Colt SAA 3rd Generation Takedown Question
Hey Folks:
Just want to check and see if I am going crazy. This is my first SAA. I went with the new Colt like all the suggestions. A beautiful gun, and I am glad I listened to advice and waiting until I could get the Colt. I put four rounds through it, and I LOVE IT. I have a question about the firing pin. It is actually a little "loose". It is still in good, but it seems weird to me.
Are these supposed to be like this? I was just wondering if this was a way to allow the pin to center itself in the hole when firing. Is this what they call a "floating" firing pin? I just want to be sure before I fire it again.
Just want to check and see if I am going crazy. This is my first SAA. I went with the new Colt like all the suggestions. A beautiful gun, and I am glad I listened to advice and waiting until I could get the Colt. I put four rounds through it, and I LOVE IT. I have a question about the firing pin. It is actually a little "loose". It is still in good, but it seems weird to me.
Are these supposed to be like this? I was just wondering if this was a way to allow the pin to center itself in the hole when firing. Is this what they call a "floating" firing pin? I just want to be sure before I fire it again.
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Yes, there is a slight freeplay in a Colt SAA firing pin to insure proper alignment and entry through the frame. It's perfectly normal.
Congratulations and enjoy your new Colt!0 -
quote:Originally posted by Spider7115
Yes, there is a slight freeplay in a Colt SAA firing pin to insure proper alignment and entry through the frame. It's perfectly normal.
Congratulations and enjoy your new Colt!
After shooting 20 rounds, I have a question. I had a VERY difficult time removing the pin to remove the cylinder. I am not sure if this is typical due fouling from 20 rounds or what. Not only that, but I also pulled a little bluing off of the cylinder turning it as I was trying to pull it out. The center part of the cylinder also came out, but was easily replaced.
I just DON'T want to mess this thing up. I have babied it, and not done the stupid things like dry fire or spin the cylinder. I has been handled with the greatest of care. The first time I took it out, I only shot 4 rounds because I was afraid the firing pin was loose. It just about killed me when I saw some blue was gone off the cylinder.0 -
I would put some oil or light grease on the Cylinder pin. like many guns as you use them some of the parts will get broken in and much slicker without Burrs . the cylinder bushing is removable on many Colts but on SOME 3th gen.they are not most people prefer the removable bushing .
EDITHello Now you know Why I like to buy 98%-99% guns Just like a new car the first mark on a new pistol hurts . You can only have a 100% gun one time but you can use and maintain a 98% gun for a very long time and fun with shooting before you change the condition downward in value of the piece. NOW YOU CAN Shoot it and have fun.0 -
quote:Originally posted by perry shooter
I would put some oil or light grease on the Cylinder pin. like many guns as you use them some of the parts will get broken in and much slicker without Burrs . the cylinder bushing is removable on many Colts but on SOME 3th gen.they are not most people prefer the removable bushing .
THANK YOU! I saved and squandered for this thing, setting up to make my own casts, and have a lot invested. I just FREAKED when I saw the blue off the cylinder. No scratches or gouges, just wore the blue off, and I feel certain this is from where I tried to turn the cylinder as I removed the pin. The only other single action I had was a Ruger .22. It's not that I am completely unfamiliar with a single action, I am just terrified of screwing up a $1000 investment.0 -
Jamie,
Congratulations on your new Colt.
Back to your original question,
As pointed out, and as you figured out on your own, the firing pin is loose by design, allowing it to center itself.
This, however is NOT what's meant by a floating firing pin.
That would be a firing pin mounted in the frame that is struck by a flat surface on the hammer, or by a transfer bar that rises into position when the trigger is pulled. This is the system you see on the Ruger revolvers.0 -
quote:Originally posted by RCrosby
Jamie,
Congratulations on your new Colt.
Back to your original question,
As pointed out, and as you figured out on your own, the firing pin is loose by design, allowing it to center itself.
This, however is NOT what's meant by a floating firing pin.
That would be a firing pin mounted in the frame that is struck by a flat surface on the hammer, or by a transfer bar that rises into position when the trigger is pulled. This is the system you see on the Ruger revolvers.
Thanks Rob. I heard someone say it was a floater, and I wasn't certain of the term, so I had to know. Now I have the place for the answers. I just need to take care of it. I never thought I'd say this, but I think I am babying it a little too much.0 -
Keep on baby'ing it! Now, the blueing loss, did it occur in the little 'ramp' that precedes the notch in the cylinder to lock it? If so, then it's a perfectly normal occurance.
You see, the locking-bolt (in the frame-under the cylinder) will retract soon into the cocking cycle to allow the cylinder to start it's movement to the next chamber. Just prior to the hammer reaching full cock, the little locking-bolt will snap (with some force) into the little ramp area, and wear in that location is both normal, and inevitable.
It will happen to all six ramps, as the gun is cycled for each new shot. Perfectly normal wear pattern on a Colt SAA.
Now, the pin..you might want to get a wooden clothes-pin (the one that is in two pieces, with a metal spring on it to keep it closed). Works wonders when trying to grab that little pin sticking out the front of the frame beneath the barrel.
When ready to re-assemble, a few drops of oil on the bushing, then put the bushing back into the cylinder. With the hammer on it's 2nd notch, slide the cylinder back into the frame. Then put a few drops of oil down the hole in the frame that the pin goes into just prior to inserting the pin back into the frame to secure the cylinder. Don't use grease. The pin/bushing/cylinder tolerance is very close in that part of the revolver. Best, and good luck! Joe0 -
quote:Originally posted by givette
Keep on baby'ing it! Now, the blueing loss, did it occur in the little 'ramp' that precedes the notch in the cylinder to lock it? If so, then it's a perfectly normal occurance.
No. I could sleep easier tonight if that were the case. The blue loss is at the front of the cylinder, on the high parts in between the flutes (not in the flutes - the part where it is not fluted.
There is (seems to be) plenty of clearance when the pin is in, but I think it may have happened as I slowly turned the cylinder in an effort to keep it centered as I struggled with the pin. I had the pistol on its side as I tried to remove it. When it did come out, I had the barrel 90 degrees from the ground. There isn't another single scratch on the gun. I even cock it slow to prevent marking the cylinder. The marks are only the blue. It isn't rough at all. Smooth as it was when it wasn't marred. I was just damn determined to only have marks on the front of the cylinder from when it goes off.
As far as the old timey clothes pin. EXCELLENT IDEA. I messed up my nails and fingers but no way in you know where anything else was going to touch the pin.
Thank you for ANY advice regarding my new baby.0 -
I have the same approach with my new Colt SAA (7 1/2" version) and am going to buy a slightly lesser SAA for fun, maybe even a used Colt. I want to keep my SAA looking nice, but I do want to have fun single action shooting. 0
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