troubleshooting a single action revolver

move and lock the cylinder in place correcting timing so they both work together. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. Uberti KL CMS Specifications. An American-made, single-action classic that pays homage to the Old West. Pietta LeMat Revolver Parts Starting at $4.25. In the interest of showmanship, however, a number of improbable--and impractical--techniques were exploited during the television western/fast-draw era of the '50s and '60s. Double Action/Single Action Best for Beginners. We bought this last year and used it in our ballistic gel tests. 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Services available on: S&W K, L & N frame, Ruger GP100, Speed Six & Service Six . It comes in several variations, my . Taurus 66. [Part 2]. When checking the half cock, note the following: Much like with the safety notch, failure at any of these points indicate notable wear or a flat out loss of function of the notch. Gently ease the hammer down, and repeat the process five more times, each time maintaining light thumb pressure and slowly cocking the hammer. No substitutions or transfers to a third party are allowed. Available barrel lengths are 4.75, 5.5, and 7.5 inches, and calibers offered include .357 Magnum, .44-40, and .45 Colt. Being an old time cop, I tend to like to carry on my strongside, right at the right hip. A very high-ride holster, its vertical and set up to hold the butt in tightly and the muzzle off of the hip, which in some designs can really poke at you by the end of the day. TROUBLESHOOTING A SINGLE-ACTION AND A DOUBLE-ACTION REVOLVER 2 Single-action and double action revolvers are two types of revolvers that are used by describe how troubleshooting occurs. 4) Depress the trigger again; hammer will have audible "click" 5) Continue to depress trigger, manually cycle the action and eject the snap cap. What follows is a basic procedural rundown on function checking a Colt Single Action Army (SAA) revolver. Beretta Covert Pocket Classics: The 21A Bobcat and 3032 Tomcat. But you know whats not cool? Thats where a gunsmith might need to take a look at the revolver, unless you are comfortable with detail disassembling and reassembling the pistol. 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. But just take off a little steel at a time. 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. All guns have a story to tell, some are just more interesting than others. Federal's new.30 Super Carry pistol cartridge offers the equivalent of 9mm Luger performance with recoil and muzzle blast comparable with 9mm. 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. As the trigger is pressed further, the hand or pawl attached to the rear of the trigger moves upward and forward (due to spring pressure) beginning to poke through a window in the frame on the breech face. There are times when buying a used firearm, where it's condition that is presented as, may not be totally true. Like most traditional single-action revolvers, the 1873 Cattleman II has fixed sights. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. A single-action firearm is one that can only be fired when you cock the hammer and squeeze the trigger, as this is the only action possible to fire it. The cylinder stop should be disengaged and the cylinder free to rotate in a clockwise manner as viewed from the rear. Maybe the primer is bad, maybe the primer is too hard and the hammer can't dent it enough. My Revolver Stopped Revolving. Its great for any holster thats tough to draw from. revolver loaded with Alliant 2400 and a cast Keith-style bullet as my go-anywhere, do-anything gun because it had always functioned fine and was totally reliable. 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. Which is why so many New Model Ruger single actions have this tell-tale line around the cylinder. It can also do double-duty as a cross-draw worn in front of the off-side hip. $399.95. One of the most noticeable characteristics of a double action handgun is the very long, and . The number of first- and second-generation single actions with broken safety notches is testimony to this. And Im not talking about the kind of problems you can fix in a couple of seconds on the firing line. From 1900-1906 Colt manufactured approximately 46,500 M1877 revolvers, and roughly 58% were chambered in .38 Colt. 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. The mainspring is released and the internal parts are removed by taking out the screws in the frame. I feel like Im starting to sound like a broken record at this point, but Ill probably keep bringing it up until people stop spreading misinformation about revolvers being 100% reliable. In the video below, I describe yet another revolver failure I recently encountered. