Single Action Army Questions

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When I was active in SASS, there was some discussion that the wire bolt springs were too weak and would allow the cylinder to "over throw" if cocked hard.

Howdy Again

This Colt has a wire trigger/bolt spring in it. It has been in there for quite a few years now, does not give any trouble. It is easy to tune one of these springs to deliver how much spring force you want just by bending it a bit with a pliers. This one has enough force that the cylinder never throws by when cocked briskly, this Colt and the other one I have shown are my two Main Match CAS pistols, and they get shot a lot. I recall when I was sitting with my favorite gunsmith and he was tuning this revolver a little bit, we first put a standard 'flat' trigger/bolt spring in. We did not like the trigger pull, so we substituted this wire spring instead. Trigger pull with this spring is right where I like it, about 2 1/2 pounds.

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A friend has Taylors with "Rugerized" hands; coil and plunger instead of leaf. Not authentic, but more durable.

This Uberti Cattleman came with a coil spring for the hand. It fits in the hollow base of one of the grip screw. Yup, no worries about that spring breaking.

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There is a wire trigger/bolt spring in this pistol too.

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I started shooting CAS back about 1983 or '84 with a Uberti from Cimarron Arms and a Cattleman from another Italian maker. I think I broke almost every spring in those two guns. Came away with the idea that the Italians hadn't yet mastered tempering springs. I understand they do better these days.

Whet into a local gun shop back then to see if the replacement springs I'd ordered for the Cattleman had come in. While there I spotted a Colt on the lower self of the used revolver cabinet. Turned out to be a re-built 1st Gen SAA, with a 7-1/2" 2nd Gen barrel and cylinder added, both 45 caliber. I immediately traded the Italian gun that was waiting for springs for the Colt (OK, it was just a down payment). I knew enough about the black powder era Colts to not want to abuse that old frame, 1881 if I remember correctly. That started me on my journey into shooting black powder cartridges. By 1985 I had another Colt, an original 73 Winchester in 44 WCF and the first hammer shotgun I ever owned. I was shooting two or three CAS matches every month, plus practicing when I didn't go to a match. I ended up with five 1st Generation Colts that I shot nothing but black powder in and continued that for 10 more years.

In all that time and for all those rounds I never had a trigger/bolt spring break, and they were the springs that came in the used Colts I bought back then. Had to give up all that for a while (life happens) but now I have USFA single actions which also come with leaf trigger/bolt springs. Haven't broken one of those either, so I'm with Craig. I don't think these things break nearly as often as the internet would have us believe.

Dave
 
Howdy Again

I was pretty sure I had one of these laying around somewhere. As I recall, a CAS friend gave it to me. No idea where he got it, I will have to ask him. I have never tried to take a SAA apart with it, next time I do I will have to see if it fits all of the screws. I'm pretty sure though that I will continue to use my Magna-Tip screwdrivers for SAA disassembly/assembly.

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