Jerry11826
Member
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2008
- Messages
- 17
My Dad - has just about given up shooting - he is 92. DOB 04/04/1916. He has given me his two Colt Officers Model revolvers, a .22LR and a .38 Spec. These guns were bought new in the late 1930's. He was an active Bullseye shooter most of his life. They are very nearly perfect.
Until I last month, these guns had not been fired in about 30 - 40 years. Dad had progressed from the .22 to a Colt Woodsman and later to a S&W 41. The .38 was replaced by a Colt National Match, a S&W 52, a Colt Gold Cup and finally a custom fitted 1911A1 made by a local gunsmith.
Asked Dad if it was safe to shoot the old revolvers - his reply was "Hell yes, these were quality guns and were made to be shot". So last weekend we went to the range and fired both pistols quite a bit. The loads for the .38 were light - a 148 Gr. DEWC on 3.0 Grs. BE.
Both pistols were very accurate - 10 ring groups on the standard NRA pistol target at 25 yards off sand bags. The single action trigger break was light and crisp on both pistols.
Now to the point of this post, finally! The double action trigger pull was awful - very heavy with extreme "stacking" at the end of the pull. Asked Dad if the internal parts had ever been cleaned and lubed and he replied No! - the side plates had never been removed.
I would like to disassemble these revolvers, clean and lube the internal parts and see if the double action trigger pull would improve. Don't panic I don't plan to file or otherwise alter anything! Just clean in solvent - lube and reassemble.
The problem is I don't know what is inside a Colt revolver. I can and have disassembled and cleaned my S&W revolvers many times with out problems - but I am afraid of the Colts - have heard too many horror stories about Colt revolver actions. I don't want to wind up with a pile of parts I can't reassemble.
Can anybody suggest a reference / instruction book or offer any suggestions on how to disassemble, clean, lube and reassemble these old revolvers?
Thanks,
Jerry
PS - This is my first post - hope there is someone out there that has done what I want to do!
Until I last month, these guns had not been fired in about 30 - 40 years. Dad had progressed from the .22 to a Colt Woodsman and later to a S&W 41. The .38 was replaced by a Colt National Match, a S&W 52, a Colt Gold Cup and finally a custom fitted 1911A1 made by a local gunsmith.
Asked Dad if it was safe to shoot the old revolvers - his reply was "Hell yes, these were quality guns and were made to be shot". So last weekend we went to the range and fired both pistols quite a bit. The loads for the .38 were light - a 148 Gr. DEWC on 3.0 Grs. BE.
Both pistols were very accurate - 10 ring groups on the standard NRA pistol target at 25 yards off sand bags. The single action trigger break was light and crisp on both pistols.
Now to the point of this post, finally! The double action trigger pull was awful - very heavy with extreme "stacking" at the end of the pull. Asked Dad if the internal parts had ever been cleaned and lubed and he replied No! - the side plates had never been removed.
I would like to disassemble these revolvers, clean and lube the internal parts and see if the double action trigger pull would improve. Don't panic I don't plan to file or otherwise alter anything! Just clean in solvent - lube and reassemble.
The problem is I don't know what is inside a Colt revolver. I can and have disassembled and cleaned my S&W revolvers many times with out problems - but I am afraid of the Colts - have heard too many horror stories about Colt revolver actions. I don't want to wind up with a pile of parts I can't reassemble.
Can anybody suggest a reference / instruction book or offer any suggestions on how to disassemble, clean, lube and reassemble these old revolvers?
Thanks,
Jerry
PS - This is my first post - hope there is someone out there that has done what I want to do!