troubleshooting a single action revolver

In this way, a number of rapid-fire shots could be fanned dramatically faster than thumb-cocking the hammer and pulling the trigger for each shot. Thats where a gunsmith might need to take a look at the revolver, unless you are comfortable with detail disassembling and reassembling the pistol. I mean, put it in a box and mail it to the men with tools kind of problems. A failure in these tests on one or two chambers suggests that the problem is with the SAA cylinder, with an individual stop notch or tooth on the sprocket experiencing wear or damage, but a failure on all chambers suggests that the problem is in the guts of the revolver instead. The transfer-bar system is a safe consistent type of action that finally addressed the problems of revolver safety. Add to Cart. He said looking at the diagrams didnt explain how a revolver times or how to identify an issue and then repair it. Lot 2466: David Harris Engraved 1st Generation Colt SAA Revolver with examples of drag lines. Easy to Troubleshoot- solving a malfunction with a revolver is a lot . This will create an obstruction and may blow u. 2023 Rock Island Auction Company. Relationships undernea Troubleshooting a single-action and a double-action revolver th constructivism are merchandise of historic strategies and interaction. The .454 Casull took that title and when Freedom Arms in Wyoming started making revolvers, I had to have one. Contest void where prohibited by law. Its chock full of how-to gunsmithing tips and tricks. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Double Action Conversions remove single action mode. Robert Adams is the patent of the first double-action revolver, who invented this type of trigger in 1851 to fire at a greater rate than any single action gun does. No purchase necessary. The current report shows that most guns are single-action. Overall Length. My Revolver Stopped Revolving. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. The first is the cylinder stop clicking against the cylinder as its released by the sear cam on the trigger as the cylinder turns. Last year I did a video on the pros and cons of using a revolver for self-defense and in that video I listed several types of revolver failures that I had either experienced myself, or had witnessed at the range. However, there are a few other factors to consider, too. The extra steps for troubleshooting the double action lie in its design, having to work the hammer through use of the trigger. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. On the other end of the cylinder, a bullet may have come loose or been loaded too long, thereby protruding just enough to exceed the barrel/cylinder gap and bind on the forcing-cone end of the revolvers barrel. Did the very first SAAs have a recoil plate in the recoil shield? But you know whats not cool? But if your single action is shooting high rather than low, you will either have to use heavier bullets, employ Kentucky windage or invest in the more costly option of having a gunsmith build up the front blade (a higher blade will lower your shots). Double Action Series 90-380 & 9MM Auto Pistols. Contest open to U.S. residents only. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. And that all wears out. I also asked Mitch to toss in a container of his Leather Lightning which is applied to the inside of the rig using a finger or small piece of paper towel. At one point, he asked if he could look at the pristine third-generation .44 Special Colt singe action I was packing. Revolvers fail, too. The second is the click as the stop slips back home into the next notch on the cylinder. This, of course, is to preclude any chance of the gun going off should it be accidentally dropped. Typically, this was only done using blanks in tandem with specially designed metal-lined holsters (which did not exist in the 19th century) made by craftsmen such as Ojala, Andy Anderson, Dee Woolem and, years earlier, Ed Bohlin. Being able to hear a fifth click suggests that one or the other has gone a bit out of order. As the ratchet cogs wear or the hand or the trigger or the cylinder stop and other things that delicate set of events can get out of time. The cylinder might start to turn before the stop gets withdrawn. That, of course, is a totally erroneous statement. It is far easier to remove metal than replace it. Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association, Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. Hammer Women Of Distinction Award, Women's Wildlife Management / Conservation Scholarship, National Youth Shooting Sports Cooperative Program, Examining .44-Special Revolvers for Personal Defense. Trigger on your trigger finger's first joint. Since the 1800s, explorers and dangerous game hunters navigating the African bush have trusted their lives to the double rifle. A little tap or two on the cylinder with a rubber mallet while applying maximum pressure on the cylinder release might be necessary to free it from the frame. All Handguns subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Letting the hammer down in a harsh or uncontrolled fashion is sometimes a cause of excessively worn or damaged notches and should be avoided. Contest open to U.S. residents only. Scott Rupp and Richard Nance correct some common shooting advice. IF you value safety, because a gun with a long DA trigger for the first pull and a safety is going to be the safest type of gun to safety. If anything, I have an irrational bias in favor of revolvers and thats why I talk about them so often. If you are a novice in the world of guns, this guide to the differences between Single Action Vs Double Action is for you. Sort By. The double-action (DA) revolver uses a long pull of the trigger to cock the hammer, rotate