indexing

[sk29452]

Just got a pair of open tops in .38 spl from Cimarron. Had a problem with one of them going slightly past the indexing notch. Anybody have this happen and if so what did you do to fix the problem. Also had some light hits and reshaping the firing pin seemed to take care of that.

Thanks in advance.

SK

[Fox Creek Kid]

Only on one bolt notch?    How are you cocking the gun? One handed or with two hands fast & furious? Have you messed with the springs as well?

[Flint]

I think he means one of the guns, not one of the notches.

This can be common with opentops.  I solved it by drilling the frames and installing a Ruger hand springs and plungers.  The better hand pressure puts brakes on the cylinder that the leaf spring can't handle.  I have shot mine as main match guns for the past several years and have no over rotation indexing problems two handed, left thumb cocking.

Mine are 44's, but I have 45 Schofield and 38 Special cylinders and barrels as well.  I haven't shot them as 38 Specials often enough to tell whether the heavier cylinder will over-rotate, but the 44 and 45 cylinders index properly as fast as I can shoot.

[Montana Slim]

I have three cartridge & a "pile" of percussion Colt opentop revolvers...all have the factory style springs & no over-rotation or other problems. I've shot the poo out of several of them & note no unusual wear. I make sure all the spring strain screws are snugged up...Only probelms I've encontered are light mainspring pressure on most of the Ubertis, including several of the cartridge models...However, the Uberti Dragoons had ample mainspring right from the get-go.

I'd get into that revolver & check the bolt/trigger spring. Be sure it's the "flat" type & screwed down snug. I've seen so-called "action jobs" that placed a washer beneath the spring to improve trigger pull & "lighten" the action. I don't care for the wire springs, either. A trigger job is the best way to improve the trigger pull, rather than lighten the trigger & main springs.

Regards,
Slim

[sk29452]

I was shooting them duelist and cocking fairly fast. I also put lightened springs in them, but, was going to put the stock trigger/bolt springs back in to try to remedy the problem. I've been shooting Cimarron Model P's for ten years and was also thinking that maybe I need to learn how to shoot Open Tops.

Thanks for the responses.

SK

[Coffinmaker]

First, ensure the locking bolt actually fits the cylinder notches.  Check the timing of the bolt rise as the bolt should rise into the "lead" rather than the notch.  The "back side" of the bolt also needs to have the edge broken just slightly so the bolt drops into the notch cleanly.  Polish the side of the bolt that rides the frame.  If you have a wire trigger bolt spring, I don't like them.  Mushy feel to the action.  For a light trigger/bolt spring, call VTI and use a Pietta "great Western II" TB spring.  Light yet crisp.  Commonly, Open Tops are poorly fit AND timed.  Once properly dialed in, they can be run as hard as any other SA type design.  I also like VTI's Main Spring if you don't want to grind your own.  I don't like Wolff springs.  I build and set up a lot of Open Tops and the above are the most common "action" problems.  There are others that should be addressed, but get them running right first.  The Open Top is one of the most natural pointing handguns out there and they are soooooo easy to switch calibers on.

Coffinmaker

[sk29452]

Thanks for the input Coffinmaker. I did as you suggested on the first one and will do the same on the second. I touched up the bolt just a tad to make it land in the lead. I looks like it drops about 1/16" before the notch. Hope that's enough. Won't get to try them for awhile. The springs I use are made by a local guy that does some nice work on many of the pistols around here. They have worked in my Model P's for ten years so hopefully they should do the trick in these little beauties.

SK

[sk29452]

Well, I shot them in my first match with no problems. What a fun pistol! Now, Coffinmaker, what are some of the other things that I need to be concerned with? Always like to keep working on them and any ideas are most appreciated.