troubleshooting a single action revolver

Contest void where prohibited by law. Lighter bullets usually shoot higher at practical sixgun ranges of 15 to 25 yards. The most common drag line is between the cylinder stop notches, either as a set of six short lines or a continuous ring around the entire diameter, but can also be found in other locations. As the trigger is pulled further the hand rotates the cylinder counter-clockwise (in a S&W). In DA mode, you start the trigger pull which due to a minor miracle of cams, springs and timing starts to move the cylinder stop out of the notch on the cylinder, preparing it to be able to rotate. Can You Use Wadcutter Ammunition for Personal Defense? When I asked him why he was selling his sixgun, he said it was because it went off in his holster. When the hammer is on the safety notch, three things should be true: Failure on any of these points indicates that something is wrong with your SAA. But single actions don't go off by themselves--someone has to physically cock the hammer, which this fellow apparently did while practicing fast draw with live ammunition. A video showing how to shoot using a single and double action gun: We offer customization and repair on the following hand guns: 1911 Colt , 1911 Springfield, 1911 Kimber, 1911 Kahr Auto Ordnance, 1911 Smith & Wesson, 1911 Style Para Ordnance Double stack,1911 Style Para Ordnance Double Stack and Single Stack LDA . Another potentially dangerous single-action ploy was the art of fast draw itself. The design is meant to keep the firing pin from protruding through the recoil shield and potentially contacting the primer of a cartridge. Box 1926, Escondido, CA 92033. This frees the cylinder without having to cock the hammer. There are a few problems encountered with the Starr revolver. However, every case is different and an inexperienced attempt to function check an SAA could result in serious bodily harm to yourself or others. That means if any one of those little parts is slightly out of spec, the whole thing is compromised. I am opposed to ignorant people perpetuating stupid myths about revolvers, like the idea that they are immune to any type of malfunction or that they dont have to be cleaned or maintained, or that having fewer rounds on board somehow imparts a supernatural calm upon the user so they always take more careful aim than those reckless semi-auto shooters. Unlike portable single-action guns, double-action weapons are quite long and heavy, weighing around 9-10 lbs. Too many years of carrying a duty gun in the same spot makes it feel natural and comfy. Chances are good, too, if youve read this far, youd enjoy our DIY Guns special edition book. Most loyal handgun owners fall into one of two camps, as there are pros and . 45 Colt, 44 . Jul 12, 2016 (Edited) You may have a tight cylinder to forcing cone gap and when the crud builds up on the cylinder face or forcing cone due to shooting, it can cause a binding action. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if needed) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. Smith & Wesson is first to create a production revolver in the popular .350 Legend cartridge. However, if you don't mind changing the contour of the front-sight blade (as many 19th century shootists did, much to the chagrin of today's collectors), elevation can be raised by carefully filing down the front-sight blade. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. There is a simple technique in the proper loading of the SAA. As with handling any firearm, proceed with extreme caution. If it was 100 percent rigid it would soon wear and would be difficult to keep in time.. Colt Peacekeeper Revolver. No substitutions or transfers to a third party are allowed. Taurus 66. The final click is actually two clicks at once, as the cylinder stop engages the cylinder at about the same time as the full cock notch engages. It usually rides in a holster mounted to the door of the truck I drive to check cows and mend fences as well as anything else that needs to be done on the place. This is all timed to have just nudged the next chamber in line with the forcing cone (where the bullet enters the barrel). In the early years, fast-draw specialists such as Arvo Ojala and Rod Redwing made their livings--and reputations--by instructing actors--and, indirectly, the public--in the forgotten skill of sixgun shooting. All Rights Reserved. The reference was that the 19th century cowboys knew enough to keep one cylinder empty. On the other hand, powerful calibers like the .44 Magnum and .45 ACP can have a significant recoil, and the revolver can be quite long. A dirty extractor star can interfere with the rotation of the cylinder, interrupting the cycling of the revolver. I am not opposed to revolvers. Now, Ruger has really good customer service in my experience. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. That began to change in the 1950s with the small-screen phenomenon of TV westerns and the subsequent fast-draw craze. $499.95. Ive transitioned to the Springfield Hellcat as my daily carry gun and its proving to be everything I expected. (II) Limit one entry per household. After cleaning it, I recommend lubricating the moving parts with a dry lube, such as Sentry Solutions Smooth-Kote, to help reduce friction without collecting dirt. Found on the exterior of the SAA cylinder, drag lines are caused by unwanted rubbing or contact against the cylinder during rotation normally caused by dirt or debris. Maybe the hand is too thin (means it cant push the ratchet around enough) so the chamber isnt quite aligned and the cylinder hasnt turned far enough to allow the cylinder stop to snick into the notch. Even worse, it could hit the primer while the bullet is positioned to strike the edge of the barrel throat instead of straight on, causing the gun to explode in the shooter's hand. On the other hand, single action revolvers do not have a cylinder that swings out. by George Harris; posted on May 28, 2018 . With a choice of 357 Magnum or 38 Special +P, the Taurus 66 is a versatile 7-shot revolver that features comfortable rubber grips and a deep, lustrous finish. Layne12gun said: First off you have a 686 + PRO Series. Check the sear tip and the hammer notch to make sure there is no buildup there, then relubricate the action. Installing the hand in the Single Action is pretty much the same as in any other Colt revolver The hand has two points of contact.The upper point starts the cylinder on its journey of one sixth of a complete cycle and, because the hand moves in a perpendicu-lar plane and the cylinder moves in an arc of a circle, the upper point looses its hold . With 20% less hammer travel distance, the Uberti KL CMS ensures the transition from one round to the other is as brief as possible in a single action revolver. