Walker wedge question

[TMC4232]

Should the wedge on a Walker, or any Colt for that matter, be tapped in or just pushed in by hand pressure? One one of my Uberti Walkers when I tap the wedge in tight the cylinder will not turn. On another Uberti it will freely turn when tapped in. I am thinking the barrel face needs to be lightly filed down to allow more clearance. Any other experiences out there?

 

[pohill]

Each gun's wedge fit can be different, even in the same model. If the cylinder won't turn, back the wedge out a bit. I would not, ever, file the slot of the gun to make a wedge fit - if anything, I'd file the wedge. Wedges can be replaced for alot less than a new frame.

 

[mykeal]

How far the wedge goes in determines how close the cylinder face is to the forcing cone, and that's what determines how to insert it. Some take only hand pressure while others need a tap from a hammer.

The gap between the cylinder face and the forcing cone should be between 0.006" and 0.010".

 

[TMC4232]

Thanks for your responses. The wedge fits either very loose or needs to be tapped in. If tapped in lightly so it is snug, the cylinder really drags. If the wedge is loose the cylinder turns without dragging on the forcing cone and the barrel. But the problem is, when loose, it tends to move too easily back and forth in the slot. Perhaps I need to order a second wedge to compare and maybe it will be tighter. My comment about lightly filing the forcing cone down would be only to achieve a clearance of .006" and with a wedge that was securely tapped in.

 

[scrat]

When you can push the wedge in all the way by hand and push it back out easily. its usually a sign you are going to need a new wedge. I agree with everyone every gun is different same time though you never put it in so that the cylinder is hard to turn and never file the frame.

 

[madcratebuilder]

There are several thing that effect the fitting of the barrel to the frame and achieving the correct barrel gap. The length of the frame, the length of the arbor and the depth of the arbor hole in the barrel shroud. If one or more of these is grossly incorrect then no amount of wedge fitting or replacement well correct it.
Some revolvers may require resurfacing the barrel forcing cone or the end of the frame or adding/removing material from the end of the arbor to make a perfect fitting barrel. Most come from the manufacture very close, but I have seen a few that needed machine work.