lighter mainsprint

[buxtonguy]

Any advice on a lighter mainspring for a cimarron 1851 RM?

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Put a small piece of leather (3/8" x 3/8") between the spring and frame.  Put a hole in the leather, and run the screw first through the spring, then the leather and into the frame.

[Abilene]

Any custom mainspring made for SAA will fit the conversion.  Wolff, Lee's, etc.  And VTI Gunparts has a reduced power Pietta SAA spring that will fit.  I do use an additional washer (like Coffinmaker suggested, but I use a stainless split washer instead of the leather) under my aftermarket mainspring to make it a tad lighter.  If ever any failure to pop primers (I have not had that problem), then the washer can be removed to get a bit more power.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Any custom mainspring made for SAA will fit the conversion.  Wolff, Lee's, etc.  And VTI Gunparts has a reduced power Pietta SAA spring that will fit.  I do use an additional washer (like Coffinmaker suggested, but I use a stainless split washer instead of the leather) under my aftermarket mainspring to make it a tad lighter.  If ever any failure to pop primers (I have not had that problem), then the washer can be removed to get a bit more power.

Coffinmaker?  Haha, I'm not that old!

[Abilene]

Coffinmaker?  Haha, I'm not that old!

Oops, hahaha, didn't mean to insult you.     Coffinmaker is always suggesting the Pietta reduced spring, so that is why his name was on my mine.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Mistaking me with our illustrious and knowledgeable brother Coffinmaker is certainly NOT an insult!

[Navy Six]

I was never crazy about the leather pad under the mainspring, as I couldn't feel much difference. But this was under a stock Colt mainspring which were usually pretty heavy to start with. About four years ago I ended up with an early 3rd Generation Colt SAA which was acquired from an estate sale. It looked lightly used but when I took it apart I discovered the previous owner had installed the leather pad. It must have been in there a while as the leather was flattened under the screw pressure. The real issue was the amount of rust from that leather that affected the screw, mainspring and triggerguard. It cleaned up but sure wasn't pretty. Don't know the type of leather used.
An aftermarket mainspring--any mentioned by Abilene--will cost $20 or less, will be easy to install, and make a noticeable difference.

[buxtonguy]

thanks fellers