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Blackhawk disassembles itself

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Stinger

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Dec 29, 2002
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I recently acquired a New Model Blackhawk, .357 magnum.

With magnum rounds, the base pin comes unlatched after 1-2 shots. With 38specials, it works itself free after 5-6. Sometimes more, sometimes less.

Is this a common problem? What is the solution?

Regards,

Stinger
 
Not common with MY Blackhawks. I've never had the cylinder pin work out with any amount of high power including my .45 Colt that I load .44 mag equivalent loads for. Never had the pin back out. Sounds like a problem with your gun.

Be sure the slot on the pin is rotated to line up with the latch on the frame of the gun. If it's not at the bottom where the latch can engage it, it won't lock. It should, however, only be able to go in one way because it'll foul the barrel if it's not lined up.
 
check the "side push pin thingy" that releases the cyl pin; I just reblued a pre-warning new blackhawk, and when I was putting the whole thing back together I discovered that if it isnt oriented correctly it'll allow the pin to slip, especially under duress (like firing, shaking) It has a little cutout to engae the pin correctly
 
BTW, this revolver is brand new, so wear is not an issue. Obviously, a part could be broken, though.

Everything goes together properly, that is until the shooting starts. The pin locks up nice and tight. I cannot pull it out without pushing the base pin latch. I cannot get it to shake loose, either. It is only shooting that releases the pin.

Weird?!?

Regards,

Stinger
 
When you fire, the recoil causes the pin to jump forward, and then backwards. Sometime the jar is enough to cause the pin to "jump the latch" and once it starts it continues. There are at least two solutions'

You can buy an aftermarket base (cylinder) pin from Brownells (www.brownells.com) that has a small screw in the head of the pin. The screw can be turned up against the barrel (or a detent in the barrel) and this will prevent the pin from moving - but you do need to back the screw out before you can take out the cylinder. I don't find this to be a problem.

Or you can substitute a stronger coil spring in the latch. Sometimes this works, but sometimes it doesn't.
 
I read sometime back an article by Tappen I believe on this very thing.

As I remember it is not an uncommom failing in cowboy circles. There is a fix for it but I would not know how to look it up.
 
I am just so damn good

Anyone who has shot single actions extensively will relate to chasing base pins that have come loose under recoil. Apparently it was also a problem in the pre-Magnum days of the 1920's as Keith and the gunsmiths on the project took care of the problem. Keith says: "The new type base pin has a large head that is easily grasped to remove the pin, instead of the regular head that one usually had to use the head of a shell on to pull it out. Unless the Single Action is fitted with an extra strong spring in the base-pin catch, the recoil will drive the pin forward, and in some cases tie up the gun. This new catch is a lever that swings into a square cut in the base pin and no amount of firing can loosen the pin. At the same time it is very easy to remove the pin for cleaning. A spring plunger locks the lever."


Belt Mountain oversize base pin
 
joab said:
I am just so damn good

Anyone who has shot single actions extensively will relate to chasing base pins that have come loose under recoil. Apparently it was also a problem in the pre-Magnum days of the 1920's as Keith and the gunsmiths on the project took care of the problem. Keith says: "The new type base pin has a large head that is easily grasped to remove the pin, instead of the regular head that one usually had to use the head of a shell on to pull it out. Unless the Single Action is fitted with an extra strong spring in the base-pin catch, the recoil will drive the pin forward, and in some cases tie up the gun. This new catch is a lever that swings into a square cut in the base pin and no amount of firing can loosen the pin. At the same time it is very easy to remove the pin for cleaning. A spring plunger locks the lever."
Click to expand...

Good find!

Didn't the old black powder 1873 colts use a screw instead of the spring loaded catch???? Seems like I read that somewhere.

Wonder if Wolff springs might have a fix for a limp latch spring?
 
Odd, I've got two Blackhawks and a shooting friend has four and I've never seen the problem. G
Click to expand...
I've had two Super Blackhawks and a Vaquero and I have never heard of it either.

But those cowboys shoot thousands of rounds.

Also apparently according to the little that I read while trying to find that link Ruger has a habit of over reaming the cylinder holes.
This pin is also supposed to increase accuracy somehow

Didn't the old black powder 1873 colts use a screw instead of the spring loaded catch????
Click to expand...
They had a small set screw under in the frame under the base pin

Pic four
 
My SBH had the same condition and this is how i cured it.
Take the cylinder pin out and slightly file the notch that the retaining plunger fits into, you want to make it slightly deeper but not wider.
Unscrew the plunger and stretch the spring about 1/2 inch longer.
those two things cured my troubles for no money in about 10 minutes.
 
I've had Blackhawks, Superblackhawks, two Single-six (old 3-screw models) and THEY ALL came loose, in the sense that screws needed tightening after a session shooting.

I even had the shell ejection guide fly off when shooting the Blackhawk.

It's not you. I believe it is inherent, especially since Ruger has changed the screw type at least once, maybe more.
 
If my guns were loosening screws, I'd dab some red loctite on 'em. Well, I'd probably use blue, 'cause you might not ever get it apart again if you used red on it. Stuff is good.

A friend had his ejector mounting screw get loose at the range once and when we got it back home, I dabbed some blue loctite on it for him. I use the stuff on racing motorcycles (lots of vibration on thumpers, four stroke singles) and it's good stuff. He hasn't had the problem since.
 
I said that I have never had a problem with the base pin loosening, but the first SBR I had would back out the grip farms screws after just a few rounds of heavy magnums. A girl at the range had finger nail polish. That worked until I got some loktite, don't know how long it would have held though
 
Get a Belt Mountain Base Pin. Acording to the factory your Blackhawk is "within spec" nothing wrong. Some of these guns have this problem, some never do. The only solution is to change the pin. When I had my little internet business of reaming Ruger .45 cylinder throats (now defunt), several of my customers had this problem and the aftermarket pin was the fix..
 
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