the cylinder and fire the piece. I cant prove that Im telling the truth about having seen a bunch of broken revolvers (except for these two). I got my first single action as a birthday gift to myself back in January, a 10-shot Pietta 1873 in .22 LR with a 4.75" barrel. If you have taken the sideplate off of a Smith & Wesson, you know it looks like the guts of a 19th century clock threw up in there. Otherwise, when the gate is snapped shut the cylinder bolt will rise up against the cylinder rather than into the cylinder notch. Once the hammer is checked, the cylinder comes next. This frees the cylinder without having to cock the hammer. Its totally non-functional. Installing the hand in the Single Action is pretty much the same as in any other Colt revolver The hand has two points of contact.The upper point starts the cylinder on its journey of one sixth of a complete cycle and, because the hand moves in a perpendicu-lar plane and the cylinder moves in an arc of a circle, the upper point looses its hold . With these New Model Rugers, the cylinders may be filled with a full complement of six rounds, as the transfer-bar system prevents the hammer and firing pin from coming in contact with a cartridge unless the trigger is fully depressed--which can only happen once the hammer is brought to full cock. Colts use essentially the same process but as the trigger is pulled all the way it also forces the hand up hard, pressing against that cog and forcing the cylinder to hold still. Many of the rules that stemmed from the original 1873 Single Action Army changed in 1973 when Ruger brought out its transfer-bar system. The Best Revolver in the World [2020 Update], the pros and cons of using a revolver for self-defense. The first revolvers were single action, making this the oldest revolver design. My guess is that a thorough cleaning along with a little lubrication would put your revolver back in reliable working order. While, in theory, a live round could be kept under the hammer set on the safety notch, the best practice for revolvers not equipped with a transfer bar or similar safety device is to leave an empty chamber in line with the hammer until shooting is just about to begin. Once you have the windage adjusted, it is a simple matter to learn just how much front sight you should allow to peek over the topstrap to compensate for elevation. 11. tment on a fixed-sight SA is, if your gun is shooting to the left, turn the barrel to the left, which leans the front-sight blade slightly in that direction and consequently redirects the bullet strike to the right. R. Now, let me add some context. www.mitchrosen.com. For: 1885_single_shot.pdf, 1885 High-Wall Rifle Black Powder Revolvers Instruction Manual (292.32 KB) For: 1847 Walker Revolvers, 1848 Dragoon Revolvers, 1849 Pocket Revolvers, 1851 Navy Revolvers, 1858 New Army Revolvers, 1858 New Army Target Carbine Revolvers, 1860 Army Revolvers, 1861 Navy Revolver , 1862 Police Revolver , 1862 Pocket Navy . While the SAA hammer check is performed, be mindful of the mainspring; looseness or excessive resistance both indicate trouble, the former from a badly worn, broken, or absent mainspring, and the latter a mainspring that is losing ductility, which could potentially become brittle and break during operation. Troubleshooting a single action revolver has less steps compared to troubleshooting a double action revolver. Colt Colteer 1-22 Operating Instructions and Safety Manual. The one we will be covering here is one of those. And mechanical devices tend to break. Additionally, when shooting at ranges that hover around 25 yards with barrel lengths of 4 3/4 and 5 1/2 inches, only about half of the front-sight blade should rise above the rear-sight groove; with 71?2-inch barrels, just the top third of the front-sight blade should be showing. The double-action revolver has served as a good choice for a defensive handgun for more than 100 years. Richard Nance shows off this easy to carry flashlight from Streamlight. Add to Cart. This idea of basic function checks" as an assessment of fundamental mechanical operations has been discussed before, however, due to limitations in facilities (absence of a firing range), Rock Island Auction Company cannot always guarantee complete functionality. [Part 2]. Typically, when loading and unloading a traditional Colt-style single action, the hammer is brought to half cock, which frees the cylinder and allows it to rotate clockwise, thus bringing each of the chambers in line with the open loading gate. If you then gently rotate the cylinder counter-clockwise, you may get it to turn a tiny bit and youll hear the stop click home. You either did it correctly or ended up literally shooting yourself in the foot, or worse. A single-action firearm is one that can only be fired when you cock the hammer and squeeze the trigger, as this is the only action possible to fire it. In today's episode of "I Carry," we have a Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Metal pistol with a Holosun EPS Red2 red-dot sight carried in a KSG Armory Lexington IWB holster. The design is meant to keep the firing pin from protruding through the recoil shield and potentially contacting the primer of a cartridge. Used Handguns [+] Muzzleloaders. Chris Baker. THANKS! Check the sear tip and the hammer notch to make sure there is no buildup there, then relubricate the action. Can You Use Wadcutter Ammunition for Personal Defense? To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. The trigger does both the cocking and firing of the gun for the double action. Colteer 1-22. In the video below, I describe yet another revolver failure I recently encountered. