- Category : Rifles Centerfire
- Action : Falling Block
- Caliber : 22 Hornet
- Barrel Length : 26"
- Capacity : 1
- Trigger : Double Set
- Safety : Automatic
- OAL : 39.7"
- Weight : 6 lbs
- Stock Description : Walnut
- Metal Finish : Blued Barrel/Case Hardened Receiver
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Lyman, Chiappa mini sharps falling block 22 hornet
I special ordered this gun through a local dealer. When i got the first thing i did was read the entire manual to learn how the set trigger is adjusted. The manual suggested putting the hammer on half cock before loading. I did this faithfully. However I noticed the firing pin would score the cases. The gun fired a total of 25 rounds before it stopped firing. I shipped the gun back to Chiappia with the scored rounds and an explanation of what it was doing. When the gun came back there was no work order explaining what was done if anything. When I cocked the hammer I noticed the hammer spring was considerably stiffer and the firing pin still scored the cases. I was unhappy to say the least. I drafted a letter stating the problems I was having and my disappointment in their service. I shipped it back and my dealer, who is a good personal friend demanded a work order detailing any work that is done. Chiappa had the gun for two and a half months before sending it back. The work order simply stated "fires to factory specs". I was even more displeased with their customer service than I was the first time around. The three year warranty is clearly bogus, so I tried to fire the three rounds that would not fire before and sure enough they fired. This confirmed my my thoughts on the stiffer hammer spring being installed the first time around. My dealer said he could not send the gun back to his dealer but he could sell it for me. The sad part is I really liked the concept of the gun itself so I didn't give up on it. Since the warranty means nothing I pulled the gun apart. Removing the falling block and then the firing pin. The pin hole was packed the brass filings. I measured the overall length of the firing pin and then i began to file. I would file a couple of strokes and then put it back together and test it to see if it still scored the cases. I repeated the procedure until the pin no longer scored the cases. Then I began to shoot it happily. however this was not the end of problems. The little gun began going off from half cock and full cock with touching the triggers. I talked to a friend and he suggested it was an adjustment problem with the set triggers. I went back to the manual and adjusted accordingly. The gun started working fine again. I let my wife shoot it and she fell in love with it. We put a total of probably 300 rounds through it before the gun would no longer latch in the half cock position. I took it to a very knowledgeable gunsmith for the sharps guns themselves. The sear was broken so he replaced it and told me the firing pin should have been hard enough that filing would have been difficult. It was not. I fired maybe a dozen rounds through the gun and it began to discharge from full cock or half cock, once while I was closing the action with the hammer in the half cock position. I adjusted the spring tension screw which worked its way out of adjustment. The next time I went to load it it would not latch in half cock position and the gun went off when i squeezed the set trigger. Finally I am done with this gun. No matter how cute it is or how accurate it is it is not worth accidentally hurting someone or something. Chiappa you make some cool looking firearms, but your customer relations and warranty are in the toilet. I am a very patient man but I have none left for Chiappa.