'51 Navy - Cabelas Sale

Jethro "Black Jack" Harris · September 24, 2009, 01:37:36 PM

Dalton,
Thanks. I think you've convinced me to at least give this beauty another try. This is my 1st experience with Pietta Colts. I have a '51 Navy .36 made by Colt in the 1970's and it's a sweet shooter. Of course, once I take this one to the range, I'm stuck...I guess it's like getting married to a gal you know has a few rough edges!!

JBJH

Dalton Masterson · September 24, 2009, 01:47:32 PM

Stuck? If you are meaning cant send it back, I doubt that. I have bought several returns from the bargain cave that were fired. Worth checking into tho. The biggest thing I look at is that the action is timed right, and it locks up good. The rest is easily fixed or put up with.
Good luck!
DM

Jethro "Black Jack" Harris · September 24, 2009, 04:48:57 PM

Based on this conversation, I will take this gun home tonite after work and play with it some more...let ya know the results...jbjh

Jethro "Black Jack" Harris · September 24, 2009, 09:24:48 PM

Quote from: Jethro "Black Jack" Harris on September 24, 2009, 04:48:57 PM
Based on this conversation, I will take this gun home tonite after work and play with it some more...let ya know the results...jbjh

Dalton,
Thanks again. Turns out the ramming lever pin needed to be loosened like you said! Works great now. The wedge needs more work and is not the reason the cylinder binds. The pins on the frame are off center from the holes in the barrel housing, but I can drill the holes enough so the pins will slide right in. The large hole in the barrel housing needed some deburring and may need a micron or two removed from it too. Like I said, this my 1st Pietta Colt and I was surprised by the problems. Glad to know they're not uncommon and that they're fixable!

Yours in smoke,
Jethro

Dalton Masterson · September 24, 2009, 10:22:34 PM

Does the cylinder bind with the wedge completely out? Or is the barrel/ arbor fit just so tight that when you tap it on, it is going on too far?
Be careful removing/drilling. Its hard to put it back once its gone.
Good luck, and keep us posted.
DM

Jethro "Black Jack" Harris · September 25, 2009, 09:26:51 AM

It's the fit between the cylinder pin and the barrel. It's very tight, but has loosened up some just by twisting the barrel back and forth on the pin. Still can't put the barrel back on without tapping, but that's a function of the barrel locking pins being out of alignment with the holes on the barrel. Getting the barrel off is much easier using the loading lever like you suggested. Since I'm not likely to take the gun apart at the range, I'm not going to obsess over it too much at this point. Gonna go shoot it this weekend, I hope!
JBJH

Jethro "Black Jack" Harris · September 27, 2009, 05:04:52 PM

There's a definite problem with the cylinder pin. Took it to the range today, with my ROA, and frankly, I like the way it shoots. Love the ROA, but this baby is sweet. But, when I got home, I had a bit of trouble getting the barrel off. Finally, after some Break Free, some gun oil, and lots of elbow grease, it came off. Feels like there's some ridges on the cylinder pin. Either I need to sand a little bit off the pin to get rid of those ridges, or remove some material from the barrel hole. Not sure which. Gonna consult with some of my machinist friends who also are shooters before doing anything.

JBJH

Dalton Masterson · September 27, 2009, 05:24:41 PM

Just take some 400 grit wet/dry and polish that pin up. There might be a little ridge there where the wedge pin goes thru. One of mine was that way.
Did it shoot good for ya otherwise?
DM

Jethro "Black Jack" Harris · September 27, 2009, 07:57:45 PM

Well, I'm not a very good shot

but it was easier to point than the ROA and less liable to shoot high. Most of my shots were low but all within about 3" of each other at 25 yards. I got a piece of 1/2" CPVC tube about 6" long to help with the loading lever so it loaded fine. The wedge did come loose and before I noticed, some shots didn't happen cuz the cap didn't go off. Thought I had some bad caps til I noticed the wedge. One thing, the balls that came with the starter kit were smaller than the balls (.457") I use in the ROA, and the larger balls wouldn't seat in the Colt. Can you tell me what size to get for this gun?

Dalton Masterson · September 27, 2009, 09:43:25 PM

Yep, if your buying, buy the Hornady .451 or .454. All my Piettas get fed the .451, but .454 would be better in a few.
Glad to hear it shot well for ya!
DM