I shot a "Best" 28ga a few weeks ago, and didn't like it.
The places in the cocking cycle that maximum effort was required for cocking or loading the self opening mechanism, were in cumbersome spots for me. I felt like I was breaking firewood at a low angle.
During the points in the cocking cycle of maximum friction, I could feel parts rubbing each other. Vibration sent back through the cocking mechanism, and felt through the barrels.
Since then, I have been going through my shotguns, and have been examining the cocking cycles, and how they feel during cocking.
I like a shotgun that cocks with the barrels deeply opened, that has a solid cocking stop, and that doesn't grind or vibrate it's mechanism in cocking.
I found that the spring rollers on one shotgun were dry, and pitted, and that roughness was transferring to my hands on cocking.
That is what got me thinking about this.
I believe cocking effort, degree of opening, and smoothness of cocking are quantifiable.
While it is the weekend of the Southern, I believe there may be a few of a more mechanical bent that wish to share their thoughts on the cocking cycle.
Which guns cock most smoothly after both barrels have been shot?
