Hammer spring for Colt SAA-clone

[dashootist]

I've put about 500 rounds thru my Cimarron/Uberti SAA-clone. During my last range visit, a few commercial rounds didn't go off when the hammer strikes the primer. My friend said he thinks the hammer spring is too weak. I wouldn't think 500 rounds would be enough to wear out a spring; so maybe I need a stronger spring. I went to Midwayusa, but they don't have any stronger hammer spring. All they have is Wolf reduced springs. Where can I find some heavy duty hammer springs for my clone?

 

[DPris]

You probably can't, since the commercial market wants lighter springs, not heavier.
The Italian mainsprings can be problematical in hardness & heat treating, and in the past that's led to breaking and loss of strength.
You might just try replacing your spring with a factory replacement from VTI and see how that goes.

Denis

 

[Chasing Crow]

My brother bought a cowbow 45. First time out, he had several fail to fire. I took a look at the ammo, (can't remember make)and the primers on the failed cartriges were seated too deep.About 1/4 of them were visibly set deeper than the others. QC failure!

 

[LightningMan]

FWIW most of the single action clones now a days come tuned for the Cowboy Action Shooter, which means lighter springs. I know several cowboy shooters whom reload using only Federal primers because they use a different priming compound for their primers that is more sensitive thus easier to set off. You may have to replace the main spring or reload using Federal primers. LM

 

[Bruce H.]

I put one of the Wolff reduced power springs in my Cimarron Model P about a year ago and have not had one light strike. I didn't have any before I replaced the spring either. I don't think you can go wrong by repacing the factory spring with one of the Wolff's.

 

[captain awesome]

I had the same problem with my AWA colt clone, my first box of ammo I put through it (Winchester cowboy loads), almost none of them fired the first strike, so I had to run em through twice. Even then I still had a few that refused to fire. So I took it apart and tweaked the spring(leaf spring) so it would hit harder and that seemed to have done the trick. On the Bob Munden website it says to stay away from Winchester and CCI primers for CAS, because you will get that problem a lot. I started reloading for it with federal primers as mentioned and haven't had a single problem since.

 

[average_shooter]

Before you go ordering new springs have you taken the grip off and checked that the hammer spring screw is tight? If that screw holding the spring in place is loose it will lead to reduced power. I bought a backup factory hammer spring from MidwayUSA and received it without a problem, though it's just been sitting unneeded for a while now.

FYI, I believe a trick to even "lighten" factory flat springs is to place a scrap of leather between the spring and frame to reduce the power a little.

 

[dashootist]

Yes, I've checked the hammer spring screw. It's tight. I guess I'll buy a Wolfe reduced spring as well as a another factory spring from Midway, and see what the differences are. THey don't cost much, just a few bucks.

 

[madcratebuilder]

FYI, I believe a trick to even "lighten" factory flat springs is to place a scrap of leather between the spring and frame to reduce the power a little.

The leather trick well increase hammer pressure, it's used a lot with the cap and ball revolvers to get consistent ignition of the percussion caps.

 

[CraigC]

Try the Wolff spring. Most SA's (if not all) are oversprung from the factory to overcome rough actions. Except for USFA's, which in my experience only need a spring swap to be slick as butter on glass. I slick up and install light springs in all my SA's and never have ignition issues. I bet your factory spring was just not properly heat treated. While your'e at it get the Heinie music wire trigger/bolt spring.

 

[BCRider]

Ensure that the hammer and hammer pivot pin are well cleaned and lubed with just a light coat of oil. I'm pretty new to shooting but I've already learned that gummy oil around the hammer will act like a viscous shock absorber and slow down the speed of the hammer. And it's a really sharp high velocity SNAP! to the firing pin that'll set off the primers instead of just a lot of pressure.

 

[Doogle]

Another possible issue could be the firing pin...>

When I got my Uberti Cattleman (used) the firing pin was quite worn down. It still fired OK but when I needed the hand spring replaced my gunsmith also replaced the firing pin. He believed it was getting to the point where it could cause light strikes. The new pin was noticeably longer.