hawg
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Look for a burr in the hand slot. Hand could be too short.
Pietta 1851 Colt Navy
- Thread starter kje54
- Start date
Thanks.
I took it back apart, ran a super fine file down the hand slot and used 400 grit sandpaper on all the internals again and that helped even more. I just checked out the hand function and I may have discovered the problem. Where the hand actually "comes out" of the frame the brass has a rough casting edge I didn't see before. I think this is pushing the hand up a little higher than it's supposed to. I'll take it back apart and file that down. Again thanks for (hopefully) pointing me in the right direction. Besides my thumb is getting sore from cocking the hammer constantly........
Jackrabbit1957
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It's most likely the combination spring is weak or cracked. The other possibility is the hammer notch is damaged or miscut. The sear on the end of the trigger could also be damaged. Either way it's got to come apart to find the trouble.
.38 Special
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I've noticed a trend, around here, toward starting a thread about a problem and then angrily rejecting all advice. I'm not sure whether to start calling it out, or just sit back and enjoy the show.Yet you don't know what the problem is!! I could tell ya ( so could Jackrabbit1957), but why ruin it !!! (you're the one asking, a little "dignity" would go a long way . . .)
Mike
I filed that rough edge and it helped a little more. You're most likely right about the combo spring being weak. Also there is a tiny bit of back and forth (front to back) play with the cylinder. I did some really fine filing on the arbor head (smoothing it out) and that seems to have helped immensely. I think it can use a little more but what do you think?
red rick
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IMO it is mine once I commit to filing on a new item and altering it trying to fix it myself and failing .
And that is indeed an aspect of my internal debate. The unknown is if I return it will DGW send it back to Pietta as defective or just pawn it off on some unsuspecting soul. Basically I'm just thinking out loud.
45 Dragoon
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or, you could just shorten the hand.
The hand is too long. Cyl is locked up before you reach full cock. That's why it works fine with the cyl. out.
The hand is too long. Cyl is locked up before you reach full cock. That's why it works fine with the cyl. out.
Jackrabbit1957
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That's a very valid point Mike! That's why you get paid the big bucks! Has the OP tried rotating the cylinder after it's cocked? I like to see a tiny amount of play after lock up...just barely enough to feel. A few light strokes with a file will get that taken care of. If you go too far then you alter the timing and the cylinder won't be locked at full cock.
No play at all in the cylinder when hammer is at full cock.
45 Dragoon
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Classic example of hand too long. There should be slight play at full cock ( thumb off the hammer).
Jackrabbit1957
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Mike you hit it right on the hand! There's a burr on the hand where it contacts the ratchet. If the hand is shortened to the bottom of that dent on the end that turns the cylinder it should be good.
I've been filing the hand down with a finish file a tiny bit at a time. This last time gave me just a minuscule amount of cylinder play. I still have to pull the hammer back with a tad more than normal force though not as much as before. I'm distinctively hearing the three clicks where as before the third click was almost un-noticable.
Awesome, Thanks guys!!
Awesome, Thanks guys!!
Oh wait, the movement was with the hammer dropped...... Oops! Still not moving with the hammer at full cock. Probably just a tad more filing. By the time I'm done I'll be able to take this apart and put it back together in my sleep......
I have it now to were there's cylinder movement but it's barely perceptible. Might have to take just another half a hair off.
There is one other potential issue, if I'm even touching the trigger when I cock it it doesn't lock back, it's that much of a hair trigger.
There is one other potential issue, if I'm even touching the trigger when I cock it it doesn't lock back, it's that much of a hair trigger.
OS/N
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I went to 38super length cases w/ 130grn 375 heeled bullets and 16grains of 2f black is a stiff load in my 61 steel frame. FPS is 750fps from 8" barrel around the old 38 Colt Long numbers with the early conversions. I have a older brass frame 51 but just leave it on the peg board for decroration.
Ammo takes awhile to make and is for kicks only but I try to keep 18rnds loaded to shoot when company comes by to shoot or for when things get slow around the reloading shack and I get in one of those good, bad, and ugly moods.
Its cool around the range to show off with in front of the glock guys when they need to see what a real handgun looks and shoots like just before the Ruger NV in 45C is brought out and puts them to shame.
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