troubleshooting a single action revolver

Interestingly, much of the credit for relearning the five-shot rule goes to Ruger, which ran an ad during this period showing a single action with the loading gate open and a rolled-up dollar bill stuffed into one of the chambers. With a Colt SAA, there is enough space between the rear of the cylinder and the recoil shield to permit a check for cartridges before adjusting the hammer. It was one of those "love at first sight" guns; all I had to do was hold it to know I wanted it, and the price was right for my limited budget. The .22lr is the smallest caliber and easiest to shoot, allowing good control of the gun. An American-made, single-action classic that pays homage to the Old West. Having trouble seeing a recoil plate. The double-action revolver has served as a good choice for a defensive handgun for more than 100 years. The extractor does double duty. 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. Colts use essentially the same process but as the trigger is pulled all the way it also forces the hand up hard, pressing against that cog and forcing the cylinder to hold still. On the other hand, single action revolvers do not have a cylinder that swings out. As always, begin by confirming that the revolver is unloaded. Barrel / Barrel Underlugs. The grips can be either checkered wood or black checkered plastic. The cylinder should remain locked, no new clicks should be audible, and there should not be an excess of play in the cylinder. An audible click on the clockwise rotation indicates that the cylinder didn't fully advance to the appropriate stop. If not, continue to press smoothly through while keeping the sights on the target. Find it online at fmgpublications.com or on Amazon.com. Continued rotation clockwise indicates that the cylinder rotated too far, and the stop failed to engage the appropriate notch. by George Harris; posted on May 28, 2018 . They continued to pop up on the radar as an extremely affordable, reliable, accurate single action revolver for the hobbyist, trapper or individual who needs a solid 22lr handgun. 3.5 inches. Contest void where prohibited by law. The double action system has more operations to maintain than the single action, and thus has more possibilities to go wrong with its mechanics. This, of course, is to preclude any chance of the gun going off should it be accidentally dropped. The metal lining enabled the hammer to be cocked while the gun was still in the holster. California Compliant Handguns. The gun pictured is the first one sorry folks, its sold! Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winner(s). This allows them to be removed, one by one, from the chambers using the right hand (while the left hand supports the revolver). Its totally non-functional. Rich Nance shows us a drill that helps with target transition and accuracy. Many of the rules that stemmed from the original 1873 Single Action Army changed in 1973 when Ruger brought out its transfer-bar system. Grip the double-action revolver high as possible on the frame. Smith & Wesson is first to create a production revolver in the popular .350 Legend cartridge. It represents one of the fundamentals of gun choice and should be well understood before you enter the gun market. It was presented as JUST needing a trigger spring and the cylinder did not rotate correctly. Colt's excellent Anaconda is no longer in production, but it can be found used and makes for an . If it is the 22 single action does it misfire on both cylinders? A Beginner's Guide. Deployed military should use stateside address. Dad got the old single action 44 Magnum revolver sometime before he ever had me, and he loved that old six-shooter. A single action comes with its own set of guidelines comprising some very basic but often critical do's and don'ts. Is .25 ACP Literally the Worst Self-Defense Cartridge? Derringers. And that all wears out. / Submariner NRA Member | S&W Historical Foundation. There are a number of manufacturers of single-action revolvers, including Ruger, Freedom Arms, Magnum Research, Uberti and Colt. move and lock the cylinder in place correcting timing so they both work together. Double-action or single-action refers to how the gun mechanism behaves when a trigger is pulled. Thus, a lost art was rediscovered by a new generation of shooters. Cylinder & Slide Inc. will customize or repair just about any make of quality revolver or auto. Home Defense Tactical Tips with Manny Mansfield, The Backyard Sniper Lightweight Edition, Why Wont the Ruger Mini-14 Just Die? It not only lifts the empty cases out, but on the face is a very complicated ratchet set. The GUNSLINGER Action Job includes installation of our proprietary gun fighter springs that are guaranteed for life, along with setting your desired trigger pull weight. My point is that revolvers, in general, break a lot more often than most people realize. If you attempt to lower the hammer directly from half-cock, the cylinder chamber will not be lined up with the bore, and when the locking bolt rises up from the frame as the hammer is lowered, it will press against the sides of the cylinder rather than snapping into the cylinder locking notch. I am not opposed to revolvers. Box 1926, Escondido, CA 92033. Rich shows us some kneeling positions here. Last year I did a video on the pros and cons of using a revolver for self-defense and in that video I listed several types of revolver failures that I had either experienced myself, or had witnessed at the range. A noticeable difference between single action vs. double action revolvers is how the shooter loads rounds into the cylinder. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: American Handgunner Magazine, GOM Mar/Apr 2023, P.O. A single action revolver has a light and smooth trigger pull, as it only needs to drop the hammer. The Single-Ten is fitted with a single, unfluted .22 Long Rifle cylinder boasting a 10-round capacity, and is currently available with a 5.5-inch barrel. Failure to produce an audible click at each stop, too many clicks, or other noises produced during cocking are all signs of possible damage. That, of course, is a totally erroneous statement. In the meantime the cylinder stop has slipped off the cam on the front of the trigger and is now pressed against the cylinder by spring pressure, waiting anxiously to drop into the locking notch on the next chamber. