Ammo, headspace  or both outta spec.

Update:

I pressed on the hand and it released the hammer, I reassembled it and it worked fine again, but only when empty.  I attempted to load it again and the problem repeated.
 
The cylinder was getting hard to turn and by the last round the hammer would no longer move back past half cock.  I fiddled with the cylinder pin and I got it to work intermittently if I had the pin partially removed but ultimately the cylinder would jam and so would the hammer.
 
I finally had to remove the cylinder to unload again.
 
But on reassembly it would work fine again, but, again, as soon as I loaded cartridges it would jam.
 
I noticed though after finally giving up for the day and packing up that the cartridges that I had been using were all scratched across the back.  Here is a picture, look at the last row of cartridges carefully, see the scratches?  Only those ones have those scratches.



Any ideas?

I just got a new to me Pietta Great Western ii "Californian" in .44-40, (the same one that I mentioned in the thread about .44 special conversion), it appeared unfired in the original box.
 
I got it, cycled it, dry fired (very little, just to confirm function, I didn't realize at the time that that was a bad idea with SAAs as this is my first one and I hadn't heard that until after I started researching common issues with these), everything was fine, better than fine actually, and I even took the cylinder out and checked the pin for any corrosion, nothing, and it still cycled fine after reassembly, but now, after finally getting ahold of some .44-40 (I had to order some sunce I could not find any in the local stores and I am not yet setup to reload for it as the dies were also only just ordered and the brass seems to be unobtainium at the momebg), the first time I attempted to load it it broke.  Didn't even get a chance to fire.  Cylinder locked up after loading the last round.
 
I was able to move it just enough to eject the last round I loaded, but the cylinder would not rotate anymore.
 
So I tried removing the cylinder, the cylinder pin was likewise also frozen, I ended up having to pull it out with needle nose pliers.
 
Thinking it was an issue with the pin I then tried to cycle it again, with the cylinder removed and the hammer locked back to the ready to fire position as per normal,  and then froze there with a dead trigger.  I cannot drop the hammer.  I tried putting the cylinder pin back in (sans cylinder) and other than again requiring pliers to remove again there was no change.
 
What happened and how can I fix it?

Quote from: Black River Smith on December 13, 2024, 02:21:36 PMIn your photos those whitish marks are what I believed was tinning 'as shown heavier and brighter on the ebay pics'.  IF you are now stating that cleaning the molds are now removing those whitish marks because they are just 'old lube', then keep cleaning and you will have 'perfect molds and perfect bullets'.

As a tip, I use Acetone to clean oils and organics off my molds.

I will try that when I get a chance, I think I have a bottle laying around somewhere.

And yeah it's some kind of a sticky waxy gunk, sort of reminds me of a mixture of old peelable glue and wax, it is very thick and sticky, the same stuff was slathered allover the sample bullet so my best guess is bullet lube.

I have since converted by Flat Top to use the 44 Special cylinder, and it has the 4 click trigger and hammer too. I find that AA #5 and Green Dot both work very well in either 44 WCF or 44 Special.

This is a recent target with the first six:

 

To chamber a Pietta revolver for 44 Special will cost you some bucks. First you have to buy a 357 Magnum cylinder. That might mean ordering one from someone like Cimarron. Then you would need to drill the cylinders to a size where the finishing reamer would work. Like this one for example:  https://www.brownells.com/tools-cleaning/bore-barrel-tools/reamers-cutters/pistol-chambering-reamers/

Then you would need to carefully ream the cylinders for the 44 Special - yes I know the reamer is made for 44 Magnum but it can be used for 44 Special too.

Then you would have to machine the removable bushing to fit your revolver. This would involve using a lathe.

All in all it might be cheaper to just keep using 44 WCF ammunition?

Quote from: Coffinmaker on December 13, 2024, 09:02:11 AM Hey Slim!! 

How the heck are ya and how have ya been???  Haven't actually heard from ya in a while.  Nice to see your stuff again you betcha!!

Howdy back coffinmaker!! Long story short - I'm not dead😆 as an infamous orator says - not hyperbole!😅 I'm now almost 1-yr out from my proposed expiration date & supposedly cancer free. Spending more of my time outdoors this year & currently doing a little deer hunting with some favorite fire sticks.

Hope your well! Til next time,
Regards,
Slim

Are hatters even still using beaver or is it nutria now?

"Save a tree; eat a beaver!"   

OK, so no Black Powder.

How about Pyrodex or APP?  Both of those have a higher ignition temperature and from what I have seen flash a lot slower than Back when uncontained.