The L.C. Smith Collectors Association

The L.C. Smith Collectors Association
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3E Hard to open after shooting

Posted by Michael Tavary on October 7, 2025, 11:42 pm

I recently acquired an 3E, 1906 mfg with HOT and ejectors. All worked perfectly using snap caps.

The problem is when opening the breach after shooting the first time, it takes considerable force to open. Once open the shells eject as expected and the breach closes easily with no looseness or gaps between bbl and receiver.
I shot 10 rounds with same results. HOT a bbl selector worked as normal as did the ejectors.
After shooting session, it works perfectly with snap caps.
Any thoughts are appreciated.

Re: 3E Hard to open after shooting

Posted by Michael Tavary on October 7, 2025, 11:45 pm, in reply to "3E Hard to open after shooting"

Forgot to mention. The ammo was new target loads, 1200 fps, 2 3/4, #8

Re: 3E Hard to open after shooting

Posted by Drew Hause on October 8, 2025, 7:42 am, in reply to "Re: 3E Hard to open after shooting"

Who is the maker of the ammo you are using Michael?
Lots on the internet about hard primers causing firing pins to stick, making opening the gun difficult.
It's reported that Winchester (made in U.S.) and Cheddite (used by Fiocchi and many others; made in France, and maybe Italy) are harder than Federal primers. The makers however frequently change sources for hulls and primers.
Try another load and let us know.

Re: 3E Hard to open after shooting

Posted by David Williamson on October 8, 2025, 8:51 am, in reply to "Re: 3E Hard to open after shooting"

Your gun has the second style ejectors and the ejector mechanism is in the fore-end. The springs are quite strong, and after firing and opening the gun, the springs are compressed making the gun harder to open.

I reload and use Cheddite primers on all of my low-pressure loads and have never had a problem with the firing pins "sticking".

Look at the empty hull and see if there are drag marks on the end to see if the firing pins are dragging when opening. If so, like Dr. Drew stated, try another low pressure brand shell.

Ammo

Posted by Michael Tavary on October 8, 2025, 10:41 am, in reply to "Re: 3E Hard to open after shooting"

It is Winchester.
Thanks!

Re: 3E Hard to open after shooting

Posted by Michael Tavary on October 8, 2025, 10:46 am, in reply to "Re: 3E Hard to open after shooting"

Thanks.

I notice that the firing pins are tight after firing as if the hammers still have force applied to them.

Yes, I noticed that the design is different than my FWE.

Re: 3E Hard to open after shooting

Posted by David Williamson on October 8, 2025, 1:13 pm, in reply to "3E Hard to open after shooting"

The mainspring/s are putting tension on the firing pins and again in breaking the gun open the mainsprings are re-cocking the hammer/s as well as the ejector springs doing their job.

Re: 3E Hard to open after shooting

Posted by Michael Tavary on October 8, 2025, 2:19 pm, in reply to "Re: 3E Hard to open after shooting"

Thanks for the input.

If I understand correctly, the 3E is working normally and the issue is that the primers are to hard to indent properly to relive friction with the firing pins.
Given the force needed to cock main and ejector springs, the firing pin friction adds just enough resistance to make it difficult to open.
It makes sense to me as fired snaps caps allow easy opening.

Re: 3E Hard to open after shooting

Posted by Dan Wildhaber on October 8, 2025, 3:12 pm, in reply to "Re: 3E Hard to open after shooting"

My guess would be excessive firing pin protrusion.

Are all parts original to the gun?

Does the indent in the fired primers appear deeper than necessary?
Are they tips of the firing pins correctly shaped and protruding the correct amount?
Just some thoughts.

Re: 3E Hard to open after shooting

Posted by Trevor Rice on October 8, 2025, 6:44 pm, in reply to "Re: 3E Hard to open after shooting"

My grandfather Buck Hamlin, made a modification to the Smiths with the firing pin bushings because they would get stuck. I would encourage everyone to look at that article

Volume 17, Issue 4 - Winter 2019

Re: 3E Hard to open after shooting

Posted by Michael Tavary on October 8, 2025, 9:40 pm, in reply to "Re: 3E Hard to open after shooting"

Thanks Dan,

It looks like the parts are original. The bushing screw slots are perfectly vertical, and the keeper screw slots are vertical and aligned bushing slots.

I have no references for pin protrusion.

Re: 3E Hard to open after shooting

Posted by Michael Tavary on October 8, 2025, 10:02 pm, in reply to "Re: 3E Hard to open after shooting"

Trevor,

I looked in the Articles section and could not open any of the journals.
Do you have a link? One response indicated the pins may be protruding too far. But I have no reference for this dimension.
Thank you!

Re: 3E Hard to open after shooting

Posted by Dan Wildhaber on October 9, 2025, 1:47 am, in reply to "Re: 3E Hard to open after shooting"

Michael
I can't remember the exact spec but in the .075 -
.080 neighborhood?
When you said it was fine with snap caps is what makes me suspect the pins.
Pins can't get stuck in snap caps.
They're a solid piece of copper that doesn't dent.

Re: 3E Hard to open after shooting

Posted by Michael Tavary on October 9, 2025, 8:26 pm, in reply to "Re: 3E Hard to open after shooting"

Dan, Thanks,

I have no references for pre 1913. My book only has information on post 1913.
I will check in a few days.

Re: 3E Hard to open after shooting

Posted by trevor rice on October 9, 2025, 10:33 pm, in reply to "Re: 3E Hard to open after shooting"

The synopsis is he would make firing pins with integrated springs that would not get stuck in the primers.

Changed Ammo

Posted by Michael Tavary on October 14, 2025, 10:02 am, in reply to "3E Hard to open after shooting"

I shot some Remington target loads and had no issues
opening the breach.

Thanks for all of your input.

Re: Changed Ammo

Posted by Drew Hause on October 14, 2025, 11:31 am, in reply to "Changed Ammo"

Good news Michael and thanks for the follow-up.
Dan's comments are important and if not already done, it would be prudent to have a double gun specialist check the pins.

Re: Changed Ammo

Posted by Michael Tavary on October 16, 2025, 10:42 pm, in reply to "Re: Changed Ammo"

I noticed that the primer indentions in the Remington shells were shallower than the Winchester shells.

Indentions are slightly deeper, by eye, than those in my FW.

step one is to try some different ammo

Posted by Jent P Mitchell III on November 2, 2025, 5:56 pm, in reply to "Re: 3E Hard to open after shooting"

Try shooting some AAs and then try shooting some Remington STS ammo and then try shooting some RST ammo and see what happens ..... posted by Jent

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