Hardening parts necessary?

[eagle24]

I've read the posts here, and have also read Mec's book (this weekend). Do I need to go ahead and do some hardening of some action parts before I put my Pietta New Army into action? If I am going to experience wear due to "soft" parts I would rather handle it now instead of when I have a breakdown. The information seems a little sketchy as to the quality (hardness) of the parts in the piettas. My feeling from Mec's book is that, at the time it was written he preferred the Uberti's over the Pietta's, but since the writing of the book has given merit (on this forum) to a possible recent improvement in quality of the Pietta's. If there has been a recent quality improvement with the Pietta's does it include harder action parts or are they still problematic due to softness? Beartracker, I would also like to hear from you since you like the Pietta Remmy's. If you bought one today would you do any hardening before using?

 

[mec]

I don't know. All I really know is that the uberti springs dont break with the wild abandon that they did a few years ago. the Pietta parts at VTI are less expensive than the Uberti and I don't really know if this means anything or not.

In years past the various manufacturers got their parts in lots from a number of sources. A knowledgeable party told me that Armi San Marco was particularly bad about switching parts vendors to the effect that parts from one batch of guns would not interchange with those from another.

I believe it would be more productive (than hardening parts) to buy a few of those that might be subject to wear and keep them on hand. Pre-fitting to your gun works pretty well so that when the part is needed, its a simple drop-in. I've done this with the hand/spring assembly of my Ubertis and find that the 60 army and 61 navy in my collection work both work well with these pre-fitted units. I have broken one each, of these in my army and Navy. I have not worn down a bolt (or hand) to the point that it needed replacement and have shot them enough that if their was a significant "softness" issue, it should have showed up. Nor have the already light triggers on my Uberti's gotten lighter or failed from wear. I have had to fit bolts to various guns- both for practice and because some of the non-uberti-non pietta revolvers weren't done right from the factory. This is not a difficult process.

I've heard enough on these boards to believe the Pietta shooters are experiencing the same longivity of parts.

 

[eagle24]

Thanks Mec. On the advice of Beartracker I ordered the replacement parts kit for the .58 Rem from Cabelas. Before I go shooting I intended to fit these parts to my new gun. I may order a second parts kit and fit and harden those parts to experiment with the hardening process. I have always smoothed the actions myself on my modern guns and have installed spring kits as well. That's about the extent of my gunsmithing experience. I do have a pretty good understanding of which surfaces and angles are critical and where extreme care needs to be taken when smoothing an action. By the way, I really enjoyed your book. I learned a lot about the history of these guns and really like your writing style. I cracked a few grins at the way you worded some of your comments. That is intended as a compliment to your "light" approach to making some of your points.

 

[Manyirons]

One of the general services my local jolly charming barrelmaker&black powder gunsmith provides is testing of parts not only for customer benefit but as knowledge-base.

He asserts in long term numbers, Pietta or Uberti, makes no difference will be a roll of the dice as to bad parts or not. Course, we COULD double the prices and have decent quality arms from the box! Last i looked, dollar aint worth paper its printed on, so whaddya want for 150.00?

By same token, i read lately on SASS WIRE some poor guys tribulations with Ruger Old Armies, my four Old Armies are just fine, fit, finish&function, my returns of Piettas&Ubertis have been neck&neck. Imagine how ya feel getting two or more bad 500.00 ALL AMERICAN guns compared to Antonio's low cost who knows what chinese metal casting specials!

I need to get over this flu! Cant write to keep a point today!

 

[eagle24]

You're right ManyIrons. Not saying I expect a lot for what these import guns cost. Most of the time, when I purchase a gun it is one that I have had the opportunity to inspect prior to purchasing. I own and have owned several Ruger firearms (long guns, auto loading handguns, and revolvers). All but one have been of good quality and acceptable accuracy. The only problem I have had was with a Bisley .44 mag that I ordered from a local dealer. It had some fitment issues and a really bad action which I corrected myself. I was a little disappointed in the way it was "out of the box", but after a little work it is now one of my favorites. I purchased a S&W 657 .41 mag a few weeks ago (also ordered from local dealer). It has some very suspect tooling marks on the forcing cone. I have not fired it yet so I don't know about the accuracy (been under the weather myself). Nonetheless, I was disappointed with it "out of the box", and if I don't miss my bet it will require some work beyond my capabilities. These are the only 2 guns that I have been disappointed with and they are also the only guns that I bought without inspecting them first. I guess the price of a gun has an impact on my expectations. The price also is a factor in what I feel is acceptable and I should live with. For what these guns sell for if I can keep it shooting with decent accuracy and reliability I will be happy. Who knows maybe I'll get a good one and really grin.

 

[Manyirons]

Yup! is kinda the way it goes! UPS delivers package, and "Lottery Time"!!!! Will i win and get a good one?!?!?!

Candidly though, i sour easily and hold a grudge, is why even if it passes all of the out of box inspections, straight to that big kraut gunsmith it goes to INSURE the thing continues to please!

Cause ya know somethin'? I just don't find it charming anymore when something fails to work right, when i go shooting, i want the silly thing to go BOOM a few hundred times per session, no drama, no complaints, no stoppages outside normal cap&ball "Fragment in action" types.

But then again, i dont like drivin an unreliable old car that may or may not haphazardly get you to your destination. The guys in 19th century that killed each other in wholesale lots did so with this type of arm and they WORKED!!!!

Whoops! More Theraflu&Bed for me!