Pietta Screw loosening

[cowboyjared]

Several months ago I purchased a pair of Pietta 1873 SAA copies. I noticed after shooting them that one of the triggerguard screws is missing (It was there when I bought them). I ordered a new one and when I installed it I tighten the rest of the screws on the gun. I checked the other one and they were all tight. I havent shoot them in a while and have been practicing with snap caps instead (45s are expensive and hard to come by). For some reason the screws continue to loosen on one and not the other even without live fire practice, any recommendations to keep the screws tight.

[TwoWalks Baldridge]

Loctite® Threadlocker Blue 242

[cowboyjared]

Is that available at a hardware store

[Major 2]

It is,  and comes as gel in syringe applicator ...just drop will do you

[Cliff Fendley]

Any auto parts store should have it too.

[cowboyjared]

Is this something you would recommend to do to the other gun as well or just the one I am having problems with

[john323]

Why not.....Avoid the problem before it becomes one........With the BLUE loc-tight you can remove it without heat no problem.

[Cliff Fendley]

Is this something you would recommend to do to the other gun as well or just the one I am having problems with

That's not something I normally use loctite on so no, I wouldn't use it on the other revolver if it wasn't giving me any problem.

Scope bases, rings, and stuff like that, yes, I always use it.

[TwoWalks Baldridge]

I agree with Cliff - Ifn it taint broked

[john323]

If it makes you feel more confident about the weapons then go ahead.It will be one less thing you worry about on the range and you will shoot better. Shooting is 90% mental and the rest is in your head.

[Pettifogger]

Some people get really uptight about guns that loosen screws when shooting.  If you suggest loctite they say "you shouldn't need any if they guns weren't defective."  Guns are machines.  I have revolvers with sequential serial numbers.  One will stay tite for many matches.  The other will have loose screws after two or three stages.  They are machines.  Machines of the same make and model are never 100% identical.  Rather than worry about screws, I consider either purple or blue loctite as preventative maintenance.  Better a drop on your ejector rod housing screw than having it fall off during a match.

[Cliff Fendley]

The ejector rod can be distracting when it falls off while shooting  Did have that happen once. That particular gun had a tendency to fall apart so it got loctite.

The only screws that I regularly worry about is the main pin screw but I just keep an eye on them. As long as I think to check every so often its not a problem. 

[Mr Bear]

I recommend getting the Colt SAA screwdriver bit set from Brownells, and also a set of spare screws.  All the best,
                                                                                                                                                               Mr Bear

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

I dont like to use lock tight on Gun screws myself.
But a touch of black fingernail  polish works just fine .
Rooster

[Baltimore Ed]

The only gun that I have that wants to self dismantle is my 24 inch octagon bbl Marlin Cowboy .45. I usually keep a small screwdriver in a cartridge loop. Just in case.

[Coffinmaker]

PLUS ONE to the Esteemed Larsen E. Pettifogger.  Machines are subject to Murphy's Law.  Be proactive.

[August]

I've had positive experiences with the Colt's polymer lock-washers.  A set is very reasonably priced and comes with two different sized washers to include the hammer screw as well as all the frame, trigger, and bolt screws.  I've always gotten them directly from Colt's.

I've read several times on the intewebs that these washers don't work well.  But, to the contrary, my experience with them has been that they hold screws well.  They are not, however, perpetually reusable.  But, again, they're not expensive.

I remember in the '60s that Roooooger boasted they assembled their six-guns with "nylock" washers.  I've never used such washers on Rooogers, but assemble all my Colt's and clone pistols with them consistently. 

I'm pretty sure I have a loose screw, but it's not on my pistols!

[Coal Creek Griff]

I find "zombie threads" entertaining.  This one died in 2013, but came back to life yesterday and now walks the earth!

Actually, they sometimes have the benefit of bringing back topics that may have been forgotten, but are still of use, particularly to people who joined us since that time.

CC Griff

[Major 2]

I find "zombie threads" entertaining.  This one died in 2013, but came back to life yesterday and now walks the earth!

Actually, they sometimes have the benefit of bringing back topics that may have been forgotten, but are still of use, particularly to people who joined us since that time.

CC Griff

True enough ...then again,  maybe it's the loose screw behind the keyboard that is the Resurrectionist.

[Baltimore Ed]

        "IT'S ALIVE!!!", IT'S ALIVE!!!"