NEED ADVICE ON COLT 1851 NAVY

[USARO4]

IM NEW TO THE C&B GAME AND WOULD APPRECIATE ADVISE FROM YOU OLDTIMERS.  I  HAVE A PIETTA 1851 NAVY AND HAVE DIFFICULTY IN ASSEMBLY/DISASSEMBLY. TO GET THE THING APART I HAVE TO USE A HAMMER AND DRIFT ON THE BARREL WEDGE.  SHOULD IT BE THIS TIGHT? ALSO I UNDERSTAND THE FUNCTION OF THE BARREL WEDGE TO HOLD THINGS TOGETHER BUT WHAT DOES THE WEDGE RETAINING SCREW DO? IT DOESNT REALLY CONTACT THE WEDGE UNLESS IT IS SCREWED ALMOST ALL THE WAY OUT. AS FAR AS I CAN SEE ITS JUST A THREADED HOLE IN THE BARREL WITH A SCREW IN IT. WHAT AM I MISSING?

[Full House]

The wedge is made to be tight...too withstand recoil and maintain cylinder gap.  There is flat spring on the wedge with a lip on the top end that is 5/32" wide; it should be inserted in to the wedge slot and the lip springs up once it is all the way in.  This is to may sure it does not get loose.  The cylinder gap,i.e. the distance from the end of the cylinder chamber and the face of the barrel/forcing cone is maintained with the depth of the wedge assembly.  I set the gaps on my Colts at about 3 mils to 5 mils.  Flint, may disagree, so we need his expertise and input.  The only function of the screw is to keep the wedge from falling out.  With the wedge in correctly, back the screw out until it touches the wedge, it may touch and again it may not; it should keep the wedge from falling out of the barrel.

Set your cylinder gap with a feeler guage an procure a brass(soft brass) pin to loosen the wedge.



Aces and Eights

[USARO4]

THANKS FOR THE REPLY FULL HOUSE. THERES NO SUCH THING AS A DUMB QUESTION UNLESS YOU DONT ASK SO HERE GOES.  SINCE THE RETAINING SCREW KEEPS THE WEDGE FROM FALLING OUT SHOULD IT BE REMOVED BEFORE DRIVING OUT THE WEDGE? IVE BEEN REMOVING THE WEDGE WITH THE SCREW IN PLACE.

[Full House]

Either way is acceptable.  You can leave the screw in but make sure the wedge is back for enought to not drag on the cylinder arbor as the barrel slides forward.



Aces and Eights