Frontier .357 magnum

45 Dragoon · September 23, 2022, 04:04:51 PM

Well, my question was to Froogal ( I think Abilene and I posted at the same time).
Again, is there any reason you can't finish a groove in the original Pietta pin and then cut it to length? If you get a new Uberti pin, you still have to shorten it ( unless you're going to use the notches).

Mike

Major 2 · September 23, 2022, 04:30:12 PM

I have one of these, bought it a few years ago

I've made some firing pins out of drill bits, turning the main pin would be a snap.

Abilene · September 23, 2022, 05:53:33 PM

Uberti base pins are available that have only one groove and are the correct length so no shortening needed.

Froogal · September 30, 2022, 12:48:26 PM

Okay. I had some time today so I took the Frontier to the backyard range. The first 5 rounds went off without a hitch. The second 5 rounds not so good. Behaved just like before. Loaded up a third time and still the same. I packed up and came back to the house.

Froogal · October 11, 2022, 02:36:07 PM

I took the gun apart. Found no real issues other than some funky knicks and burrs on the hand. I smoothed them as best I could using a whet stone. Put it all back together, grabbed a box of ammo and headed out. The results were promising, but then it misfired again a couple of times, due to what seemed to be light hammer strikes.

This gun has that floating firing pin, and close examination reveals that the pin does not always enter straight through the firing pin hole. Sometimes it appears to be canted slightly upwards.

Is there any fix for this? I must confess that I had never been quite that deep into ANY gun before this, but I have done considerable mechanic work.

Froogal · November 05, 2022, 03:15:54 PM

I removed the firing pin from the hammer, placed a "shim" into the hole and put the firing pin back in. Actually a bit more complicated than that, but it worked. Fired off 40 rounds without a hitch.

paperchaser · January 13, 2023, 07:38:58 PM

This is a really late reply; have been "gone" for a while.
I had basically the same problem with a Cimarron Pistolero model. Talked with Cimarron and explained the base pin was "jumping" loose and working itself to the point where the cylinder wobbled. And with some experiment I realized the pin just was being held firmly enough. The pin have a smooth groove where the latch was supposed to hold.
Long story short; a NOTCHED base pin supplied by Cimarron fixed the problem.
Had lots of vibration with the 255 grain 45 Colt rounds, got some 185 grain and 200 grain and pistol shoots like it's supposed to shoot.

RRio · January 30, 2023, 02:22:51 AM

Quote from: Major 2 on September 23, 2022, 04:30:12 PM
I have one of these, bought it a few years ago

I've made some firing pins out of drill bits, turning the main pin would be a snap.

Money well spent. I plan on buying one myself, along with the table top milling machine to go along with it.

Froogal · January 30, 2023, 09:58:15 AM

Quote from: Froogal on November 05, 2022, 03:15:54 PM
I removed the firing pin from the hammer, placed a "shim" into the hole and put the firing pin back in. Actually a bit more complicated than that, but it worked. Fired off 40 rounds without a hitch.

Sadly, the second time I took that pistol out it was right back to mis-firing. I parked it on a bottom shelf in the safe. Might mess with it again sometime, might not.

Froogal · April 18, 2023, 02:33:31 PM

Quote from: Froogal on January 30, 2023, 09:58:15 AM
Sadly, the second time I took that pistol out it was right back to mis-firing. I parked it on a bottom shelf in the safe. Might mess with it again sometime, might not.

O.K., I messed with it again. No joy. The gun is now in pieces. Small parts, screws etc., are in plastic bags, sealed up tight and everything placed back into the original box. I need a complete hammer and firing pin assembly. Hopefully with firing pin that does not float.

Coffinmaker · April 19, 2023, 08:29:56 AM

Froogal

Actually if your Pistola is of the New and Improved Special Safety Uberti, you will also need the trigger to go with the Hammer assembly.

OR: Part that sucker out on eBay and source a nice new Pietta GW II (my choice)

RRio · April 19, 2023, 09:03:37 AM

Quote from: 45 Dragoon on September 23, 2022, 12:45:39 PM
Oh, hey Abilene!!
Yes, you're right. I just chuck it up in a drill and "complete" what they started. I also add a groove near the end so the cross pin will catch the base pin before it comes completely out. It's a convenient little feature so you don't have a pin in one hand, a revolver in the other and a cylinder about to hit the floor !! Lol

Mike

What he said. A drill, a rat-tail file and you're set to go.

Froogal · April 19, 2023, 09:45:02 AM

Quote from: Coffinmaker on April 19, 2023, 08:29:56 AM
Froogal

Actually if your Pistola is of the New and Improved Special Safety Uberti, you will also need the trigger to go with the Hammer assembly.

OR: Part that sucker out on eBay and source a nice new Pietta GW II (my choice)

NOT Uberti. Cimmaron Frontier. Made by Pietta. I'll never own another Pietta.

Major 2 · April 19, 2023, 10:09:29 AM

I acquired this little lathe (this one from Harbour Freight)
but there are several importers of the very same unit... Jet (white) Grizzley. (Green)
I think Northern tools is blue and even another in yellow same same.
The price ranges between $550 and $650 depending on whom you get it from.
Granted, buying one just to do your Pin is a fool's errand... but sending it to me and I'll do it gratis
with postage on you might be an option.

Point being, it be short work to cut the OAL or groove.