Cyl-Barrel alignment

[lv2tinker]

I bought a New Uberti 1861 Navy. After cleaning the packing oil/grease out of it took it out to the range expecting to be able to put a few cylinders of powder & ball through it.
Set up a 12" target at 25 yards.
Set up my pistol benchrest, aimed for center mass of the target and touched off a round. No hit. Popped off another round, no hit...
After six rounds I was able to splattered three rounds on the 12" target.
Loaded the Cylinders again and had the same results. Looked like buckshot. (I can repeatedly shoot 2 1/2" groups with my 1858 Remington from a bench rest).

Took it home and cleaned and carefully inspected it. Took the nipples out and put everything back together.
Cocked the hammer and shined a light into the nipple holes. The Picture shows whit I saw.

No wonder I can't hit the broadside of a barn door.
Is this fixable???
What are your thoughts.
Lv2tinker

 

[hawg]

Have you corrected the short arbor? If not take the wedge out and check alignment.

 

[lv2tinker]

Have you corrected the short arbor? If not take the wedge out and check alignment.

I have. Installed a .036 washer to get a .003 barrel cyl gap. Still out of line.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Yes, it can be fixed! The fun part is finding where the problem is. I suspect that it may be this little ridge left in the window the bolt head sticks up through. It can also be a mis cut forcing cone. The bolt head may be too wide as well. Worst case is improper alignment on the cylinder notches. I just did a tune on a new in the box Uberti that was locked up and not turning, typical short arbor, it was one of the roughest new revolvers I have worked on for being new. If you can't get figured out I will be happy to take a look at it.

 

[lv2tinker]

Thanks Jackrabbit1957, but the problem is that the cylinder is sitting too low in reference to the bore by roughly .038" (Just a guess).
I pulled the barrel off and forced a .013 feller gauge between the cyl and frame, forcing the cyl up just a tad and installed the barrel assy to where the frame locating pins just touched the barrel assy and I could push a wooden dial rod into the cylinder.
But as soon as I pushed the barrel assy all the way in & pushed the wedge in it, was back to cyl too low... so my guess is that the arbor is mislocated too low.
I contacted Cimarron Arms as it is one of their firearms that I purchased thru Buffalo Arms Co. but they are not verry helpful.

Hope this helps,
lv2tinker

 

[hawg]

I would send it back.

 

[lv2tinker]

With the cyl-barrel misalinement Do you thank this is safe to shoot?

 

[hawg]

It's safe to shoot but you'll never get any accuracy out of it.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Yes you can shoot it, as Hawg said. It sounds like the arbor was installed off center or possibly the center hole of the cylinder is off center. Good luck on getting Cimarron to warranty it. It's starting to look like Uberti's quality control is slipping. It still can be fixed but it's a bit more involved. Just outta curiosity does the arbor have any wiggle? Try clamping the end of the arbor in a vise and rocking the frame, it should be real solid feeling, if there's any free play at all it's not a good thing.

 

[lv2tinker]

Thanks JR. Just now locked it in my vice. The arbor is a tight fit, no wiggle.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Was almost hoping it had some! Maybe your best bet is to get a hold of a Uberti rep and see about warranty.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Ia ir me?

The cylinder bore looks so small and the barrel diameter so big.

 

[lv2tinker]

It's the phone camera.

 

[4v50 Gary]

OK. Suggest you use a range rod to see if the cylinder & bore are in alignment.

 

[lv2tinker]

I used a wooden dowl rod the exact size of the bore.
It stops when it hits the front of the cyl.

 

[AntiqueSledMan]

Hello lv2tinker,

I personally would take it back and get one which is correct.
Something like that never should have passed inpsection, much less sold to the public.

AntiqueSledMan.

 

[lv2tinker]

I am trying to work with Cimarron to get them to take it back for warrenty repair.
So far it has been VERRRY fustrating.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

They really need to stand behind their product, I stand behind my work, they should too.

 

[lv2tinker]

I agree!!!°

 

[4v50 Gary]

I wonder if the arbor is bent or the hole for the wedge badly drilled? That thing should never have left the factory.

 

[LonesomePigeon]

I've got two guns like that. One is a Santa Barbara Remington .44 and the other is a Colt 2nd Gen 1851 Navy .36. Except on mine the misalignments are to one side not too low.

 

[4v50 Gary]

LonesomePigeon - sounds like the hand isn't carrying the cylinder all the way through its rotation.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

I thought so as well, but the misalignment is top to bottom. The tip of the arbor is low compared to the threaded end.

 

[lv2tinker]

Update: Good news!
Cimarron Arms has just sent me a shipping authorization/UPS Shipping Lable after much haggling. (Lots of paperwork).
Will be shipping it out today.

 

[woodnbow]

They really need to stand behind their product, I stand behind my work, they should too.

I believe I’d stand behind that revolver. Standing beside it you’re going to get peppered with lead shavings…

Glad to hear that they’re making it right.