2nd vs 3rd gen dilemma

[Coffinmaker]

Well heck.  That's a darn good lookin cannon. 

At least his photos are in "focus" ..........

Coffinmaker

[hatman]

Well, I received the Dragoon yesterday and it's every bit as nice, if not even better, than the pictures.
The bluing is more black than blue and it's like a mirror.  And the CCH is what I'd expect from Turnbull.   Wow.
The action is very smooth and it easily field stripped.  Nipples unscrewed with my Walker wrench so she's good to go.
I would have taken her to the range today, but I've been fighting flu/mild pneumonia this week. Yuck.

I gotta admit, for the first time ever (after almost 100 acquisitions) I'm wondering if I really want to shoot it since it's so beautiful.
I've never violated my Prime Directive before by never buying a gun I wouldn't shoot, but the thought has occurred to me with this one.

Maybe I'll feel differently once I'm over the flu.  

[45 Dragoon]

Be sure to fix the arbor before you shoot it much or with any heavy loads! The arbor is too short.

Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com
Follow me on Instagram @ goonsgunworks

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[Coffinmaker]

Or, The arbor hole in the barrel lug is too deep 

Coffinmaker

[Professor Marvel]

Maybe I'll feel differently once I'm over the flu.  

Its the fever. Take 2 aspirin and shoot it in the morning 

Or, The arbor hole in the barrel lug is too deep 

Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

Mrs MArvel says the glass is too small!

yhs prof marvel

[hatman]

Be sure to fix the arbor before you shoot it much or with any heavy loads! The arbor is too short.

Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com
Follow me on Instagram @ goonsgunworks

I'm just a newbie who enjoys BP revolvers.
Is there something I must do to make sure this revolver is safe for shooting?

[Major 2]

I'm quite sure the masters Coffin maker & Pettifogger will advise    

The gun is " adequate " and safe to shoot as new in box, for casual shooting.

for the riggers of heavy shooting or competition , * there are areas to address....*

as mentioned the arbor OAL should be addressed , brings the gun back to the exact spacing each time the gun has the barrel off.

 springs  , bolt rise & lock up, timing perfected, all of this will aid the longevity of the gun in heavy uses.

I mentioned earlier I have some 2nd Gens. that have seen a lot of shooting

one, for example was purchase NIB in 1977 , It has been used all these years , in  2004 I purchased a R&D cylinder for it.
It has been in it for the 12 or so years... with either Black Hills 45 ammo smokeless , or 45 Schofield BP reloads

Next year it will be 40 years old....  a couple of years ago I sold off the Faux Ivory Buffalo Bros. grips and reinstalled the original
grips to the piece ....
I am contemplating for its 40 Birthday to return it to percussion , and sell the R&D , somehow it seems fitting to do that  

(as an aside I'd like to point out ....*Tuning* as it were , is something any gun might see, whether it be a Colt or Glock, AR platform  
S&W whatever, all will benefit in the longevity in heavy use.
Of course in the case of Sock Drawer & safe queens not so much  

[Coffinmaker]

Piling on here.
Plus One to what Major 2 posted.  Absolutely safe to shoot straight out of the box.  Load it up and make SMOKE!!

My Caveat.  I spent several Lustrum as a professional Gunplumber.  I see everything as having the potential for "improvement."  Most of those improvements involve making the firearm suitable for taking the abuse of weekly CAS matches.  In many cases, we shoot our guns more in a single CAS match than guns of the era were fired in their lifetime to date.  To do that reliablely, they need a little help.

I personally don't shoot anything "right out of the box."  I can't stand to leave anything alone.  As soon as I get the package inna mail or off the shelf I'm thinking about what I'm gonna do to it.  Soon as I get the box open, I'm taking the poor thing apart.  That's just ME.

My only "HARD" suggestion, is to check and correct (if necessary) the barrel to arbor fit.  The gun will thank you for that a couple of hundred rounds from now.  Oh, and consider some SlixShot nipples and a lighter Main Spring.

Coffinmaker

[hatman]

Thanks Major and Coffinmaker.
"Casual" shooter describes me to a T.
I doubt I'd ever even get a thousand rounds off in my remaining lifetime, if that many.
Whatever happens after that is somebody else's problem.  

[Major 2]

100% what Coffin Makers says..

I'm an old gear head, in my Sporty car days, I wanted the "Nth degree" of performance tune
the spiffiest of trick ....

in my guns... much of that rubbed off as I shoot NCOWS ... I have guns tuned by Coffinmaker  , was equally pleased by Gary Barnes , Long Hunter, Eddie Janis , and Kenny Howell.

Nice turned to SWEET !  by those guys....

Hatman you will enjoy your new Dragoon... there is one other "Caveat"   ..." like potato chips , you can't have just one "
 

[Crow Choker]

Hatman: When you start shooting yer new hogleg, some of the Colts will drop their loading lever upon firing, esp the ones with the vertical loading lever catches like the Dragoons. I always shoot approx. 40-43 grains of FFF Goex in mine. Have shot in the 35 grain range, works, but the bigger Colts like the Dragoons IMO are like old muscle cars of the 60's that ran better with high test gasoline vs the regular stuff, they shoot better with the higher grain weight of black powder. Anyway, I and others have had to file the groove a little deeper in the loading lever catch a little deeper so the lever won't fall when firing. If you can do it, take a little at a time. Some have used a stiffer spring in the end of the loading lever, some have done both. Whatever works. My 2nd mod Dragoon would run pretty good with lower mid thirty grain charges, but when going to 40 grain range, the lever would drop around 3 out of 6. Took to operating table twice filing on the lever catch at the end of the barrel till I got it right, now stays put. The Transition Dragoon, which I've had the least amount of time so far stays put. Search the posts in the Gunsmithing and STORM sections, there is a number of posts about this problem. Love them Dragoons, my favorite black powder percussion revolver.

[hatman]

Thanks for the heads up Crow Choker.
Yeah, I'm curious if I'll have this issue with this one.
I have had that problem with my ASM 3rd model.  I've got a good buddy who filed that catch for me and I hope to try it out next week.