The right way to replace the cylinder of an SAA?

[ojh]

I own several revolvers, but I'm a total newbie with Single Action Armys. Yesterday I got my first one, a brand-new Uberti Cattleman Flattop in .45 Colt, 7½" barrel. When checking and cleaning the gun, I run into a problem in how to replace the cylinder.

The instruction manual that came with the gun tells to insert the cylinder into the frame when the hammer is in the half-cock notch, that is, when the bolt is down. I tried this, but could not push the cylinder all the way in to the left to install the base pin. Supposedly the hand refused to climb on the ratchet. I tried to rotate the cylinder clockwise to ease it (this trick works with my 1858 Remmie clones) but it would not turn, and I was afraid to use excessive force. I finally managed to replace the cylinder when the hammer was down, and thus the bolt was up. This required to carefully guide the bolt into one of the cylinder notches, after that the cylinder slipped easily all the way in.

What IS the right method to replace the cylinder of an SAA? Should the half-cock method work if enough force & torque is used, and was I just too shy? Or, am I in danger to harm the gun if I insert the cylinder as I managed to do it, hammer down?

 

[Virginian]

On all of mine, hammer at half cock, rotate cylinder clockwise as you ease it into the frame. If the endplay is negligiible you have to be careful to keep the cylinder axis parallel to the bore or it will cock and jam. Never use much force, just ease it in there real gently. That's worked for me on Ubertis, Cimarrons, Colts, and Rugers. Well, excpet on the New Model Rugers the gate's open and the hammer is down.
If you do manage to do it with the hammer down and the bolt up you will get a ring around the cylinder eventually, which is not correct on a Colt action like yours. And never let the hammer down from half notch. Pull it all the way back and then lower it.

 

[rcmodel]

+1 to all of the above!

I think you got it in a bind in the frame.

It should get easier after all the sharp edges wear off a little.

rc

 

[Jim K]

Small tip. If you are concerned about marring the cylinder on a new SAA type revolver, check the inside of the cylinder window for burrs, especially around the bolt cutout. A lot of makers, including Colt, are leaving burrs in those areas which can scratch the cylinder when it is being removed/replaced. Also check the bolt itself and polish any burrs or sharp points.

Jim

 

[ojh]

I have fired the first 50 shots with the Flattop, and behold! It is now possible to replace the cylinder with the hammer at half-cock. So it just needed some breaking in. Thank you all for helping a novice!

 

[OldLt]

Don't forget to open the loading gate.