Greetings. I'm new to the forum, and a 45 Colt enthusiast. I recently managed to find a 45LC Anaconda with the 8-3/8" barrel, but was disappointed to find, on my first trip to the range, that it frequently misfired in DA mode, though never in SA. The local 'smith put a new mainspring in, and took a little off the hammer face to increase firing pin protrusion a tad. It helped, but the gun still misfires about 50% of the time in DA mode. I have noticed that in DA, the hammer is not drawn back nearly as far before releasing as it is in SA. Is there any way to remedy this? Thanks, Phil
Anaconda DA misfire
- Thread starter philipj
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Steve H
Member
I would think that this should be sent back to Colt.
dfariswheel
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Return it to the factory for a free repair.
Note that removing material from the hammer is NOT a proper repair, and Colt may charge you for a new hammer.
In short, your gunsmith botched this up. This is a transfer-bar ignition system, and removing material from the hammer does NOTHING for increasing hammer strike or more reliable ignition.
Removing material from the hammer is a major safety violation in these type revolvers, and likely ruined the hammer.
These type Colt's have very thin case hardened surfaces with softer metal underneath.
This gives a part that will take shock, but have a super hard thin surface to prevent wear.
By "Taking off" the hammer face, it's likely he broke through the thin surface coat and destroyed the hammer.
In any event, as far as Colt is concerned, ANY alteration to a Colt hammer is cause to reject it and replace it with a new part.
These days, Rule One is: Never trust any local gunsmith with a Colt revolver.
Most locals do NOT know Colt's and often botch them up by "fixing" the WRONG thing.
If you're having ignition problems, the usual problem is either a mainspring, or a firing pin problem, NEVER a factory original hammer.
As a note: These later Colt guns have a firing pin that MUST, repeat MUST be replaced by the factory.
Replacement REQUIRES special presses and support jugs to remove and install a firing pin without damaging or even ruining the frame.
Allow a local to replace the firing pin, and the gun WILL be damaged, even if they tell you they have the right tooling., which 99.999% of the time they do NOT.
Note that removing material from the hammer is NOT a proper repair, and Colt may charge you for a new hammer.
In short, your gunsmith botched this up. This is a transfer-bar ignition system, and removing material from the hammer does NOTHING for increasing hammer strike or more reliable ignition.
Removing material from the hammer is a major safety violation in these type revolvers, and likely ruined the hammer.
These type Colt's have very thin case hardened surfaces with softer metal underneath.
This gives a part that will take shock, but have a super hard thin surface to prevent wear.
By "Taking off" the hammer face, it's likely he broke through the thin surface coat and destroyed the hammer.
In any event, as far as Colt is concerned, ANY alteration to a Colt hammer is cause to reject it and replace it with a new part.
These days, Rule One is: Never trust any local gunsmith with a Colt revolver.
Most locals do NOT know Colt's and often botch them up by "fixing" the WRONG thing.
If you're having ignition problems, the usual problem is either a mainspring, or a firing pin problem, NEVER a factory original hammer.
As a note: These later Colt guns have a firing pin that MUST, repeat MUST be replaced by the factory.
Replacement REQUIRES special presses and support jugs to remove and install a firing pin without damaging or even ruining the frame.
Allow a local to replace the firing pin, and the gun WILL be damaged, even if they tell you they have the right tooling., which 99.999% of the time they do NOT.
Thanks much for the info and advice. I will be on the phone with Colt first thing Monday to arrange sending it to them for necessary repairs. I called the guy who attempted the repair for me earlier, and sure enough, he had driven out a pin in an attempt to remove the firing pin 
, but thankfully stopped there once he realized going further would mean trouble. With luck the thing will be repairable. Regards,
Phil
NRA Life Member
Salinas, CA
, but thankfully stopped there once he realized going further would mean trouble. With luck the thing will be repairable. Regards,Phil
NRA Life Member
Salinas, CA
I'm pretty sure it's repairable, and when Colt gets it they will go through the gun and fix everything that needs attention. You should be well satisfied. It also occured to me that the problem might also lie with the transfer bar safety. If so, they will replace it.
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