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. Thus, a lost art was rediscovered by a new generation of shooters. Because of their reliability, durability, and relaxed maintenance, these firearms became insanely popular among collectors and enthusiasts alike as the models became older and older. 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 . To get your revolver back into operation, you have to get the cylinder open and unloaded while keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. In a way, you can't blame him. But I certainly dont hate revolvers. Many things have to happen at just the right micro-instant in . An audible click on the clockwise rotation indicates that the cylinder didn't fully advance to the appropriate stop. As handguns evolved, double actions and semiautomatics began appearing in more holsters. The current report shows that most guns are single-action. Trigger on your trigger finger's first joint. Add to Cart. Maltz, Oklahoma City. I also asked Mitch to toss in a container of his Leather Lightning which is applied to the inside of the rig using a finger or small piece of paper towel. This, in turn, begat the return of the single-action revolver, most notably early replicas from firms such as Hy Hunter and, soon afterward, with Ruger's Single Six and Blackhawk revolvers, followed by Colt's reintroduction of its famed Single Action Army. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. Deployed military should use stateside address. 9.12 inches. This frees the cylinder without having to cock the hammer. This morning, while making my rounds, I spotted a mangy coyote that wasnt in a good way and gave me an easy shot to put it out of its misery. If anything, I have an irrational bias in favor of revolvers and thats why I talk about them so often. Here's a first look. Once back together and function-checked, the revolvercoupled with quality ammunition and periodic maintenanceshould be as reliable as it ever was. Shooting a single-action revolver is much the same, although some would argue that there is no inherent skill needed, once you know the fundamentals of handgun shooting in general. Its a nice gun. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. At one point, he asked if he could look at the pristine third-generation .44 Special Colt singe action I was packing. Oopsie. The responsibility of owning a Colt SAA mirrors that of a fine watch; careful and meticulous steps must be taken to ensure the firearm performs, appears, and feels authentic. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. For a beginner like you, a DA/SA gun may be the best option to go with. The pencil should shoot out the muzzle a little distance upward. Sure, theres YouTube videos on how to fix Carry Up but remember theres also some rubes out there who are advising you to do wrong things. But there are some lessons that even the most experienced (and I use that term somewhat loosely) shooters never seem to learn, as this cardinal sin is committed by many shooters who should know better. were considerably different from a modern revolver. S&WCA #2629 Ex-Navy Vietnam Vet. While I dont have room to go into detail, suffice to say his take on the famous Ruger Redhawk ramps the game up to the very top. This is all timed to have just nudged the next chamber in line with the forcing cone (where the bullet enters the barrel). If the problem went away . A more compact version of the classic Hi Power design. If you cock the hammer the same series of events occur and indeed, things should time correctly both ways if the gun is timed right. What do you think happened and what should I do to restore the reliability of my old standby?R.A. The one we will be covering here is one of those. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. SA revolver triggers perform a single function: releasing the hammer to fire the gun. Most loyal handgun owners fall into one of two camps, as there are pros and . (I) Giveaway ends March 31, 2023. Then bring the hammer to full cock, and when you lower it back down, just like magic it will be resting over an empty chamber. If you clear your revolver then very slowly and carefully pull the trigger in DA mode, you can hear two distinct clicks (or at least you should). Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. Once the revolver is open and the ammunition is removed, it would be appropriate to check under the extractor for powder particles, spin the cylinder to see if there are restrictions, then close the cylinder and check the double- and single-action trigger pulls. Another old-time rule that had to be relearned by a new generation of single-action shooters was to load only five rounds in the cylinder with the hammer resting on the empty sixth chamber. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. then close the cylinder and check the double- and single-action trigger pulls. 