Big gun, little gun. . .

[Dick Dastardly]

So, last Saturday I shot without my right hand 1860 open top.  It broke the spring that lifts the cylinder stop.  Dang, I love those 60s but they are FRAGILE!  So, I dropped one of my ROAs in my right hand holster and held forth.  No, I didn't shoot clean or win the new Cadillac in the parking lot, but I sure had fun.  I shot full house 45 Colt bp ammo in the ROA and C45Spl ammo in the left gun.  BOOM - boom, BOOM - boom, BOOM - boom, BOOM - boom, BOOM - boom.  No mouse pharts here, just the right "booms" for each gun.  Yes, I shoot FCGF.  Always have, always will.

This discipline is about having fun.  I had fun.  I was safe.  I also confused the heck out of the pard at the unloading table and the one at the loading table.  Talk about two different pistols, this is about as different as it gets in wheel guns.  Both have Kirst Konverter cylinders and I do shoot cartridge encapsulated charges and bullets.  I know, it's a modren idea and it'll never catch on.  Neither will canned beer or sliced bread.

Anyway, till my right hand open top gets fixed I'm going to shoot my ROAs.  They're big, ugly and very tough.

DD-MDA

[Coffinmaker]

Well ......... Monsieur Dastardly,

If I may.  Well, I'm gonna anyway.  The 1860 is not Fragile.  Some of it's parts are.  I well understand the longest lasting Trigger/Bolt springs are after-market wire springs.  I don't like them.  To me (personal stuff here), wire springs make the action feel spongy as opposed to crisp and snappy.  SO.  Where am I going you might ask.  I'll tell ya.

Give VTI Gunparts a yell and order up some Pietta trigger/bolt springs (make sure your timing and bolt to cylinder fit are good).  Will, here I presume you are talking about Uberti 1860s........ Uberti T/B springs are abysmal.  And replace the Uberti spring with a Pietta spring.  Pietta last longer too.

If your gun is/was however, a Pietta....... Well ..... OOPS.  Just go out and get a new spring from VTI anyway.  Then ignore all the stuff I posted above.  Except the parts about wire springs.  Flat springs are crisper.  Pietta springs also reduce the hammer draw weight.

In the 1860, with a conversion cylinder, C45S cases make a dandy cartridge load.  Now, for some real fun, cut the barrels down to about 3 inches ...............

Coffinmaker

[Dick Dastardly]

Thanks Coffinmaker,

They are Piettas.  I like the way the longer tubes point and since I shoot FCGF, I need that.  The ROAs are just a whole lot tougher guns but they just don't point like the 1860s.  The C45Spl is a good matchup for the 1860s but a mite puny for the heavier ROAs.

DD-MDA

[Coffinmaker]

DD,

I are amazed.  I've used Pietta T/B springs in my action work for years.  And years.  I cannot remember ever having one of them break.  Pietta eliminates all the stress risers in the spring and they should last darn near forever.  Amazing.

I too am a practitioner of the FCGF's art.  Shooting with a gun in each hand is just ........ FUN.  Doing it with Snubbies is even more FUN.  Well, at lest for me, but I admit to being about 2 bubbles off center  

There is a picture of my latest creations and now "go - to" favorite Snubbies on the "TOYS" Thread.  Entirely too much FUN!!

Coffinmaker

[Gabriel Law]

My pair of black powder cap and ballers presently, are a 1860 Army and a 1849 pocket in .31 cal.  Now I NEED a pair of 1847 Walkers to complete this set.

[Montana Slim]

Agree with Coffinmaker......
....and, when I see a poorly manufactured spring in my pistols (when I acquire them), I de-burr, trim & modify to eliminate the stress risers. This has resulted in  a very long life fo my pistol's springs. Even though...I do have a large assortment of trigger/bolt springs, hands and hand-springs, just in case.

In my experience, Colt-style (flat) hand springs are more problematic, but if one fails, tipping the pistol downward when cocking will overcome the failed spring.

Slim
Small-talk......
I'd like to shoot gunfighter with my percussion Navy Colts, but the hard-core SASS folks say that since SASS rules say I can't carry butt-forward & shoot gunfighter...well, it can't be done (even though I draw them safer draw than some X-draws I see).