.36 cal navy revolver cylinder rotates when fired

[hesco]

Cylinder rotates on this 36 cal navy revolver when fired, do i need to replace the hammer spring or bolt spring and where do i get parts.

[coyotejoe]

We'd need more information. Does it rotate and lock up properly then the hammer is cocked? If so, I'd say it sounds like hammer rebound. The cylinder cannot rotate when the hammer is down on the cap so it must be rebounding when the gun fires. What load are you shooting? If it's a heavy load of 777, that may be the only problem. Try about 15 grains of Goex or Pyrodex and see if that still happens. If so, I'd first remove the grip frame and make sure the screw which holds the mainspring is tight, if loose you don't get much spring pressure to hold the hammer down. Then check the nipples, if the hole is too large it will allow enough back blast to throw the hammer back a bit. The nipple hole, at the bottom, should not be larger than about .030".

[Flint]

Theoretically, if you opened up the flash-holes enough on the nipples, a cap & ball revolver could go full-auto.........

Many years ago I fired a heavy load in a 58 cal Zouave and it went to half-cock.

[hesco]

We'd need more information. Does it rotate and lock up properly then the hammer is cocked? If so, I'd say it sounds like hammer rebound. The cylinder cannot rotate when the hammer is down on the cap so it must be rebounding when the gun fires. What load are you shooting? If it's a heavy load of 777, that may be the only problem. Try about 15 grains of Goex or Pyrodex and see if that still happens. If so, I'd first remove the grip frame and make sure the screw which holds the mainspring is tight, if loose you don't get much spring pressure to hold the hammer down. Then check the nipples, if the hole is too large it will allow enough back blast to throw the hammer back a bit. The nipple hole, at the bottom, should not be larger than about .030".

Rotates and locks up great,using 15 gr of pyrodex,have already retightend all screws, nipple hole starts at .060 tapers down to .035, same as my ruger old army, hammer is also harder to cock on the .36 than the old army, so it seems the mainspring is plenty strong enough to keep it from rebounding, but obviously it is rebounding.

[coyotejoe]

 I can't think of anything other than hammer rebound which could cause your problem. I'd contact Track of the Wolf for a set of Tresco/Ampco brand nipples, they have a bottom hole about 1/2 the size of most nipples expressly to limit back blast. They also are very consistent in size, all fit a #11 CCI cap.