Colt SAA revolver when loading at half cock--intermittent cylinder locking

[orpington]

Any ideas what might cause the cylinder to lock, like at full cock, when spinning cylinder at half cock when loading? Happens only intermittently not every time.

Should rephrase to state like as if loading as it was not actually being loaded. Eliminates the possibility of a thick case rim, etc.

 

[243winxb]

After loading, move the hammer down to safety notch☆, before going to full cock to fire. Same as early Ruger Blackhawks. Edit☆

See more below.

 

[orpington]

But the problem arises when at half cock. That is, while spinning cylinder at half cock.

 

[orpington]

Further research indicates this might be a worn or broken trigger (which, in the SAA, is the sear), or a worn bolt or hammer cam.

Does this sound right and/or does anyone have any experience with this?

 

[243winxb]

Something with the cylinder latch and how it engages the hammer? Or trigger?

 

[BobWright]

Are you possibly earing the hammer back further while rotating the cylinder? Is the hammer fully seated in the loading notch?

Incidentally, NEVER DO THIS!

After loading, move the hammer down to half cock, before going to full cock to fire.

After loading the fifth round, or just having the hammer at the loading notch, fully cock the hammer then ease it down all the way. Never leave the gun at the safety notch, especially if loaded.

If the hammer is lowered to the safety notch from half cock position, the locking bolt will rest against the cylinder surface rather than in a locking bolt notch in the cylinder. In this position the bolt will eventually "ring" the surface of the cylinder. After loading, or inspecting the revolver with the hammer in the loading notch, fully cocking the hammer insures the bolt is in a locking notch. Easing the hammer down from this position allows the cylinder to be firmly locked in position.


Bob Wright

 

[243winxb]

Old model Ruger SBH , from Ruger instructions.

A Colt is not a Ruger.

 

[45 Dragoon]

Orpington, sounds like the bolt arm is falling off the cam too early because of wear or wear to the cam. Intermittently because of a combination of amount of wear and how far you are drawing the hammer back. This allows the bolt to drop and engage the next locking notch.

One other possibility is the bolt arm may be weak and you should spread them apart slightly to force the arm to ride the cam longer.

Mike

 

[orpington]

I suspected wear to the cam as well. Admittedly, I stated all the aforementioned on behalf of someone else and will relay them all this information so that he can troubleshoot. A big thank you to all...and don't hesitate to keep responding!

 

[BobWright]

Old model Ruger SBH , from Ruger instructions.

A Colt is not a Ruger.

View attachment 767761

This is bad information and results in ringing the cylinder. Colt, Ruger, Great Western, Hawes~all "three screw" type actions should be fully cocked from the loading position then the hammer lowered on the empty chamber.

The old routine to load a Single Action, place hammer in the loading notch. Load one cartridge, and rotating the cylinder by hand, skip the next chamber, and load the remaining four cartridges. Fully cock the hammer and lower it to the fired, or fully down, position. The firing pin is now resting over an empty chamber and is safe to carry, yet ready to fire.

As a matter of interest, some old Colts have been seen with an extra set of locking notches in the cylinder, twelve notches, so the hammer (and firing pin) can rest between cartridge rims.

Bob Wright

 

[Armybrat]

^^^^
Listen to Mr. Wright. He knows single actions.

 

[243winxb]

This is bad information

Right out of Rugers owners manual. Take it up with Ruger.

 

[1KPerDay]

Who said anything about Rugers until you did? Advising someone to lower a Colt SAA hammer from half cock to the safety notch is BAD ADVICE.

 

[243winxb]

Your all right. I wrong.

Though it may have had something to do with indexing.

A Colt is not a Ruger.

 

[BobWright]

Right out of Rugers owners manual. Take it up with Ruger.

There is no need to "take it up with Ruger." The Three Screw Rugers have been out of production since 1973 and all old models are presumably converted to the transfer bar action. So Ruger is not likely to revise a manual for their older unconverted guns. Just say they gave bad advice and let it go at that.

I'm very aware that a Colt is not a Ruger, have a few of each. The statements made cover the handling of any similar single action revolver of the Colt type. Regardless of manufacture all such guns handle the same way, that is, loading while the hammer is in the loading notch and the cylinder released to spin freely. When the routine of load-one-skip-one-load four is followed, the correct procedure is to fully cock the hammer and ease it down on the empty chamber.

Bob Wright