[Treeman53]

Rebuilding a basket case Winchester model 24 double barrel. Got everything together, and working, with one exception. When I open the barrels, the gun cocks, maybe 4 out 5 times, then the cocking slide will snap past the cocking fingers. I assumed cocking slide was worn, received new one today. Exact same size as the old one. So, I decided to drill and tap a small screw into the end, to allow cocking slide to move further forward. My drill press will not drill into that hardened steel. Any ideas on a fix for this?

 

[Helix_FR]

The problem may lye in the cocking levers. Over use the holes in the levers become worn and rock in position. This is why the cocking slide will fall past them. Remedy is to somehow stabilize the levers. Only way to drill though the hardened steel is to anneal it then drill then re-harden.