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: American Handgunner Magazine, GOM Mar/Apr 2023, P.O. . It means you can expect the trigger to cock the hammer and fire at once. California Compliant Handguns. THANKS! Pietta 1863 Pocket Remington Parts Starting at $4.25. R. Or the hand will push the cylinder to align the next chamber but the stop wont snick into the right bolt notch in the cylinder. Single actions derive their name from the fact that they can only be fired by cocking the hammer and squeezing the trigger one shot at a time, whereas the double action can be fired in the same manner as the single action or simply by squeezing the trigger to fire - hence "double action.". An audible click on the clockwise rotation indicates that the cylinder didn't fully advance to the appropriate stop. 6) Release trigger, click and hammer should not move. When it was my turn to own and shoot the old Ruger Flat Top Blackhawk 44, the grips were so loose they'd wiggle on the frame quite a bit, so I had to figure out how to fix loose revolver grips. The most notorious was "fanning" a single action, in which the hammer was slapped back with the off hand while the gun hand kept the trigger depressed. For each single trigger pull, the gun is performing two actions, and that's why it's called "double" action. Once back together and function-checked, the revolvercoupled with quality ammunition and periodic maintenanceshould be as reliable as it ever was. A single action comes with its own set of guidelines comprising some very basic but often critical do's and don'ts. (II) Limit one entry per household. This is true for single-action wheel guns and double-action, for centerfire and. The German Walther, introduced in the late 1920s, was the first double-action model. The Bounty Hunter is a traditional 6-shot revolver with traditional resting notch, and it also has a transfer bar and recessed chambers for safety. Grip the double-action revolver high as possible on the frame. Details in the video, or scroll down for the full transcript (along with a few additional comments and links those lazy video watchers wont ever see). Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. While, in theory, a live round could be kept under the hammer set on the safety notch, the best practice for revolvers not equipped with a transfer bar or similar safety device is to leave an empty chamber in line with the hammer until shooting is just about to begin. Single-Action Revolvers: $80.00: FIT NEW STOCKS: Labor charge per firearm (does not include parts and shipping) Shotguns - Pistol grip only (straight stocks and 28 ga. not available) $50.00: No. RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. Overtravel Screw (S&W K, L or N frame Revolver) $35.00: Check / Repair Timing (Parts not included) $75.00: Repair Endshake (Parts not included) $50.00: Bob hammer with action job . In the video below, I describe yet another revolver failure I recently encountered. You'll have to experiment to find out which bullets your gun prefers, not just for point of impact but for group size. A little more information would be helpful. Again, it is important to keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction and fingers away from the trigger, particularly if there is live ammunition in the gun. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. Otherwise, when the gate is snapped shut the cylinder bolt will rise up against the cylinder rather than into the cylinder notch. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: American Handgunner Magazine, GOM DIY 2022, P.O. Troubleshooting a single action revolver has less steps compared to troubleshooting a double action revolver. (I) Giveaway ends May 31, 2023. On the other end of the cylinder, a bullet may have come loose or been loaded too long, thereby protruding just enough to exceed the barrel/cylinder gap and bind on the forcing-cone end of the revolvers barrel. Overall Length. As handguns evolved, double actions and semiautomatics began appearing in more holsters. Contest open to U.S. residents only. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. As the hand is pressed further out and up through that window by the trigger pull, the very tip (on the left side, looking forward toward the muzzle) pushes against a cog on that ratchet. Page #1. Available barrel lengths are 4.75, 5.5, and 7.5 inches, and calibers offered include .357 Magnum, .44-40, and .45 Colt. As the ratchet cogs wear or the hand or the trigger or the cylinder stop and other things that delicate set of events can get out of time. The cylinder might start to turn before the stop gets withdrawn. * * A primer that fails to go off. Barring aftermarket alteration, this procedure would be applicable to all major variants of the SAA, such as the Bisley, Buntline, Flattop and others, as well as faithful reproductions made by a number of firms both foreign and domestic. An American-made, single-action classic that pays homage to the Old West. Failure to produce an audible click at each stop, too many clicks, or other noises produced during cocking are all signs of possible damage. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. I have a third-generation .45-caliber Colt SAA that prints 1 1/2-inch groups with 225-grain Winchester silvertips; needless to say, those are the only cartridges I use in that gun. The single action revolver has been around for over a century. I've been offered one in 44 Russian with a 3-digit serial & lots of pitting. My Revolver Stopped Revolving. My guess is that a thorough cleaning along with a little lubrication would put your revolver back in reliable working order.