tight.
As for the 375 FL, I think they have much heavier barrels than the 9.3, which have paper thin ones. I have not owned a Chap 375 however.

18 December 2013, 17:05

srose

Chapuis' are tight from factory but if you are having to break it open over your knee I think your ammo is too hot. The 375 FL is a very tapered case and the bolt thrust will be pretty high. Make sure your chambers are free of oil before shooting. Also be sure and lube all your locking surfaces and lugs with a good heavy duty grease. If your gun is that tight without firing you need to make sure its lubed.

19 December 2013, 07:57

mete

I think it's best to use the grease designed for high pressure applications like hinge pins and stainless steel.
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19 December 2013, 08:37

H T

Might want to contact JJ Perradeau at Champlin Firearms in Enid, OK. Very knowledgable about chapuis doubles.

19 December 2013, 10:27

AK_Stick

my 9.3 was initially very stiff as well.

Fired several different loads, including some loaded by members here, and opening was stiff with all of them. After some work, its now better, though still a little stiff.

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20 December 2013, 23:04

Atkinson

Many of todays doubles are set up like that to allow for wear I suppose..

The best way to fix that in any double is to remove those damn ejectors and go with extractors then the weight of the barrels will let it drop open.....At least that works best for me, plus I don't lose any expensive brass in the high grass, mud or sand, and it doesn't make a "ping" when opened, and when practiced it's just as fast as ejectors, for me anyway.....