Benelli shell release

[drmitchgibson]

My SBE started not releasing shells onto the lifter last summer, but it was very intermittent, and so I didn't really know there was an issue (suspected operator error). But recently the problem has erupted into something that happens often. When unloading the gun during loading practice, it happens very frequenty, half the time. It happens less often when I pull the trigger to release the shell from the tube.

I tried cleaning and oiling the shell latch/shell release, looked for cracks around the shell latch button, checked the shell latch roll pin, checked all springs. I have no idea what is happening to cause this problem.

 

[Wall]

do you have a welded lifter? is it tuned?

 

[drmitchgibson]

Yeah, Mike did it a few years ago.

 

[Wall]

just thinking if it wasn't tuned the rim of the shells might have intermittently been catching on the lifter slightly, causing the stoppage.

 

[drmitchgibson]

I don't think the shell latch is being released at all. It's only repeatable with the bolt carrrier and barrel installed. Without the barrel and carrier on the receiver, it works fine. Maybe it's the thing on the other side of the lifter? Something is binding up and not allowing the shell latch to move.

 

[Matt1911]

When in doubt, take it to Cyrwus.

 

[mike cyrwus]

how are you unloading the gun during practice?

 

[drmitchgibson]

Mike is a guru of Benelli shotguns. I bow to his expertise. It has to do with the shell latch that butts up to the shell rim. My shotgun ran fine today.

 

[gondo]

So what was happening??

 

[drmitchgibson]

The shell latch that butts up against the shell rims will deform over time, especially with 12-round tubes. I will assume it's because it was designed to hold three shells in place, not ten shells. It apparently just really affects unloading during practice, but can get worse. I might buy a spare shell latch at some point, and probably go back to an 8-round tube.

 

[mike cyrwus]

Ill have an explanation of this in video on my soon to be coming website., Short explanation, its best to learn to unload shells manually by depressing the latch with a finger or two and getting the shells out the way they got in there the first place.

 

[Matt1911]

I get shells out of there by pulling the trigger and watching steel fall.

 

[technetium-99m]

I hear ya. I keep blasting one particular spot in the floor of my reloading room. The neighbors are starting to ask questions though.

 

[ShaneP]

Ill have an explanation of this in video on my soon to be coming website., Short explanation, its best to learn to unload shells manually by depressing the latch with a finger or two and getting the shells out the way they got in there the first place.

I thought this was the only way to unload the mag tube. Are you saying there is an alternative?

 

[mike cyrwus]

no, there is not. You are correct in your method; carry on!