savage 311 misfire

[Woody]

Hi. I have a 311 20 guage. The right barrel misfires about 80% of the time. I installed new hammer springs from Brownells to no avail. Anyone know what might be the problem?
Thanks.
Woody

[Capt. Augustus]

I cannot offer you too much assistance.  I am guessing that your right hammer is not cocking, I had one that the left hammer would not cock when it felt like it.  I had also changed out the hammer springs to help keep it from closing, which didn't go too well, but I got it done.  It was still failing so looking it over I decided to get a sear for it.  Well there are thosands of right sears available, but not one left sear anywhere in the country.  I checked the sear for interfernce, but found none.  In the end, I took the 311 apart into pieces and sold them for $150 and used it towards a Stoger Coach, I guess I sold out.

If you are interested in parts they have them at  http://www.gunpartscorp.com/

Good Luck with your adventure!

[Montana Slim]

I had similar trouble swith a Stevens 311, 12 ga.
Found I had one broken firing pin. replaced both pins, installed new spring kit from brownells.
One barrel still was "iffy" on lighting a cartridge.
Ended up cleaning out some leftover forging/casting flash from inside the receiver which was impeding one of the mainsprings.

Worked like a charm ever since.

Good luck.
Slim

[Delmonico]

Years ago, I had a 311 and a hunting pard had a Savage pump.  Both would give misfires with Federal factory loads and reloads with Federal primers.  The Federal primers had the primer set deeper in the battery cup.  Win, CCI and Rem primers always fired.  We just avoided the Federal primers.  Don't know if they are still the same because were talking 25 years ago.  I just got out of the habit of using Federal shotsell primers. 

My late Dad's 16 ga 311 will also once in a great while not fire a factory Federal load, never tried a reload with a Federal primer in it.

Don't know, but worth checking out if you are using Federal primers.

[Montana Slim]

I should have emphasized - check for broken firing pin -
The pin may be broken, but still appears to be ok visually...until you remove it and you find it's become two separate pieces.
This condition alone will cause occasional misfires.

Regards,
Slim

[clehfeldt]

I have encountered this problem and it was that the firing pins had mushroomed in the rear over time effectivly shortening them, new pis and life was good.
Carlos