Colt SAA 2nd gen - should I worry?

[call1911]

Hi!

I tried to find information on my issue but neither here nor anywhere else I looke, I got a satisfying answer.
Some say so, some claim different. So I thought I'd use your endless wisdom.

Let me tell you I was not sure where to post my question - here or in the wheelgun section but I thought maybe better here.

A couple weeks ago we got our hands on a Colt SAA in 45 LC at a local auction.
My wife wanted a handgun to go with here Uberti lever and the Colt seemed a good deal.
The serial number puts it in the early 70s so it's a 2nd generation model AFAIK.

We both love to shoot it and so far we had zero problems with my reloads or factory ammo.
But last week one of our Cowboy Action Shooters who has MUCH more knowledge than I have pointed out that there's something wrong with the cylinder (inner workings).

He told us: when cocked to the 2nd stage the hole of the cylinder has to be perfectly in the middle of the recess/loading gate.
With our gun we have to turn it a little further to unload an empty cartridge / load a new one.
Was he talking BS?
Is this maybe specific to Uberits or other newer clones?
Or......?

I made some photos as they may tell what I'm talking about a little better.
You can find hires photos + videos with the link I put at the end.

I have no armorer to ask where I live (Austria) as there is no one I would trust with a gun like this one. SAA Colts are not really something in great numbers here

If this is not a problem at all, and it's of no importance to the guns life expectancy I can live with it. But maybe this is something to take a closer look at.

As always: Hope you can help and thanks a lot in advance!

Link to videos and large photos:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/i9gb43fdlj6kyrw/AAB4f0MUgDzUQv8iEyOsUWM8a?dl=0

 

[Blue68f100]

I have very little experience with revolvers.

He's right in the sense that the cylinder does not turn quite far enough. Not knowing the inner workings, the hand may be worn a little or maybe never right when new. If it only hampers the loading and does not on the cylinder to bore it's just a little inconvenience. If the cylinder to bore is off it will spit lead. There are some good books out there on how to work on these. Or see if you can find a U-tube video showing what needs to be adjusted.

I have no ides on what your laws are in importing gun parts. So that may be a bigger issue.

Some one with more Knowledge than me will come by soon and give you a more accurate assessment.

 

[call1911]

Importing gun parts is not a problem. It just might take ages until they arrive.
I'll look @YT maybe there's something there.

I couldn't find any lead shavings, so the cylinder to bore axis seems correct.
Accuracy is also very good @25 meters.

It's just a marvelous piece of work and I really want to do nothing wrong with the gun.

 

[beag_nut]

You have Cowboy Action Shooters in Austria? Wow.
I would venture that if the cylinder aligns with the barrel during ignition, there may be nothing wrong. However, Uberti may not be as "faithful" to the original Colt design as one might expect. Is it a Colt original, or an Uberti copy? If a copy you may have a factory warranty solution. If an original Colt, then I don't know.

 

[BBBBill]

I recommend this book - Heritage Gun Books - Colt Single Action Revolvers Repair and Maintenance Manual
It is an excellent resource for anyone from the owner who seeks a better understanding of his gun to the working smith who needs every bit of information available to repair and modify the gun. It also applies to the clones with some exceptions, mostly related to their modifications to meet import requirements.

 

[SGW Gunsmith]

I'm with "beag_nut" and his spot-on diagnosis. Loading and case removal is supposed to have a little wiggle room for operation of the ejector rod, it's built into the piece. If you are not shaving lead, that's a good thing and gives credence as to the cylinder aligning to the bore, as it should, so the "pawl" is aligning with the cylinder ratchet very well and certifies alignment of the cylinder to the bore.
I have several Colt Single Action Army revolvers and all of them need to be rotated a wee bit to get the cylinder to line up with the "off-set" case ejection rod to expel a spent case, or to load a new round. If you notice, in this condition the cylinder stop is down and not engaged into the cylinder notches for that part.
If the condition still worries you, find a 'smith who has a 'range rod' whereby he can insert that into the muzzle end to see how well the bore lines up with the cylinder throat when the revolver is in a full-cock position.
From what the OP has posted, his Colt shoots very well and doesn't spit lead. Reads like a GOOD Colt SAA to me.
And BTW, Jerry Kuhnhausen's shop manuals for the Colt Single Action Revolvers Vol. I & II are a virtual wealth of information on these revolvers, also. Available from Brownells, and the also sell range rods.

 

[beag_nut]

I don't have any Colt's, but I do have an excellent Ruger Single-Ten, in which the gate does not exactly align with the ramp during unloading/ejecting. Doesn't bother me, since the revolver functions flawlessly otherwise.

 

[call1911]

You have Cowboy Action Shooters in Austria? Wow.
I would venture that if the cylinder aligns with the barrel during ignition, there may be nothing wrong. However, Uberti may not be as "faithful" to the original Colt design as one might expect. Is it a Colt original, or an Uberti copy? If a copy you may have a factory warranty solution. If an original Colt, then I don't know.

As mentioned in the title it's an original Colt 2nd gen.

 

[call1911]

I recommend this book - Heritage Gun Books - Colt Single Action Revolvers Repair and Maintenance Manual
It is an excellent resource for anyone from the owner who seeks a better understanding of his gun to the working smith who needs every bit of information available to repair and modify the gun. It also applies to the clones with some exceptions, mostly related to their modifications to meet import requirements.

As far as my abilities concerning mechanics go I'd rather not open the gun and most certainly ruin it forever

 

[call1911]

I'll put my question in the wheelgun section here on THR. Maybe there's some knowledge hidden there.
Thanks a lot though for trying to help.

 

[P89DCSS]

These guys know Colt single actions: https://singleactions.proboards.com/