Five clicks instead of four?

[targetshootr]

I used to know what caused five clicks on a single action instead of the normal four clicks but I have forgotten. Can someone tell me again? Several of my old model Rugers need a click reduction.

 

[BluesBear]

On a traditional single action revolver;

#1 = Sear (trigger nose) passing the safety notch
#2 = Sear passing the half cock/loading notch
#3 = Cylinder stop droppoing into the stop notch
#4 = Sear passing the full cock notch
#5* = Hammer returning to rest against the sear.


*Click #5 usually occurs only when you cock the hammer rapidly.
After the sear has gone past the full cock notch, the hammer will come back slightly to rest againt the sear (trigger nose).

 

[targetshootr]

Thanks Bear. The last click is less noticable but it's there as I pull the hammer back slowly, then the hamer will come forward a little bit before resting. On my Rugers that only have four clicks the action seems to be a little smoother. The fourth and fifth clicks should probably click at the same time and sound like one.

 

[Fastlane]

Thanks targetshootr for asking that question and thank you BluesBear for that very informative answer.

 

[Jim K]

Since the bolt drops into the cylinder leade before it drops into the stop notch, there are actually two clicks caused by the bolt. You can hear this by holding the trigger back while cocking the gun.

On a well tuned SAA, the cylinder will lock just as the hammer hits the backstrap, so the hammer is not trying to force the cylinder around against the bolt, and strain on the hand, ratchet and bolt are minimized.

Jim

 

[targetshootr]

So the hand needs to turn the cylinder a little sooner so the bolt drops at the same .....I think I see now. The hand must be a little too tall or a little too short.

 

[Jim K]

Most factory Colts are timed to drop the bolt somewhere midway between the notches, like the S&W. This causes dimples and unsightly gouges in the cylinder. The timing should be such as to drop the bolt into the cylinder leade (that pointed cut just ahead of the notch itself). At the same time, the bolt spring should be trimmed to reduce its tension; the spring was "feathered" on the old guns, but that was extra work and was dropped when Colt went to stamped out springs many years ago.

The S&W, BTW, is designed to have its cylinder stop drop midway between notches; its spring is light enough that, while the blue is removed, there is no cutting into the cylinder.

Jim