by GCA Member Justin Richard

A little background information: Started at Dave’s Gunshop in Lafayette, LA May 2007. Joined the Marine Corps Reserve and hit the Yellow Footprints Dec 1 2007. Finished up my training and rejoined the Gunshop Fed 2009. Dave had been in business since 1988 and in his last few years, before retirement, I learned a few tips and tricks regarding basic maintenance and repair of common firearms, mostly semi-auto shotguns. We have a lot of wing shooters here in South Louisiana. He got out of Gunsmithing and focused more on retail, especially since the market changed so much after the expiration of the 94′-2004 AWB, thank you Clinton. He also hired a couple of gun nuts in their mid 20’s, myself and another, who were in tune with the modern firearms market and could connect with younger potential buyers. The inventory changed here dramatically. More ARs, AKs, striker-fired polymer framed pistols, etc… And the shop grew, it became more successful… Anyway… Lafayette is lacking good gunsmiths. There are two or three in nearby towns, but are always swamped with work or specialize in certain areas of ‘smithing. I decided to address this issue. Having the title “Gunshop” in our name, most people assume we were full a service gunsmithing shop. We did armorer level work, minor repairs and a lot of cleaning! I spent the last few months of 2017 and early this year  liquidating some of my gun collection to purchase the Enhanced Master Gunsmithing Course from AGI. Overwhelming, to say the least, when I received a number of big boxes containing DVDs, books, manuals, tools, machines and much more! Finished the Shotgun portion of the Professional Gunsmithing course on July 9th. July 10th I show up at work to a Turkish-made SXS, model TS 870, with the complaint that the left barrel fires when the action is closed rapidly. How ironic, that same issue was described in one of the text questions! This was the first time I dove into disassembly of a SXS and did it with confidence after studying the AGI course. With the stock removed, I immediately recognized it as an Anson and Deeley design. With the bottom plate removed, I could not replicate the issue. Replace the bottom plate and left hammer would fall when action was closed. Hmmmmmm…. I was stumped. Went back to the test question and there were two correct answers, incorrect sear engagement or not enough sear engagement. Next day at the shop I pulled the sear tail and hammer out of the action. Writing this article I wish I had taken a picture of the sear. The top edge was rounded giving it improper engagement with the hammer notch. Using the 1×30 belt sander that came with the course, I carefully, and admittedly nervously, maintained the sear angle and eliminated the rounded edge. 30 minutes of reassembly and I was ready to test the action. It worked! Closed the action every way I could think of and the hammer never fell. Success! The AGI course was instrumental in the repair of this shotgun. The design, function and repair method of learning is second to none. Not just in the firearms industry, but in all industries.