My Colt Agent .38 SPL

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dwh4784

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Here are some pics of my "new" gun. Only my second hand gun after playing around with a Pietta BP 1851 Navy for awhile (seen in first pic for size comparison).

From my research here and elsewhere it appears to be an older version and in great shape. A little wear on the grips and it was barely dirty from firing. I bought it from a local gun shop who had it on consignment for a widow. Paid $375 which I feel was a good price. S/N is 202xxx-LW which makes it a 1966 according to proofhouse.

I'm glad I found this forum, looks like a great place!
 

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There is one like it in a local pawn shop for $389, but it doesn't look anywhere as good as yours.
The little Colt DA revolvers are sweet.
 
Just got back from shooting mine. You will enjoy the Agent. They are great little guns.
 
UH-OH! Colt Agent? That's how it started with me.

A bunch of Colts later and I can now say I'm done buying Colts. Except maybe this one I saw yesterday...

Seek professional help now while you still have your wits about you.

Nice looking gun at a great price, JT
 
Took it out and put close to 100 rounds through it yesterday. Wow this thing is accurate! A co-worker brought his brand new SP101 and neither of us could shoot it very well but the Agent was impressive.
 
Bumping my old thread. I have had some problems with misfires when shooting double action. Is there a specific 38spl ammo I should lean toward? I have tried a couple brands and so far CCI Blazer Brass was the best as far as reliability, in fact I can't specifically recall any misfires. Reliant USA was terrible, 1 out of 6 wouldn't fire the first go around. Fiocchi I had one out of the box of 50 (keep in mind most of my target shots are SA, so it's probably closer to 1 out of 15. I don't have misfires shooting single action, but this is the gun I would likely use for home defense and a DA misfire in that circumstance would not be good. When looking at the bullets that don't fire there is a clear hammer mark in the primer, I guess it just doesn't strike quite as hard in DA for some reason.
 
Good info, thanks. My next box of ammo is Winchester and I'll be shooting next weekend so I'll try running through the whole thing DA and see how it does. Might grab a box of Federal to take along also.
 
Depending on what you mean by "misfire," your Agent may have a timing problem. I have one of the mid-80s Colt Agents with the rough grey finish. After it recently began to hiccup on occasion I had someone more knowledgeable about Colts check it out. He ran it double-action for a few minutes loaded with snap caps and found that the timing was off. There were firing pin dimples all over the rear of the snap caps outside of the primer area. I shipped the gun off to Colt and for about $130 + whatever it cost to ship, Colt fixed the cylinder end shake (their diagnosis of the problem) and tightened everything up. No more misfires after that.
 
It's hitting the center of the primer, so I'm thinking it's more related to a weaker hammer strike. Hopefully the softer primers is all it needs.

WoodchuckAssassin, I think I just stumbled onto this one at the right time. I was leaning toward a Ruger LCR or an older S&W Model 10 or something and then I spotted this at a hole in the wall gun shop.
 
mainspring

At one time most knew how to lighten a Colt action and that was to cock the hammer with a small punch or nail mid-way on the V mainspring. It works pretty well with the bigger frame guns but often with the small frame gun it will make double action strike too light. The spring can be bent to make it stiffer also and that is what I would first do as you have tried several makes of ammo already. The agent is what I carry when I carry 38 special. Yours if the first of the new grip frame, meaning it can wear all of the newer pachmayr and several wood stocks that also fit the cobra and detective special if you desire a bigger grip.
 
My regular pocket carry is a 1969 Agent that I bought in apparent unfired condition with no box or papers and was happy to get it at $600. You got a great deal. I just purchased a nice '65 Cobra for $499 and it will be my belt carry gun when I choose not to carry in my front pocket. Nothing beats a D frame Colt snubbie for carry.:)
 
At one time most knew how to lighten a Colt action and that was to cock the hammer with a small punch or nail mid-way on the V mainspring. It works pretty well with the bigger frame guns but often with the small frame gun it will make double action strike too light. The spring can be bent to make it stiffer also and that is what I would first do as you have tried several makes of ammo already. The agent is what I carry when I carry 38 special. Yours if the first of the new grip frame, meaning it can wear all of the newer pachmayr and several wood stocks that also fit the cobra and detective special if you desire a bigger grip.
Click to expand...

Make sure you have a spare spring because if you bust the one in the pistol you are going to have trouble replacing it.

I would clean the lockworks out, maybe there is gunk in the pins and recesses slowing the action.

If your hammer strike double action is in the center of the primer than your timing is OK. Checking timing is more involved and Kunhausen's book shows how, but as new looking as your pistol appears, I don't believe it was fired enough to be out of time.

When you reload, use Federal primers. They are the most sensitive primers on the market.
 
I agree with Slamfire be sure it is clean inside before attempting a mechanical repair.
 
As has been pointed out, light double-action strikes are usually caused by someone tampering with the mainspring. This is somewhat confirmed because you don't seem to have a problem when shooting using the single-action mode where the hammer revolves in a longer arc.

The first step should be to try some lubrication, and the easiest way is to remove the stocks and then submerge the revolver in a bath of Marvel Mystery Oil, that can be obtained at most automotive supply stores or big-box store automotive departments. It is inexpensive, and can be poured back into the original container and used over and over.

After letting the revolver soak for several hours, remove it from the bath and use an air hose to blow out the excessive oil (or you can let it drain on some old newspapers, but dispose of them as they will become a fire hazard.)

Wipe down the exterior with paper towels, and the chambers and bore with dry patches. Dispose of them as you did the newspaper.

After 24 hours, repeat the wiping down and chamber/bore wipe with a clean patch; and then replace the stocks.

Concerning the mainspring: After it has been bent - especially excessively so - it may take a set, and should be replaced. These days they are getting hard to find, but an Internet search will usually turn one up.

A revolver that has a double-action trigger pull that is so light it requires a particular brand of primer to fire is unfit for use in any self protection context.
 
I've always liked the Agent model - right down to the smaller grips. It might not be the easiest snubbie to shoot, but it's high on the cool scale. And when you are collecting that's all that matters. :cool:
 
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