Open Top Firing Pins

[Patrick Henry Brown]

Hi all!

Just acquired a brace of 1872 Open Tops in 44 Special. They are actually both marked 44 Colt, but apparently Cimarron reamed thechambers for 44 Special. One was acquired in a trade and has the firing pin from the Smith Shop and a nice action job. The other I bought off GB brand new in the box. Does anyone know if the newer Open Tops still have the firing pin problems? If so, how difficult is it to replace with the Smith Shop replacement? Thanks

Preacher Clint

[Doc Flimshaw]

Replacing is simple, knock out the cross pin with a punch and remove and replace. I belive they still have the same problem with  the firing pins, too soft and pierce primers

[Jake MacReedy]

Hi Clint!  Happy to hear you're enjoying the Open Top! 

Jake

[Coffinmaker]

You may have to work on the firing pins to clear the firing pin hole in the frame.

Coffinmaker

PS:  Before you spend for Smith Shop Firing pins, put a reduced power main spring in the gun, either "Lee's Gunsmithing Gunfighter" or VTI gunparts Spring.  You may not need to replace the firing in at all.  You may only need to file a little off the front tip of the firing pin to stop punching holes in the primers.
Go slowly.

Coffinmaker

[Flint]

I agree with Coffinmaker.  The Wolff or equivalent mainspring will take a lot of the unnecessary stress off the firing pin.  That and blunting the tip a bit helps prevent piercing primers.  I finally replaced mine after more than 3 years of shooting with firing pins I made from music wire (yes it does come that large in diameter).  My design, as does the Smith Shop has much a less long and skinny proportion to the nose of the pin.

I believe the 44 caliber barrels are now all marked 44Colt, regardless of whether the cylinder is 44 Russian, Colt or Special.

[Abilene]

I believe the 44 caliber barrels are now all marked 44Colt, regardless of whether the cylinder is 44 Russian, Colt or Special.

Uberti still marks them 44 Colt or 44 Spcl on the bottom of the barrel depending on what model.  Some of the 44 Colt cylinders will chamber a 44 Spcl round just barely, but most need to be reamed.  If you can drop a 44 spcl round in the cylinder and it goes "clunk" as it drops in, it is probably fine.  Most will look like they are seated all the way but not quite and the cylinder will bind from lack of headspace (it can vary depending on the bullet shape and amount of crimp as well).  The 44 Spcl cylinders, or the 44 Colt cylinders that have been reamed will accept any 44 Spcl round.

[Patrick Henry Brown]

Yep, Abilene:

Clunkity, Clunk. The Uberti box is marked as "CA 900, 44CLT". 44 Specials load fine though, so must either be rechambered or Uberti got lazy?

[Flint]

Uberti seems to cut deep chambers, My Russians would probably chamber 44 Colt, as they almost chamber 44 Special.

[Jake MacReedy]

Abilene, this revolver of Clint's is one I traded to him.  The chambers were reamed by Loose Cannon Lou to .44 Special, so it's a good one!

Jake

[Patrick Henry Brown]

Abilene, this revolver of Clint's is one I traded to him.  The chambers were reamed by Loose Cannon Lou to .44 Special, so it's a good one!

Jake

That's right, Jake, but I also bought a mate for it to match.

[Patrick Henry Brown]

Just an update. Replaced the firing pin with one from the Smith Shop. I also dug out an 1851 Mainspring and ground it down, trimmed it up and installed it as a reduced mainspring. Need to test fire, but anticipate that all should be fine.