Disk-set Strikers: I am having trouble with the strikers “sticking” in the primer and apparently causing enough drag to make opening the rifle difficult. The rifle is a “working class” English DR in .470NE. I am shooting factory Federal ammo which chrographs at just under 2000 fps (26 inch barrel).

After I fired the first two rds I had to “smack” the barrels to open them, it was very obvious that the left hand striker was a little proud. I was surprised how hard I had to push this striker (with the nose of my Leatherman) to force it rearward.

I have removed one striker (the right hand), the striker was pitted on its forward seat, and there were also scratches on the inside of the disk, which together caused the striker to stick. We have polished the striker and disk, it now appears to be free and smooth, but have not retested. The second disk has refused all our efforts to unscrew so far.

The seller assured me they had test fired this rifle and she was ready to hunt Cape Buffalo, so understandable I am not amused, but that is an issue I do not wish to discuss publicly at this time.

My question for other users of old English DR is this: The seller tells me that it is normal for the strikers of these old rifles to stick on modern primers which are softer that the old ones. Any one else experience this? If so it hardly makes sense for these rifles to still be used against DG!

John