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. Colt Double Action Revolvers Manual. A dirty star can also interfere with the hammer operation by preventing the round from being properly seated against the cylinder. Revolvers fail, too. 3.5 inches. By following these steps, a proper understanding of the functionality and aesthetic of the firearms can be deduced to determine if any further restoration, maintenance, or cleaning is needed. (II) Limit one entry per household. Pietta LeMat Revolver Parts Starting at $4.25. * * A primer that fails to go off. 6) Release trigger, click and hammer should not move. If you cock the hammer the same series of events occur and indeed, things should time correctly both ways if the gun is timed right. Contest open to U.S. residents only. If you clear your revolver then very slowly and carefully pull the trigger in DA mode, you can hear two distinct clicks (or at least you should). To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. Pistols. This rare Colt SAA revolver is only one of four shipped personally to Bat Masterson. My favorite myth is that revolvers are inherently more reliable because they are mechanically less complex than semi-autos. The trigger is then pulled, rotating the cylinder to the next chamber and cocking the hammer (B . Shooting a single-action revolver is much the same, although some would argue that there is no inherent skill needed, once you know the fundamentals of handgun shooting in general. Any time one thing moves, everything else moves. In the interest of showmanship, however, a number of improbable--and impractical--techniques were exploited during the television western/fast-draw era of the '50s and '60s. No substitutions or transfers to a third party are allowed. Taurus 605 Black 357 Magnum / 38 Special Revolver . H&R 922 repairs. When it was my turn to own and shoot the old Ruger Flat Top Blackhawk 44, the grips were so loose they'd wiggle on the frame quite a bit, so I had to figure out how to fix loose revolver grips. What follows is a basic procedural rundown on function checking a Colt Single Action Army (SAA) revolver. No purchase necessary. Single Action (SA)- in a single-action revolver, the hammer is manually cocked, usually with the thumb of the firing or supporting hand. Yet, it is still possible to scar the cylinder if you do not manually align the flutes on either side of the topstrap before shutting the loading gate. Additionally, revolvers chambered for this small round are compact and lightweight as well. Items 1 - 24 of 938. However, every case is different and an inexperienced attempt to function check an SAA could result in serious bodily harm to yourself or others. Maltz, Oklahoma City. Associated taxes and fees will be the responsibility of the winner. The .22lr is the smallest caliber and easiest to shoot, allowing good control of the gun. This allows the Model 85 to be cocked first with a . It deserves a spot on the list of stack-and-a-half micro 9 millimeters. Box 1926, Escondido, CA 92033. Take the sideplate off and spray the action with aerosol gun wash or non-chlorinated brake cleaner. With the muzzle up and vertical, pull the trigger. Even worse, it could hit the primer while the bullet is positioned to strike the edge of the barrel throat instead of straight on, causing the gun to explode in the shooter's hand. The Hand or pawl (red arrow) and the cylinder stop (green arrow) work together to (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if needed) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. Subscribe to the weekly Rock Island Auction newsletter to receive new gun blogs on the history and handling of popular guns like the M1911, the M1 Garand, and more, and enjoy a steady stream of content related to some of the most unique guns in the collecting pursuit. But single actions don't go off by themselves--someone has to physically cock the hammer, which this fellow apparently did while practicing fast draw with live ammunition. The final click is actually two clicks at once, as the cylinder stop engages the cylinder at about the same time as the full cock notch engages. A hammer that hangs up could result in a later-than-expected discharge, and a cylinder that fails to remain properly locked could cause a misfire as the hammer fails to hit a primer. I read that the very first SAAs were in 44 Russian & 44 S&W American. 9.12 inches. Deployed military should use stateside address. Answer (1 of 7): * Ammunition. revolver loaded with Alliant 2400 and a cast Keith-style bullet as my go-anywhere, do-anything gun because it had always functioned fine and was totally reliable. Once back together and function-checked, the revolvercoupled with quality ammunition and periodic maintenanceshould be as reliable as it ever was. proper notch in the cylinder, locking things in place. With the exception of single actions with adjustable sights, most thumbbusters incorporate a historically correct grooved topstrap and a high-blade, fixed-sight arrangement. Please call for more details. The works of a revolver are very much like those of a mechanical clock. Contest void where prohibited by law. Alternatively, there's also DAO guns, such as the DAO versions of the Beretta 92 and . Contest void where prohibited by law. The most notorious was "fanning" a single action, in which the hammer was slapped back with the off hand while the gun hand kept the trigger depressed. Ill send it to them and Im sure they will fix it and itll be fine. MSRPs are $549 for the brass trigger guard and grip frame and $559 for the blued steel trigger . Next comes the hammer, often posed to us regarding SAA revolvers as how are the clicks? These clicks (known as the four clicks") are a distinctive set of sounds made when drawing back the hammer of the gun from the fully lowered position to the fully cocked position. I will never forget being in a hunting camp with another