Winchester Model 59 12ga question

Mike Repp

Mike Repp

Well-known member
A while back I inherited a Winchester Model 59 12 ga shotgun. Its the lightest autoloader I have ever seen and the fastest cycling. Great field gun. the barrel is very thin wrapped in glass, atleast thats what I have been told they wrapped it in. This shotgun was supposedly the predecessor to the win lite series. Love this gun. Here's the problem, it sometimes fires the second shell immedeatly after it ejects the first. I dont shoot the gun anymore because of this. Any ideas why it would fire off the second round? Is it a weak firing pin spring? Any help would be appreciated. It was my Grandfathers then my fathers.
 
Have you taken the bolt apart and checked the firing pin spring? Could be a weak firing pin spring, just a guess though. There are more knowledgeable gun guys here than me. Maybe Parks will check in on this one.
 
Trigger disconector.It's a pawl that disconects the trigger when the hammer trips and then is re-set when the action cocks itself. I bet that is the problem. You might try finding an online exploded view and comparing what it's supposed to look like. It may have been disassembled and then re assembled wrong.
 
Lee I have never been able to find any kind of schematic of the gun. I contacted Winchester years ago to try and get a manual and ther file was empty. The girl thought that someone had mailed the last copy. I have suspected that the pawl might be the problem but it doesnt look worn at all. It doesnt happen all the time but just once is enough for me not to trust the gun. Its really too bad because it weighs less than 6 pounds. In talking with the few people who have heard of this model its pretty rare with a very short production run. So parts are pretty hard to locate for it.
 
Robert the firing spring looks ok but then I have nothing to compare it to. It's not kinked and not deformed in any way. It appears to be adequate to keep the fireing pin in place until your ready to fire.
 
See if gunparts distributers has a parts list of it..they used to be called Numrich Arms. Does the sear notch on the hammer look nice and crisp or it it worn and a bit rounded?

I just went there and here is a parts drawing

http://www.e-gunparts.com/productschem.asp?chrMasterModel=0950z59
 
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The sear notch looks nice and crisp doesnt look worn at all. I'll try a google search and see if I cant come up with something. thanks.
 
Lee thank you that sight appears to have all the parts for the gun. My printer died here at home so tomorrow at work I'll print out the schematic and hopefully be able so see it more clearly. I'll probably just replace the trigger parts first and see how that works.
 
I'm betting Lee is right. I'll take apart my Model 50(same gun different barrel) and try to get a picture of what parts it might be.

Tim
 
Tim that would be great! I just had the trigger assembly out if it to try and compare it to the schematic. New problem, when I pull the bolt all the way back in the locked position and hit the release button the bolt gets hung up on the trap door. Have to pull it back slightly then it will go forward. I suspect that something is not quite aligned right. Been a long time since I had this gun disassembled now I have to remember how to break it down.
 
Mike I have a 59 and it has had a few problems caused by unburned (looks like unburned powder?) in the mechanism. I made drawings as I took it apart and still had problems with reassembly. I no longer use it for anything but doves. The barrel is fiberglass over a steel liner. Since it is an old gun I stick to light loads and use ball powder and lead shot.

Frankk
 
They sure are a pain in the a$$ to disassemble and reassmble. I'm not sure that its been assembled correctly, especially since the bolt keeps hanging up. You wouldnt happen to have a manual that shows the correct disassembly and assembly steps? at least then I'll know that I didnt do something wrong in reassembling it. I think the firing of the next shell is do to a warn sear on the trigger itself.
 
I've taken mine apart so many times it actually is fairly easy to put back together. I guess practice make perfect...well at least good because I get that hang up every once in a while also. Did you push the button in when you put the trigger group back in? That is what usually gets me.

Ok the parts.
Number 12 is the hammer catch, there is a number 13 hammer catch spring between it and the trigger(number 50). I've never had to take mine that far apart. 35 is the hammer.

gun1a.jpg

Put your thumb over the hammer, you don't want it to slam forward, and pull the trigger then push the hammer back down.
gun2.jpg

Holding the trigger back all this time it should hook back and hold on the trigger catch.

gun3.jpg

Most likely where parts 12 or 35 meet is the culprit. If not then it could be, but I doubt it, a problem with wear between part 35 the hammer and part 50 the trigger. I would think that would show up in a worse way like firing as so as the safety is taken off.
gun4a.jpg

Jeez, I better get back to cleaning it after looking at that picture. :)

I hope this helps...oh and pm me your email address so I can send you a couple large files that should help with your gun.
I sure love these old Winchesters.

Tim
 
Well I've put the gun back in the safe until I can get my hands on some new parts which I'll order tomorrow. Thanks Lee, Robert, Tim and Frank for your help and suggestions. I knew somone here on the forum would be of help. Tim, Frank if either of you have manuals I'd gladly pay for copies just so I have something in my files. thanks again.
 
Tim finally got a chance to sit with the gun and your pictures above to try and solve some of the problems I have with this gun. The jamming problem took me a while to figure out till I looked at the pictures more closely. I had installed the carrier pawl backwards! Soon as I flipped it around everything worked fine. Now, back to the original problem of firing the second shell when it cycles. I see some wear on the hammer #35 where it meets #12 the catch. The catch holds the hammer as long as I hold the trigger, upon release of the trigger the hammer moves to the cocked position. I am assuming that thats how it should work. Since there does appear to be some wear on the hammer I've gone ahead and ordered a new one. Thanks again for the pictures without them I dont think I would have seen that the pawl was backwards. Lee thanks for the link for parts.
 
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