Read! Check you R&D cylinders

[Tuolumne Lawman]

I meant to share this last week.  After two matches, I was looking at my new R&D cylinder from my 1860.  I noticed the ferrule's that hold in the firing pin were really beat up and the firing pins were sticking after only two matches.  To my surprise, they were all backing out of the threads of the rear cylinder cap.  In fact, two fell out with less than a quarter turn.  This explains the three or four light hits I had the last match.  As they retracted, the firing pins became inertial firing pins. 

I had an order going in to Howell, anyway, so I ordered 5 replacements for $2.50 each.  I didn't want to squawk to them as I should have checked them.  I already had a screw driver modified with a center notch from years ago when I had some R&Ds on 1858s when they first came out, so it just took a minute to change them out. I put a drop of blue Locktite on it just in case. 

When the ferrules are seated properly, they are almost flush with the back of the rear shield, and the tip of the firing pin prevents the hammer from hitting the ferrule when the firing pin actually hits a primer.