Larsen T. Pettifogger

Noz · February 25, 2009, 04:34:03 PM

I read the article "Tuning the Pietta Cap and Ball for Competition". I down loaded the PDFs as they became available. I've read thru both numerous times and finally girded myself for battle and did it.

Both guns are my main match guns and have been used hard for 3-4 years. Both cylinders showed evidence of over and under lock ups. They have shot well and have given no trouble other than the occasional broken hand spring.
I disassembled and tried to fit the bolts into the slots on the cylinder. Nope! One cylinder had 2 chambers that fit the bolt and the others were too tight. The other cylinder had no slots that would fit the bolt. I opened the slots on both cylinders with a scraper, removing the burrs. Measured, averaged and took .005 off of the bolts.

With a great amount of fear I took the frames (center punched as per directions) and drill bit to a friend that had a small drill press. I drilled the holes with no problems whats-so-ever. Whew!
Back to assembly. Here is where I had the most problem. In one of the frames I could not get the plunger hole to clean up. I twisted the drill with my finger. No joy. I wound up chucking the drill bit into a hand held 3/8" drill and running it into the drill press drilled hole-several times before the burr gave up. The other frame cleaned up in 10% of the time.

Re-assembled and they feel wonderful. They even make a different sound when they lock up. I have a little movement but the bolts are bottomed out in the slots.

I anticipate that they will serve me well for a long time.

Thanks for your efforts.

Noz, who loves his 1860 Armys even more than before.

Deadeye Dick · February 25, 2009, 04:45:23 PM

Please excuse my ignorance, but what holes are you drilling in the frame and why?

Noz · February 25, 2009, 05:00:32 PM

You drill a hole in the frame to allow a Ruger coil spring and plunger to be used to eliminate the easily broken hand spring.

Pettifogger · February 25, 2009, 09:43:49 PM

Thanks. The next set of articles will be on Uberti open tops (cap and ball and cartridge).

Paladin UK · February 27, 2009, 01:59:22 PM

Fer Pettifogger.........

Brill!!!

I fer one cant wait ta see yer next articles!!

Paladin (What lurvs ta tinker

) UK

Leo Tanner · February 27, 2009, 02:39:20 PM

Where might one find these articles? If they're right in front of my face I appologize.

Deadeye Dick · March 02, 2009, 10:43:57 AM

NOZ,
Thanks for posting the Pietta tuning articles. What good job Pettifogger did on them. Can't wait for the Uberti articles to come out. This is the first comprehensive article(s) on cap and ball tuneups that I have seen.

Noz · March 02, 2009, 02:45:48 PM

They are in the "Dark Arts" now.
I'm just a happy user that wanted to share with everybody that has a Pietta Colt clone.

Gun E Bear · March 02, 2009, 03:34:19 PM

Larsen, do you have a set of directions for the Remington New Model '58's ?

Gun E Bear

Pettifogger · March 02, 2009, 09:17:50 PM

Quote from: Gun E Bear on March 02, 2009, 03:34:19 PM
Larsen, do you have a set of directions for the Remington New Model '58's ?

Gun E Bear

Not yet. I'll see if I can get the time to do a series on the Remingtons.

Mason Stillwell · March 06, 2009, 08:00:41 PM

If you do something on the 58's old Friend let me know.

Mason (what LOVES his 58's) Stillwell

Pettifogger · March 06, 2009, 09:03:12 PM

Here's one. Like Quigley said in Quigley Down Under, never said I didn't know how to fix one. Just don't like Remmies that much.

This one has a shortened barrel, reshaped rammer, the barrel was removed and the frame milled so I could install a bushing in the cylinder, the cylinder windows around the nipples were opened so a snail capper will work, and I put in a coil handspring.

Mason Stillwell · March 06, 2009, 10:04:35 PM

MERCY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Would I like to wrap my hand round that .

Mason