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. Deployed military should use stateside address. Lot 2466: David Harris Engraved 1st Generation Colt SAA Revolver with examples of drag lines. And that seems to have made a lot of people unhappy. tment on a fixed-sight SA is, if your gun is shooting to the left, turn the barrel to the left, which leans the front-sight blade slightly in that direction and consequently redirects the bullet strike to the right. Once the hammer is checked, the cylinder comes next. There are a few problems encountered with the Starr revolver. Some people peen the cog which is coming up short, pushing metal toward the hand. 2009-2022 LuckyGunner, LLC. Step 3: The SAA Cylinder. The single action revolver has been around for over a century. 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. Consequently, that provided an ideal place to hide a banknote because there was little chance of anyone claiming it while the gun's owner was alive. It was an axiom of the western frontier that the gunmen who managed to survive weren't always fast but they were usually accurate. You may be surprised at the clover-leaf accuracy some of these single actions are capable of producing. Even having said all of that, I have never intended to imply that revolvers are generally less reliable than semi-autos. When I asked him why he was selling his sixgun, he said it was because it went off in his holster. Any firearm you rely on for self-defense whether its a revolver or a semi-auto or new or old or cheap or expensive it needs to be test fired with your chosen defensive ammo before you trust it to work. Many DA revolvers may be thumb-cocked and fired in single-action mode as well, while others have enclosed hammers and may be fired only in double-action mode. This is the Ultimate Redhawk at every level from what Id easily call the top Ruger shop in the country. Colt Double Action Revolvers Manual. A 1891 production Colt SAA Cavalry Model in near mint condition. For: 1885_single_shot.pdf, 1885 High-Wall Rifle Black Powder Revolvers Instruction Manual (292.32 KB) For: 1847 Walker Revolvers, 1848 Dragoon Revolvers, 1849 Pocket Revolvers, 1851 Navy Revolvers, 1858 New Army Revolvers, 1858 New Army Target Carbine Revolvers, 1860 Army Revolvers, 1861 Navy Revolver , 1862 Police Revolver , 1862 Pocket Navy . A hammer that hangs up could result in a later-than-expected discharge, and a cylinder that fails to remain properly locked could cause a misfire as the hammer fails to hit a primer. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if needed) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. And mechanical devices tend to break. Many of the rules that stemmed from the original 1873 Single Action Army changed in 1973 when Ruger brought out its transfer-bar system. Springfield's XD-M Elite 3.8 Compact OSP 10mm pistol is the perfectcarry companion whether you're facing two- or four-legged predators. Associated taxes and fees will be the responsibility of the winner. 1873 Single Action Great Western II. Color Case Frame$849.00 plus polishing. Its the story of a, In 1873, two of America's greatest gunmakers would unveil the defining arms of the era. Although Colt-style six-shooters (which consequently are really five-shooters) have a first "safety notch" click on the hammer designed to raise the fixed firing pin from contact with the primer of the cartridge under it, no safety should be trusted, as it is merely a mechanical device. A Beginner's Guide. As with any other firearm, taking the time to implement routine inspection and maintenance practices will prevent revolver malfunctions when your wheelgun is needed most. (II) Limit one entry per household. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. . I did a short review video of it a few months ago to go along with a more detailed review from Lounge contributor Spencer Blue. The main difference between the two revolvers is that single-action revolver is a type of revolver where the troubleshooter has to cock the hammer manually so as to rotate the cylinder for each shot. For those of you who may not be familiar with double action only J-frames, there is no reason the trigger should ever be stuck in the rear position like that unless your finger is holding it there. Charcoal Blue Revolver $849.00 plus polishing. With fixed front sights, adjustable rear sights and a custom Single Action/Double Action trigger for improved accuracy and speed, the 66 is the ideal self-defense firearm. The additional elements of semi-automatic operation differ according to whether the firearm is single-action or double-action. You're in luck, Alex, as I just did some repair work for two out-of-time revolvers, a 120 year old S&W Hand Ejector and a modern S&W Model 10. Marc can build on your gun or a supplied gun. www.geminicustoms.com. To unload a double-action revolver, grasp the gun in the right hand and disengage the cylinder latch (A). THANKS! In order to make sure the SAA cylinder hasn't suffered wear or alteration that would affect function, rest a thumb of the off hand against the side of the cylinder, applying light pressure, and then ease the hammer slowly back to full cock. This allows the Model 85 to be cocked first with a . Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: American Handgunner Magazine, GOM May/June 2023, P.O. All Handguns subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. With the exception of single actions with adjustable sights, most thumbbusters incorporate a historically correct grooved topstrap and a high-blade, fixed-sight arrangement. It also comes with one-piece walnut grips. Smith & Wesson 686 Revolver. An innovative way to carry your backup gun. Barrel Length. Nonetheless, back in the late 1950s, while competing in a regional fast-draw contest in Buckeye, Arizona, I remember buying a second-generation Colt Single Action from a fellow participant who was walking with a noticeable limp. The firing pin should not be visible through the recoil shield when viewed from the side with a good light source. Box 1926, Escondido, CA 92033. If you trigger cock, refine your aim upon cocking and break the shot. Revolvers fail, too. When the trigger is pulled, it should move without an excess of force, and the hammer should drop cleanly to the resting position without friction or interference from the other notches, and the cylinder stop should continue to be engaged. Overall Length. Midway has a great series of gunsmithing videos on YouTube and theres one on replacing a worn S&W hand with a few one and fitting it. All Rights Reserved. Unlike portable single-action guns, double-action weapons are quite long and heavy, weighing around 9-10 lbs. If you are a novice in the world of guns, this guide to the differences between Single Action Vs Double Action is for you. The screws in the side of the revolver are removed to free the action. 6) Release trigger, click and hammer should not move. Roy was able to get this one back in time Deployed military should use stateside address. Alternatively, there's also DAO guns, such as the DAO versions of the Beretta 92 and . Thats why you get a fine drag line on many cylinders. It means you can expect the trigger to cock the hammer and fire at once. Can You Use Wadcutter Ammunition for Personal Defense? During this trigger movement, it presses on the DA sear a spring-activated lever on the hammer front which begins to cock the hammer. The first revolvers were single-action designs, but there were many double-action revolvers among the early revolvers. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. By then, the cylinder stop will have snicked into the The hand (vertical metal piece) turns the cylinder by pushing on the ratchet cogs, finally Pietta 1873 Single Action Stainless Steel Parts Starting at $4.25. Oct 26, 2015. It deserves a spot on the list of stack-and-a-half micro 9 millimeters. Or, in other words, theyre involved in timing the revolver. Aside from being dirty from the environment, the ammunition could be a contributing factor as well. With the muzzle up and vertical, pull the trigger. The double action system has more operations to maintain than the single action, and thus has more possibilities to go wrong with its mechanics. Chris Baker. So again, Im not trying to slam either of these companies. The TC9 with a blued finish and nicely checkered wood grips looks really nice. Im not trying to pick on Ruger or tell you not to buy a GP100. Colt Colteer 1-22 Operating Instructions and Safety Manual. RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. Taurus G3XL EDC Compact 9mm Pistol: First Look, 6 Great Revolver Cartridges for Carry and Home-Defense Applications, Buying a Suppressor Is Easier Than You Think, Weak-Hand Shooting Skills Drills: Learning To Shoot With Your Non-Dominant Hand, Taurus G3c Striker-Fired No-Safety Pistol: Review, SCCY DVG-1 RD Striker-Fired 9mm Pistol Includes a Red-Dot Sight, KelTec P50 Blowback Semiauto 5.7x28mm Pistol, 9 Best Pistol Drills to Become a Better Defensive Shooter, Smith & Wesson Model 350 Hunting Revolver In .350 Legend, First Look: Federal .30 Super Carry Pistol Cartridge. An important second step before proceeding is to check the cylinder for drag lines. This will create an obstruction and may blow u. In the video below, I describe yet another revolver failure I recently encountered. Firing a revolver involves 2 steps (cocking then releasing the hammer) so the term "single action" refers to the trigger's solitary role in releasing the hammer. EMF's Great Western II single action revolvers are manufactured by FAP F.LLI Pietta. Colt Peacekeeper Revolver. Colt's Model 1877 Lightning revolver (occasionally confused with its 1884 Lightning pump-action rifle) was the company's first double-action handgun, brought out to compete with the double . Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winner(s). Best Single Action Revolver: Freedom Arms Model 83. Double-action revolvers are available from Smith & Wesson, Colt, Ruger and Taurus on the new and used markets. I reached out to old friend Mitch Rosen of Mitch Rosen Extraordinary Gunleather and he recommended his The Upper Limit or UPL rig. 