Trigger "setting" on new Pietta 1858 Navy.

[tinhorn]

Bought a .36 Pietta 1858 Remington so that I could install a Kirst .22 conversion cylinder. Cylinder is new, and after I wiped the oil off the Pietta, I installed it and it fit perfectly!

I cycled the gun several times including pulling the trigger and dropping the hammer (gently). The cylinder locked up perfectly. I was quite pleased. I took the gun and the cylinder apart in order to clean and polish (Flitz) any parts that touched other parts.

But after reassembly, when I pull the hammer back, it goes through half-cock *click*, then at full-cock the bolt engages *click*, but the trigger doesn't "set" until I pull the hammer back just...another...hair. Another, third *click* but I can't believe this is normal. It certainly isn't safe.

It does the same thing with the Pietta percussion cylinder.

It's entirely possible it operated this way right out of the box and I didn't notice it. Kirst's troubleshooting guide says: "Q. Trigger doesn’t set. A. The hand may be too long, the trigger nose may be too long, or a combination of both. The revolver needs timing."

Is this something I can fix? I don't want to make things worse but I'm not excited about sending it back for repair, either. What do you suggest?

 

[gobsauce]

Calling the black powder gurus, @45 Dragoon and @Jackrabbit1957 .

These dudes are the go to for these mechanisms, they'll sure as hell have your answers.

 

[1KPerDay]

This video may be helpful

 

[45 Dragoon]

Ok, the OP says 1st click is 1/2 cock - correct.
Then full cock, bolt engages - engages what? The act of reaching "full cock" means the trigger is engaging the full cock notch. Click.

The sequence is:
1st click - 1/2 cock
2nd. - bolt drop (bolt contacting the cylinder) -click
3 Rd - trigger sear reaching full cock notch and bolt engaging the locking notch simultaneously -click.

Probably a picture of what you polished may help?

The hand length will be the correct length when the 3rd click is correct. In other words, adjusting the hand length to allow the bolt to fall into the locking notch as the trigger engages full cock is what defines the "3rd" click, then you adjust the bolt drop ( 2nd click). The "cycle length" ends at full cock. Everything has to happen between hammer at rest and full cock - the 2 "givens" in an action.

Mike