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Author Topic: drill the frame of a USFA?  (Read 1819 times)

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Offline jimster

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drill the frame of a USFA?
« on: February 20, 2013, 08:41:57 AM »
I have been thinking about getting the frame of my USFA revolver drilled for a coil + plunger Ruger type hand spring. I have not had a problem since I bought this revolver in 2006, but I was thinking if and when it finally breaks, maybe even before, to send it in to Long Hunter or someone that know how,  and have just that done to it. Am I making a big mistake drilling the fame of a USFA? I don't plan on selling it, so I was thinking it would not matter in that respect. Has anyone replaced a hand spring with a coil + plunger type in a USFA out there? It looks like Long Hunter does this a lot with USFA guns when I go to their web sight.
Thanks
Jim
 
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Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: drill the frame of a USFA?
« Reply #1 on: February 20, 2013, 10:34:56 AM »
wouldnt if it were mine. Ive said more then once when a bought a gun that it would never leave the house and eventualy my tastes changed or i just wanted something else so badly that i had to part with it. If it were me id take the money it would cost and buy some spare springs.
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Offline jimster

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Re: drill the frame of a USFA?
« Reply #2 on: February 20, 2013, 10:58:54 AM »
Ya maybe your right Lloyd, didn't think of it like that, but springs are a lot cheaper, and I have not had a problem in 7 years. Matter of fact, just shipping it somewhere would buy a bag of springs.
So can you get the flat spring out of the hand and press another one in there, or do you need to get the hand and spring assembly and fit it each time? Last time I had one break on a Uberti, I got the hand assembly and it needed fitting.
 
Thanks
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Offline gcrank1

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Re: drill the frame of a USFA?
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2013, 04:30:40 AM »
Just shoot it and stop fretting (I know, I know.......but been there, done that).
If it ain't broke dont fix it. The springs in new stuff of quality, such as yours, are way different from Italian repros. I will likely last your lifetime and maybe another one.
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Offline 44 Man

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Re: drill the frame of a USFA?
« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2013, 01:55:24 PM »
You have it right.  If you ever do break a spring, it just presses out and you press the replacement back in.  Done it a couple of time (on Italian copies), it's easy.  I've never had to do it more than once though, so as Guncrank says, the new stuff is much higher quality.  I still have one extra spring in my parts bin, just in case.  Glad you are enjoying shooting that gun!  44 Man
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Offline jimster

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Re: drill the frame of a USFA?
« Reply #5 on: February 22, 2013, 02:07:11 PM »
Thanks 44 man, I was wondering if I could just replace the spring. A long time ago one broke on a Uberti I had, I managed to get the new hand and spring assembly fitted, but it was a pain, I think I must of taken the gun apart 8 or 10 times while trying to get it just right, it was my first time. Replacing just the spring sounds a whole lot easier. Thanks for the info.
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Offline ronbow

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Re: drill the frame of a USFA?
« Reply #6 on: March 01, 2013, 11:15:16 AM »
Check out the Buffaloe Bore 44 mag. rounds 270 gr. I carry them in my SBH 5.5. Not fun to shoot, but that's what .44 specials are for.
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Offline Frank V

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Re: drill the frame of a USFA?
« Reply #7 on: April 01, 2013, 02:39:56 PM »
I wouldn't drill a USFA or alter it in any manor. They are defunct now & could become collectors guns. Leaf springs should be available from Numrich, Brownell's,  or other suppliers & that's the route I'd go if it were mine.
As always though the decision is yours, it's your gun.

Frank
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Offline AtlLaw

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Re: drill the frame of a USFA?
« Reply #8 on: April 01, 2013, 02:43:34 PM »
Quote from: Frank V on April 01, 2013, 02:39:56 PM
...USFA...
 They are defunct now

USFA are out of business!?   :o ???
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Offline jimster

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Re: drill the frame of a USFA?
« Reply #9 on: April 02, 2013, 01:49:49 PM »
They shut down their single actions, not sure if forever or not, there is a place on their web sight that says they are re-tooling, also heard a rumor they might make single actions again in 2014. I don't know what they will do in the future. 
I ordered some handsprings and got them in the mail already in case one broke, been shooting it and playing with it for about 7 years now without breaking one yet, after giving this some thought I decided to keep it with flat springs throughout. You know how it is, you get to reading things on the internet about people drilling them out for coil springs....I guess I read too much. I figure there isn't any small parts that can't be replaced if it breaks, and I think it feels better with flat springs in it anyway. Tried a wire spring once in place of the trigger/bolt spring, took it right back out, didn't like that either. I hope they make them again someday, USFA's are not cast or forged, they are cut from a solid block of steel. I don't know how many revolvers are made with this process, I don't think very many. I'm going to leave it as is...except for wearing some more bluing off of it.
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Offline Charcoal

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Re: drill the frame of a USFA?
« Reply #10 on: April 03, 2013, 12:14:18 PM »
The below link shows the current state of USFA.The current owner decided to make something else.In time,SAA may return,as the owner doesn't need the money and this is kind of his hobby.
http://zipgun.com/
IMHO,I wouldn't drill your USFA.If you want a more robust SAA buy a Ruger New Vaquero.
 
 
 
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Offline gcrank1

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Re: drill the frame of a USFA?
« Reply #11 on: April 03, 2013, 12:34:27 PM »
That is likely the future, if there is a shooting future, in this country. Sad but........
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"Halt while I adjust my accoutrements!"
      ><   ->
We are only temporary caretakers of the past heading toward an uncertain future
22Mag UV / 22LR  Sportster
357Mag Schuetzen Special
45-70  SS Ultra Hunter with UV cin.lam. wood
12ga. 'Ol' Ugly OverKill', Buck barrel c/w  SpeedStock  and swap 28" x Full bird barrel, 1974
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