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: American Handgunner Magazine, GOM Concealed Carry 2023, P.O. But I certainly dont hate revolvers. The single action revolver has been around for over a century. 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. Typically, when loading and unloading a traditional Colt-style single action, the hammer is brought to half cock, which frees the cylinder and allows it to rotate clockwise, thus bringing each of the chambers in line with the open loading gate. is out of time, or, as S&W calls it, failing to Carry Up.. 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). 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. Add to Cart. (II) Limit one entry per household. Pietta 1873 Single Action Stainless Steel Parts Starting at $4.25. The presence of these particles will not let the extractor seat properly and causes excessive friction against the frame, making the cylinder hard to turn. The screws in the side of the revolver are removed to free the action. Firing a double-action revolver in the double-action mode involves first placing the trigger finger on the trigger (A). 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 . Scott Rupp and Richard Nance correct some common shooting advice. The hammer . Trigger on your trigger finger's first joint. For each single trigger pull, the gun is performing two actions, and that's why it's called "double" action. There is a simple technique in the proper loading of the SAA. It means you can expect the trigger to cock the hammer and fire at once. Step 3: The SAA Cylinder. Federal's new.30 Super Carry pistol cartridge offers the equivalent of 9mm Luger performance with recoil and muzzle blast comparable with 9mm. Although I had owned the gun for a number of years, I always carried it in a lined holster and was quite proud of its unmarred condition, even though I had taken it afield many times. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. Id love to try this out to 50 and 100, and Marc said hell loan us one when he has one he can spare. But regardless, what I hope people take away from this is that no gun is immune to having problems. 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. From 1900-1906 Colt manufactured approximately 46,500 M1877 revolvers, and roughly 58% were chambered in .38 Colt. All Handguns subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Experts and even those with modest experience will have already mastered its importance. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. However, while fanning looked spectacular on screen with five-in-one studio blanks, it was highly inaccurate and exceedingly dangerous with live ammo, as recoil would send the bullets all over the terrain. 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. 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. What follows is a basic procedural rundown on function checking a Colt Single Action Army (SAA) revolver. The double-action (DA) revolver uses a long pull of the trigger to cock the hammer, rotate the cylinder and fire the piece. Of those, 12,789 were shipped out blued and sporting a 4-1/2" barrel and an ejector. 10. All guns have a story to tell, some are just more interesting than others. * An under-loaded cartridge that fails to propel a bullet all the way out of the barrel. Maltz, Oklahoma City. Items 1 - 24 of 938. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. The first revolvers were single action, making this the oldest revolver design. 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. The transfer-bar system is a safe consistent type of action that finally addressed the problems of revolver safety. 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. Concealed Carry Handguns. Bryce M. Towsley. 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 Model 85 is seven ounces heavier than the LCR but, unlike Ruger's compact revolver, has a hammer allowing for single-action operation. Contest open to U.S. residents only. Color Case Frame$849.00 plus polishing. When timing gets out of whack the fit of the parts changes. Ive been accused of implying that revolvers malfunction at a higher rate than semi-autos, or that I just made all of that stuff up because of some deep-seated hatred or bias I have against revolvers. You may also want to consider serrating the blade so that it doesn't reflect light. The .454 Casull took that title and when Freedom Arms in Wyoming started making revolvers, I had to have one. It does feel like a genuine cowboy revolver much more than it does a replica. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. Now, let me add some context. Of those, about 20 or so are directly involved with making sure the cylinder lines up correctly with the forcing cone when the gun fires. This action advances the cylinder to the next round and locks the cylinder in place with the chamber aligned with the barrel. Of course, we are not suggesting you start a gun-duel. A double-action can be fired by doing this as well, but also gives you the ability to fire by squeezing the trigger. Relates to the more traditional Single Act. With the full cock, note the following: Failure at this stage could indicate the SAA is non-functioning or is one that is dangerous to shoot. Smith & Wesson 686 Revolver. H&R 922 repairs. It deserves a spot on the list of stack-and-a-half micro 9 millimeters. EMF's Great Western II single action revolvers are manufactured by FAP F.LLI Pietta. Taurus 66. Associated taxes and fees will be the responsibility of the winner. 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. The Bounty Hunter is the best performing and most affordable choice for your Cowboy Action . A value-priced red dot with a full set of features. For a beginner like you, a DA/SA gun may be the best option to go with. The current report shows that most guns are single-action. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. Purchase A PDF Download Of The American Handgunner Nov/Dec 2020 Issue Now! Subscribe to the weekly Rock Island Auction newsletter to receive new gun blogs on the history and handling of popular guns like the M1911, the M1 Garand, and more, and enjoy a steady stream of content related to some of the most unique guns in the collecting pursuit. Single Action Revolvers. Most malfunctions are ammo related. Whereas in single action it is a two-stage process. Contest void where prohibited by law. Rebate Available. Add to Cart. The one that we usually refer to in discussions of the development of modern sidearms is the Colt Single-Action Army (SAA). Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winner(s). As the trigger is pulled further the hand rotates the cylinder counter-clockwise (in a S&W). About $185 with the lining. Marc can build on your gun or a supplied gun. Oopsie. Please call for more details. Two months later, and it's gone, wending its way slowly back to the . Roy was able to get this one back in time Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association, Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. Hammer Women Of Distinction Award, Women's Wildlife Management / Conservation Scholarship, National Youth Shooting Sports Cooperative Program, Examining .44-Special Revolvers for Personal Defense. 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. In the video below, I describe yet another revolver failure I recently encountered. Some people peen the cog which is coming up short, pushing metal toward the hand. 4) Depress the trigger again; hammer will have audible "click" 5) Continue to depress trigger, manually cycle the action and eject the snap cap. Im not trying to pick on Ruger or tell you not to buy a GP100. $499.95. But it will continue to wear, so getting it fixed is best. It is far easier to remove metal than replace it. Additionally, when shooting at ranges that hover around 25 yards with barrel lengths of 4 3/4 and 5 1/2 inches, only about half of the front-sight blade should rise above the rear-sight groove; with 71?2-inch barrels, just the top third of the front-sight blade should be showing. 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. One of the most noticeable characteristics of a double action handgun is the very long, and . The mainspring is released and the internal parts are removed by taking out the screws in the frame. We bought this last year and used it in our ballistic gel tests. Its chock full of how-to gunsmithing tips and tricks. 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. The works of a revolver are very much like those of a mechanical clock. I promptly assumed the role of a veterinarian, describing my friend's direct lineage from a female canine. Even with blanks, a blast to the leg can char both denim and flesh. 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 . Answer (1 of 10): Revolvers are very reliable. Being an old time cop, I tend to like to carry on my strongside, right at the right hip. No purchase necessary. (I) Giveaway ends March 20, 2022. 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. Beretta Covert Pocket Classics: The 21A Bobcat and 3032 Tomcat. I reached out to old friend Mitch Rosen of Mitch Rosen Extraordinary Gunleather and he recommended his The Upper Limit or UPL rig. Also, different brands of ammunition and bullet weights will affect where the gun prints on a target. 2009-2022 LuckyGunner, LLC. On the other hand, a few handguns and pistols fit double-action or single-action. 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. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. In fact, there is no half-cock notch on New Model Ruger single actions. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. While fast draw remains a viable sport, today Cowboy Action shooting, hunting, collectability and nostalgia have widened the single action's legendary appeal. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if needed) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. www.geminicustoms.com. . That is completely context dependent. Communism only made one thing that works, and capitalism can make it even better. . But just take off a little steel at a time. A single action comes with its own set of guidelines comprising some very basic but often critical do's and don'ts. The Best Revolver in the World [2020 Update], the pros and cons of using a revolver for self-defense. He immediately lowered the hammer from half-cock, then cocked the gun again, thereby etching a nice, faint gray line around the otherwise unblemished cylinder. Chances are good, too, if youve read this far, youd enjoy our DIY Guns special edition book. There are times when buying a used firearm, where it's condition that is presented as, may not be totally true. Contest void where prohibited by law. But is sounds to me that there is a possibility that the Hammer stud may be bent or mis-shaped.If that is in fact the case then only the Smith Wesson factory can repair the problem. Too many years of carrying a duty gun in the same spot makes it feel natural and comfy. If the problem went away, most likely there was something under the extractor not allowing it to seat or the quality inspector in your ammunition-loading process needs to do a better job with primer and bullet seating. Can You Use Wadcutter Ammunition for Personal Defense? $10.00. Alternatively, there's also DAO guns, such as the DAO versions of the Beretta 92 and . Charcoal Blue Revolver $849.00 plus polishing. That means the next time you cock the gun, or manually turn the cylinder to line up the chamber, the bolt will etch a nice bare-metal mark on the cylinder, which explains why we often see so many scored cylinders on guns that are perfectly timed. Give a Gift 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). But dont just grab your wrench, files and grinder and go to work. Otherwise, when the gate is snapped shut the cylinder bolt will rise up against the cylinder rather than into the cylinder notch. Take the sideplate off and spray the action with aerosol gun wash or non-chlorinated brake cleaner. Services available on: S&W K, L & N frame, Ruger GP100, Speed Six & Service Six . "Timing" is a general term for the process occurring when you cock the hammer or pull the trigger in double action mode on a revolver. So far, this rig is just what I needed and its both comfy and secure. 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 . 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. Sort By. Single-Action Revolvers. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. Noting the positive reception of this . RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. MSRPs are $549 for the brass trigger guard and grip frame and $559 for the blued steel trigger . On a well made revolver (Single Action Army Colts never left Hartford if they weren't), the cylinder is a subtle yet critical demonstration of precision engineering.