doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Perfect ejector timing—Devil's advocate

Just doing a little cleaning and noticed the ejectors
on one of my guns don't throw the caps at exactly the
same time. Right ejector kicks about one tap on the butt stock
after left ejector.
What sort of a problem (if any) could this pose in the field?
Mountain or mole hill?
Thanks,
Jim

what kind of gun is it ?i wouldnt worry about it.in the field i dont think you will be tapping the butt of you gun to eject fired shells.

I really don't like ejectors. They are problem numero uno on Parkers; the delicate parts resemble the small bones of the inner ear, and are about as reliable with age. In fact, I hate ejectors. The second article I ever had published back in 1995 in the DGJ was in praise of my 1928 GH with extractors.

My VHE 1936 Skeet Gun has ejectors, of course, and using this gun for trap or pheasants on my farm is a real pain. Plastic shells have a half-life of 100 years, and I don't want them scattered around. THIS is the sort of problem that ejectors pose in the field: Unsightly Litter.

Worse yet, the Blue Book gives guidance that, condition and other features being equal, ejectors add 50% to 100% to the value of Parker guns. This is just plain silly. Extractors don't get out of sync, and don't need expensive repairs. Give me extractors every time. EDM

Amen, Ed, you and I totally agree. But since Jim's gun already has them my thoughts are there is no downside to them not being timed perfectly. As long as they both function you should never experience any problems related to being out of time. Enjoy the gun!

I've seen a number guns, nice guns, that don't drop one empty shell right on top of its mate. Big deal. One has to acknowledge perfect timing as a hallmark of good gunsmithing, but how much does that effect the reliability of the system or your enjoyment of the gun? Maybe timing is bragging rights for those that need it, or comfort in knowing that the internals of your lockworks are jeweled. Could be gunk, too.

Gun in question is a modern, machine-made Italian shooter (Fabarm Beta).
It's been my introduction to the world of sxs, and I've been happy with it as a shooter.
I hunt wild birds and I bought it not because of the ejectors but because the barrels
can handle the nontox that I need to stuff in it when I chase ringnecks on the public areas
around here.
I'm not perfect, but I do make an effort to leave no trace when I hunt.
I just cover the ejectors with my free hand.
Not too much trouble and the empty's go into my vest pocket. Works for me.
Heck, I've even been known to pick up other people's empties
that I stumble across in the field. Pretty easy—just pick 'em up and in the vest pocket they go.

I just wanted to throw the issue out to the board and get some
reactions. Thanks for your responses.

PS The next one I own will be something from pre-WWII era, will probably
be European, will be a little less machine-made and will probably have extractors.
But who knows, there are lots of other good choices out there too...Maybe the right Ithaca or LeFever or Fox...
Jim