Building a PPC revolver

[Jenrick]

Well for whatever reason I'm thinking about putting together a PPC revolver. My question to the forum is are there any particular work items that I really should leave to the professionals even if I've got the tools to do that job?

Certain things like cutting the shoulder and the like I'm going to have done as I don't own a lather for instance.

The major pieces of the job would appear to be:

New barrel
Rib sight
True up cylinder center pin and yoke
Chamfer chamber edges for loading
Action job
New stocks


Well I'm comfortable on putting new stocks on at a minimum. Barring needing machining tools such as a lathe for the barrel I've got the majority of the tooling I need from previous projects and I know the stock numbers for the rest at Brownells.

Thanks for the input,

-Jenrick

 

[nicholst55]

Unless you're starting with a brand new revolver, you'll probably want to have the cylinder endshake removed, which is a job for a professional. I would definitely recommend having the barrel fitted by a pro, as well. He should ideally square the cylinder face (and yoke), set the barrel/cylinder gap to minimum dimensions, cut the forcing cone, and ensure that the extractor rod and center pin are straight.

If I was serious about wanting to compete with this gun, I would also have a professional action job done which would include ensuring that the hammer and trigger pivots are square, shimming the hammer and trigger to eliminate slop, and a very light DA trigger pull, while maintaining adequate reliability for a competition gun.

We're talking about a lot of detailed action work here - stuff that most of us are simply not qualified to do. You won't get the action where it needs to be by merely swapping springs. If it were me, I'd probably have a good revolversmith handle everything except for installing the grips! But that's just me. You might be more skilled in revolver work than I am.

 

[Jim Watson]

And you need some sort of front lockup. Either a conventional front latch at the extractor rod tip or a ball detent in the crane.