Peter M. Eick
Member
I have a very nice 8 3/8" pre-27 that has been heavily worked over by a gunsmith at some point in its history. When I got it, I am nearly positive it had never been fired beyond proofing or maybe 1 or 2 cylinder's full (if that). The trigger and hammer have been polished enough to remove the color of the case hardening, the action has been tuned and polished internally completely. The trigger pull is great, sub 2lbs in SA and 7 lbs in DA and crisp, really really crisp. The main spring has been "thinned and tapered" dramatically from the bottom to top.
Now the bad news. The side plate has been polished and the fitting edge was also polished thus there is a distinct gap around the sideplate to the main frame. The assembly numbers all match so I figured what the heck, it is a shooter. As a collector gun its value is shot, but as a shooter, what the heck!
Now the really bad news. This gun will not consistently set off CCI primers in SA mode let alone DA mode. After around 800 rounds, I am starting to get irritated. Yes the tensioning screw is tight if you are wondering and it appears to be the same length as my other pre-27's.
Some smith put a lot of effort into this gun and I hate to bugger it up, but I really enjoy shooting the 8 3/8" gun and it is the first one I have ever seen in pre-27 or Registered fashion.
So, do I replace the spring and call it good? Shim the tensioning screw or some other non-cosmetic change? Switch to Federal's for just this gun? Other ideas?
Now the bad news. The side plate has been polished and the fitting edge was also polished thus there is a distinct gap around the sideplate to the main frame. The assembly numbers all match so I figured what the heck, it is a shooter. As a collector gun its value is shot, but as a shooter, what the heck!
Now the really bad news. This gun will not consistently set off CCI primers in SA mode let alone DA mode. After around 800 rounds, I am starting to get irritated. Yes the tensioning screw is tight if you are wondering and it appears to be the same length as my other pre-27's.
Some smith put a lot of effort into this gun and I hate to bugger it up, but I really enjoy shooting the 8 3/8" gun and it is the first one I have ever seen in pre-27 or Registered fashion.
So, do I replace the spring and call it good? Shim the tensioning screw or some other non-cosmetic change? Switch to Federal's for just this gun? Other ideas?