some questions

[ronster]

wanting to do some barrel work and shorten my pietta 1851. tried it once already but i have decided to make it a little shorter. the problem i am running into is getting a straight cut. do i need to use oil like 3n1 oil to lube the gun and barrel. also any info on what sand paper to use. i have used a metal file in the past but thought of trying some sand paper. i am also looking to get a dovetail site from a remington and install it does anyone know where i can get one and the easiest way to mount it.

last question i noticed when i lay the hammer down on the empty nipple of the cylinder the gun cylinder rattles a little but in full cock it doesn't and when its in the safty notch it doesn't is the common.  thanks in advance ..

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Howdy!

Have fun with that project.

I used a saw then trued the end of the barrel on my 8" bench grinder - but you have to be careful to go slow enough on the grinder so you don't overheat the barrel and cause bluing discoloration and possibly ruining the possible heat treatment.  I also gave the muzzle a nice crown bevel.  (I used a round grinding stone chucked into my hand drill.)

I called VTI  ( http://www.vtigunparts.com/ ) and ordered a dove-tail sight and lever lock stud.  I cut the dove-tail for the lever stud carefully by hand with a file.  I didn't do the front sight, cause cutting the dove-tail took so long and I was in a rush for time and I needed the pistol for a match, but I think I'll go back and do the front sight by hand (  ) rather than the "press in"  sight I used - which is what the factory (Pietta) did.

Good luck!

Jeff  "Steel Horse Bailey"

[John Taylor]

I work on barrels all day long. The ones that are not trued up in the lathe just get filed and polished with 320 grit wet or dry sand paper or emery cloth. I usually use a deburring tool to crown if I'm not using the lathe. This one would probably work fine http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PARTPG=INSRAR2&PMAKA=319-2614&PMPXNO=19506024 or this one http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PARTPG=INSRAR2&PMAKA=369-0161&PMPXNO=943602 it don't take but a few  slow turns by hand. An electric drill motor is over kill. Be best to mount it to a handle like a screw driver has. All your trying to do is get rid of the sharp edge and any burs.