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. Colt Double Action Revolvers Manual. 1 rifles, M77 Mark IIs, Hawkeyes and 77/22s: $50.00: 10/22s and Mini-14s: $30.00: Stock Refinishing: Not offered as a service: FIT NEW CYLINDERS Contest open to U.S. residents only. By the middle of the 20th century, unlike bike riding or fishing, knowing how to shoot a single action had become relegated to the same fate as knowing how to drive a horse-drawn buckboard or using button hooks to fasten high-topped shoes. Either technique, keep the front sight buried in the target. But regardless, what I hope people take away from this is that no gun is immune to having problems. $10.00. The trigger both cocks the hammer (or striker) of the firearm which prepares for the actual firing to take place and then fires the handgun. Later, German and Italian clones were added to the mix. * An under-loaded cartridge that fails to propel a bullet all the way out of the barrel. As the trigger is pulled further the hand rotates the cylinder counter-clockwise (in a S&W). Being able to hear a fifth click suggests that one or the other has gone a bit out of order. (II) Limit one entry per household. If working properly, the first click should be heard when the safety notch on the hammer engages, the second click when the half-cock notch engages, the third when the SAA cylinder stop pops up to engage the notches (note: the stop pops up before the cylinder has completed its rotation, hence why partial drag lines are found even on otherwise nice SAA revolvers), and the fourth when the hammer reaches full cock and the stop drops into the appropriate cylinder notch near simultaneously. This is the loading position for the SAA, permitting access to each chamber in turn without having to fiddle with the hammer during the process. Firing a double-action revolver in the double-action mode involves first placing the trigger finger on the trigger (A). 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. I promise youll enjoy it. So far, this rig is just what I needed and its both comfy and secure. All modern day single-action revolvers are based . $10.00. The hammer should not move if the trigger is pulled. It is far easier to remove metal than replace it. Traditionally, Kentucky windage was employed to bring the gun on target. But this gun would not go through a whole cylinder without the trigger getting stuck and I would have to manually reset it (Greg Ellifritz encountered an almost identical problem a few years ago with a brand new S&W 351) Fortunately, Smith & Wesson fixed it, no questions asked. The trigger is then pulled, rotating the cylinder to the next chamber and cocking the hammer (B . The gun was priced to be competitive with the Ruger Vaquero, too. 3.5 inches. If youre keeping a gun around as a potentially life-saving device, keep in mind, it is a man-made thing that can fail and you cant trust it to work solely based on the design or the name of the factory it came out of. Once the hammer is checked, the cylinder comes next. A little tap or two on the cylinder with a rubber mallet while applying maximum pressure on the cylinder release might be necessary to free it from the frame. No purchase necessary. Now, Ruger has really good customer service in my experience. While fast draw remains a viable sport, today Cowboy Action shooting, hunting, collectability and nostalgia have widened the single action's legendary appeal. A high primer would cause hard rotation of the cylinder as the cartridge entered the recoil-shield area to align with the firing pin and barrel. Answer (1 of 7): * Ammunition. Barrel / Barrel Underlugs. 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. That, of course, is a totally erroneous statement. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. Items 1 - 24 of 938. I will never forget being in a hunting camp with another gunwriter who is a few years my senior. A failure in these tests on one or two chambers suggests that the problem is with the SAA cylinder, with an individual stop notch or tooth on the sprocket experiencing wear or damage, but a failure on all chambers suggests that the problem is in the guts of the revolver instead. Of those, 12,789 were shipped out blued and sporting a 4-1/2" barrel and an ejector. Revolvers fail, too. As always, begin by confirming that the revolver is unloaded. Its perfectly natural for a S&W cylinder to have a bit of slop (rotational play) at this lock-up. Two of them, actually. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. That is a top of the line Smith Wesson Production gun. Additionally, revolvers chambered for this small round are compact and lightweight as well. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: American Handgunner Magazine, GOM Concealed Carry 2023, P.O.