gunwriter who is a few years my senior. Historic, finest Known "Lot Five" Ainsworth inspected Custer Battle U.S. Cavalry Model Colt SAA revolver with holster and Kopec Gold Seal letter. However--and here is the trick--to lower the hammer from half-cock, it must first be brought all the way back to full cock. This could have just as easily happened to a Smith & Wesson. The Taylor's & Company TC9 comes in 4.75 and 5.5-inch barrel variants. When pressure is let off the hammer, it should not travel a significant distance forward. Continued rotation clockwise indicates that the cylinder rotated too far, and the stop failed to engage the appropriate notch. When this happens: This is what my 43 looked like on its first trip to the range after I fired about five or six rounds. I've been offered one in 44 Russian with a 3-digit serial & lots of pitting. On the other hand, powerful calibers like the .44 Magnum and .45 ACP can have a significant recoil, and the revolver can be quite long. And knowing how to shoot it--and shoot it well--will ensure its immortality well beyond the memory of buckboards and bootlaces and perhaps right up there with bicycles and baited hooks. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. As handguns evolved, double actions and semiautomatics began appearing in more holsters. Once the revolver is open and the ammunition is removed, it would be appropriate to check under the extractor for powder particles, spin the cylinder to see if there are restrictions, then close the cylinder and check the double- and single-action trigger pulls. The Model 85 is seven ounces heavier than the LCR but, unlike Ruger's compact revolver, has a hammer allowing for single-action operation. At this stage, the hammer has not engaged; if released, it will drop back to the half cock (if the trigger is not being held down), the safety notch (if the trigger is not held and the half cock is excessively worn or damaged), or all the way to the resting position (if the trigger is being pulled, or both notches are damaged). Thus, a lost art was rediscovered by a new generation of shooters. "Timing" is a general term for the process occurring when you cock the hammer or pull the trigger in double action mode on a revolver. Double action revolvers typically have a cylinder that swings open when a latch or button is pressed. Revolver Malfunctions: Tips & Troubleshooting. Best Single Action Revolver: Freedom Arms Model 83. Reader Alex Vrenios sent us a note asking to explain revolver timing as he recently had a problem with one of his revolvers having to do with that very topic. If the problem went away, most likely there was something under the extractor not allowing it to seat or the quality inspector in your ammunition-loading process needs to do a better job with primer and bullet seating. Single Action Army Colts never left Hartford if they weren't. Grip the double-action revolver high as possible on the frame. But just take off a little steel at a time. This is a 10 ounce 8-shot 22: Its a pretty cool little gun. Lighter bullets usually shoot higher at practical sixgun ranges of 15 to 25 yards. A more compact version of the classic Hi Power design. So again, Im not trying to slam either of these companies. That is a top of the line Smith Wesson Production gun. Federal's new.30 Super Carry pistol cartridge offers the equivalent of 9mm Luger performance with recoil and muzzle blast comparable with 9mm. Bryce M. Towsley. That means if any one of those little parts is slightly out of spec, the whole thing is compromised. Gapping in Ruger and other Single Action Revolvers: Sometimes on a stainless or nickel plated single action frame, panel grips (not finger groove style) will have an approx . Answer (1 of 10): Revolvers are very reliable. When I asked him why he was selling his sixgun, he said it was because it went off in his holster. by George Harris; posted on May 28, 2018 . It is crafted with a high-quality hard case frame and walnut grip, which give it a stylish and almost antique-like look. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: American Handgunner Magazine, GOM May/June 2023, P.O. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winner(s). Thats why you get a fine drag line on many cylinders. Although I had owned the gun for a number of years, I always carried it in a lined holster and was quite proud of its unmarred condition, even though I had taken it afield many times. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. with some creative gunsmithing since there are no parts available. The Colt Single Action Army revolver and the Winchester Model. A S&W K-Frame has about 58 parts, give or take a few depending on the model, including all the pins and small bits like springs and such. Nonetheless, back in the late 1950s, while competing in a regional fast-draw contest in Buckeye, Arizona, I remember buying a second-generation Colt Single Action from a fellow participant who was walking with a noticeable limp. The one that we usually refer to in discussions of the development of modern sidearms is the Colt Single-Action Army (SAA). The SAA safety notch, which produces the first click, is a short distance back from the resting position of the hammer. In the Dirty Harry era, the .44 Magnum was "The most powerful handgun in the world.". Two of them, actually. S&WCA #2629 Ex-Navy Vietnam Vet. It also comes with one-piece walnut grips. Experts and even those with modest experience will have already mastered its importance. To load rounds, the hammer must be . As the trigger is pressed further, the hand or pawl attached to the rear of the trigger moves upward and forward (due to spring pressure) beginning to poke through a window in the frame on the breech face.

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