My Pedersoli model 74 Sharps 45-70 was built in 1997. My dad bought it new at a gun show, and I inherited it from him when he passed. I have put about 2000 rounds through it while enjoying the learning process involved handloading BPCR.
This morning the action suddenly became greasy smooth. The trigger guard, which normally snaps hard closed after the cartridge is loaded, acted like it didn't want to stay closed. When opening the action to retract the spent case, which normally requires the effort you would expect when overcoming an over-center lock, the breechblock just fell open with almost no effort. Is there a spring in there somewhere I broke?
Load info: 56.0 grains by weight of sifted Goex FFFg, zero compression. Hoch nose pour 459-500 bullet, 20 to 1 lead to tin, 514 grains. Rifle was fired comfortably at 200 yards from a bench with better than average results for me. Nothing exploded, but I quit when I noticed the loosy-goosy trigger guard. Who would I go to if a repair or a replacement part is necessary? Lee Shaver?
Thanks for any input.