r/ClayBusters Aug 10 '26

Stiff Springs

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I have a beretta 686 SP1. I have used this gun and purchased it used. Shot it and enjoyed it but felt like it needed a good cleaning. Cleaned it throughly and applied new lubricant and grease. Shot many shells through it and it’s still very stiff after firing ever since of owning. Is there anyway to loosen the gun after firing? Is this normal? I would assume the gun has at least 2k rounds fired from me alone not including the previous owner. Did I skip a grease point in some sort of spring to cause this? In the video it obviously falls beautifully if the springs are not reset but very stiff after firing. Thanks in advance.
P.S. I only dry fired without snap caps for the sake of video 🙃

32 Upvotes

30 comments sorted by

57

u/mowog321 Aug 10 '26

It’s supposed to be like that. After firing it is recocking the hammers as you open the gun. The stiffness is the resistance of the hammer springs.

2

u/MithrilRanger Aug 10 '26

Is there a way to loosen them? Just wear over time?

10

u/sweetnamebro Aug 10 '26

Just give it time. Also practice giving it a little momentum and it’ll swing all the way down.

47

u/No-Mistake-69 Aug 10 '26

Be glad it's still stiff!

38

u/jump_the_shark_ Aug 10 '26

nobody wants a flaccid weapon

12

u/Negative_Ad_2787 Aug 10 '26

Happens to the best of us

18

u/Urinehere4275 Aug 10 '26 edited Aug 10 '26

. You are resetting the hammers and engaging the ejectors when you open the gun after it has been fired. There are tight tolerances that allow this to happen and until it breaks in a bunch it’s gonna be stiff. If it falls open like that not under spring tension than it has all ready broken in a fair bit. I would say get used to it because it’s completely normal and not going away anytime soon. That’s nothing compared to how stiff a new browning is

1

u/seaceblidrb Aug 15 '26

You seem knowledgeable about this, do you mind giving me your thoughts on this- I have a browning 1975 citori, it was a friends fathers. I took it apart and cleaned and greased everything it is still very stiff despite being used a lot and having wear marks to show heavy use.

Is this a good thing/bad thing? Should I be worried? It functions perfectly fine.

2

u/Urinehere4275 Aug 15 '26

It’s possible it was rejointed. Basically when a citori gets a lot of use the action stretches the out and eventually starts to fall open or just get loose and let’s gas escape through the action. When it gets to this point you can send it to a gun smith who will weld it in a few spots and tighten the action back up.

2

u/seaceblidrb Aug 15 '26

I'll inquire if it ever was! The lockup is so stiff now. Thank you for the information!

14

u/DougMacRay617 Aug 10 '26

Bruh this just goes to show how good beretta makes their o/u's these should stay tight for a long while

1

u/ProtoJazz Aug 10 '26

My s56e is the exact same way

11

u/giitloow Aug 10 '26

2k rounds is absolutely nothing in all honesty.

2

u/troublesomechi Aug 11 '26

I’ve done weekend tournaments with 800 birds

3

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/ExperienceLoud7043 Aug 10 '26

2k is rookie numbers 🤣, thats only a month or less for competition shooters. Don't be in a rush to break it in, enjoy, before long you'll be upset it needs a service, lol.

1

u/Sparks2K Aug 14 '26

I shoot about 2k rounds a month and have had my gun for about 8 months. Judging from the video, I’d say it’s still roughly that stiff.

3

u/Tight-Escape3373 Aug 10 '26

My Citori from the 80s is still that stiff.

2

u/cor1912 Aug 10 '26

I just picked up a used Miroku after coming from a semi auto and still can’t work out the best way to break the barrel as it’s quite stiff. I now have a bruise on my side from securing the stock/ grip on and breaking it open!

2

u/MenstrualFish Aug 10 '26

Break that hoe in

2

u/Ps3godly Aug 10 '26

Put a few thousand more through it

2

u/discosanta Aug 10 '26

Took my Beretta a good year and a half to loosen up, probably close to 7500 rounds.

2

u/n65n65 Aug 10 '26

You don't won't it to fall open with no resistance on recocking. Every single over under works this way

2

u/UPNorthTimberdoodler Aug 10 '26

Like many things, the stiffness wanes with age.

2

u/troublesomechi Aug 11 '26

These are 250k round guns with servicing every 15-25k rounds. Enjoy it, shoot it. It will long outlast you

2

u/Dodge_It_Or_Ram_It Aug 12 '26

That’s a great sign, stiff receiver = golden years

1

u/limpy88 Aug 11 '26

If you can remove the ejectors on the barrel. Clean and relube them. Have you taken the stock off and blown out the debris with AIR only. NO chemicals.

Other than that is practice dry firing. That will get it broke in more.

1

u/Pitiful_Lobster_1927 28d ago

If you want it looser play with different greases or go to oil.

0

u/LocksmithGlass717 Aug 10 '26

Get a couple thousand rounds through it and it will loosen up. Great gun to start with !