Storing shotgun (Stoeger) - hammers cocked or down?

[TheOtherLeft]

Hiya pards,

Is there a benefit with storing my Stoeger Coachgun with the hammers down to ease the hammer springs?

I've just made a pair of snapcaps from old shells using pencil rubbers in the primer hole and wondering if it's worth storing my Stoeger with the hammers down on the snap caps?

Thanks.

[Hambone Dave]

I always pull the triggers on snap caps when I put her away. Stoeger triggers are stiff enough as is without letting them get used to be cocked. The sear and hammers may grow together for all I know.

My two cents

[Coffinmaker]

Springs will sometimes take a "set" when left under tension.  I have always recommended de-cocking the hammers, especially on guns powered by flat springs. 
After dropping the hammers with snap caps, drop the barrels and remove the snap caps.  You don't want moisture trapped between the snap cap and chamber wall.

Coffinmaker

[TheOtherLeft]

After dropping the hammers with snap caps, drop the barrels and remove the snap caps.  You don't want moisture trapped between the snap cap and chamber wall.

Coffinmaker

Thanks for that. Won't dropping the barrels to remove the snap caps reset the hammers?

[Coffinmaker]

Not if you take the fore end off as in disassembly

Coffinmaker

[Angel_Eyes]

Another tip for storing shotguns.

I always store mine barrels down when assembled, stops oil creep into the stock,,,makes it spongy eventually.

[Bibbyman]

I'm sure it's a better way of prolonging spring life. But I now own dad's old Stevens 5100 that is likely 70 years old and it's never had the hammers unlocked.   The springs are definitely strong enough to function properly.  We have two Stoegers and I never gave it a thought that the hammers be lowered for storage.

I wonder if a person could run something like a wooden dowel down the bore to let the firing pin have something to strike? 

[Coffinmaker]

Gonna hurt I little when the firing pin hits the stick.  Snap caps are only a couple of bucks

Coffinmaker

[Bibbyman]

Gonna hurt I little when the firing pin hits the stick.  Snap caps are only a couple of bucks

Coffinmaker

I was thinking it would be easy to pull the stick over using snap caps and then disassembling the gun to remove snap caps.  Just an idea. Didn't cost anything.

[beemer]

If you have a two-trigger gun with a manual safety, you can hold the triggers back when you close the action. This'll prevent cocking the hammers.

[Coffinmaker]

Of course if one has a "proper" Hammer Double, There is absolutely no problem relieving Main Spring Tension is there!!

[Scattered Thumbs]

Of course if one has a "proper" Hammer Double, There is absolutely no problem relieving Main Spring Tension is there!!

I see. I wasn't understanding this at all.

I mean, when I want to release the spring tension on mine I just ease the hammers down.

[jthbjr]

There is another way to decock a double gun. Take the gun down. Hold a block of hard wood tightly against the breech face and pull the triggers. the block will absorb the momentum of the firing pins. Some old English cases have such a block. I use snap caps myself.
But if you have a LC Smith don't try to store it uncocked with the barrels off. It won't go back together until it is cocked, which requires either an LC Smith cocking tool or the use of a small box end wrench in a very clever way. The process with the wrench requires 2 men both experts at swearing. Store any others uncocked.
Jthbjr

[murbas]

or you could just lube your snap caps lightly, then you wouldn't have to worry about leaving them in!l