Dragoon Timing

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Greetings!

I need some learnin' here.  I recently became the proud owner of a 2nd Gen. Colt Dragoon, 1st Model - the one with oval shaped bolt stop holes on the cylinder.  I don't know if I have a problem, or if what's happening is simply normal for this model.  I DON"T fool around with timing issues because it's beyond my learning and I haven't been able to pick up any of the good Colt books yet to learn the RIGHT way.

Anyway - the oval stop holes don't have a 'bevel' running into them like the rectangular slots do.  Mine is getting a very small round "ding"  mark corresponding to the bolt stop piece where it rises to lock the cylinder, right on the edge of the oval.  Is this normal?  To me, the timing is perfect, but since I'm unfamiliar with this model, I'm not sure.

Thanks!

Jeff  "Steel Horse Bailey"

[Doc Sunrise]

You are probably ok!  The examples I have looked at all have lines just before the notch which would mean the bolt is coming up before the notch is in position.  I remember reading how the lead to the notch was requested by the US Cavalry in the early Single Action Army because they were experiencing guns that skipped passed the notch under fast fire.  If you try to delay the bolt from coming up until just the right moment when the notch is in the bolt window, you would have the same problem the US Cavalry did under higher speeds of cylinder rotation.  I would say you are ok, and go have a blast.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Howdy!

Doc, thanks.

You are probably ok!  The examples I have looked at all have lines just before the notch which would mean the bolt is coming up before the notch is in position.  I remember reading how the lead to the notch was requested by the US Cavalry in the early Single Action Army because they were experiencing guns that skipped passed the notch under fast fire.  If you try to delay the bolt from coming up until just the right moment when the notch is in the bolt window, you would have the same problem the US Cavalry did under higher speeds of cylinder rotation.  I would say you are ok, and go have a blast.

And boy - that puppy IS a BLAST to shoot! 

[Capt. Augustus]

Both of my Walkers did the same thing.  The only thing that effected performance was the ding caused by the cylinder slamming againt the bolt when runninng too fast, using two hands.  Although only a few thousands, it messed up the timing something awful.  I finally took a ballpeen hammer and tapped the raised area, and the thing started working again.  I haven't shot them in a while, with my bum shoulder and surgery, but the desire is coming back.