Trouble with a Smith

[PETER HUGHES]

I have a Navy Arms Smith that shoots itself open? Has anyone dealt with this problem before? And what can be done to fix it?

Pete Hughes 120th NYVI

[efritz]

Suggest taking a real close look at the top strap. Either the screw could be loosening up as you shoot or it's not tight enough on the lug. A quick fix for the lug is tap it enough with a hammer to flatten or expand it outward. Be careful in this as too much is not good. That should hold the strap closed. If it's neither of these reasons, I'm lost.

[John Stephens, 11095]

My brother in law has dealt with this problem a few times. The first thing he did was have Romano put a lead in the breach. Still done it, next he switched from brass tubes. From what we were told the brass tubes were letting to much gas come back through. He hasn't had any trouble since, but bought an original because finding a top strap is harder than heck. You might want to drop the powder charge as well, he was shooting 35G FFF he dropped it to 28g FFF.

[Muley Gil]

I have a Navy Arms Smith that shoots itself open? Has anyone dealt with this problem before? And what can be done to fix it?

Pete Hughes 120th NYVI

Why do you want to fix it? That makes reloading a LOT faster!

[ian45662]

If you could figure out a way for it to spit out the spent tube on its own you would be in the money

[Rtab108]

It's a little distracting when it raps you in the cheekbone hard enough to hurt. Bob Trabold 108th NY