44 cal Navy Arms loosened up

[jes0860]

Hi All,

My 30 year old 44 cal. Navy Arms (brass frame) has loosened up. Last week I shot it for the first time in 25 years. I put 36 rounds through it. My loads were 26 grains of fffG Goex, .451 Speer, #10 caps and borebutter. I noticed that I had to pry the barrel off because the borebutter and powder made a heavy paste that made the cylinder and bareel stick to the cylinder shaft.

My question is simple. I assume it would cost more to fix than if I just bought a new gun. This time I will buy a STEEL frame gun. IS THE BORE BUTTER AND GOEX working against me? I never had this problem back when I used Crisco as a cylinder sealant.

THANKS,

JAY

 

[poordevil]

I find even after 24 rounds my Uberti 1860 Army get slugish. I think it is the nature of the beast.

P.

 

[mazo kid]

Are you applying a heavy coating of lube on the arbor?

 

[jes0860]

Thanks for the replies.

I only put the Borebutter on the end of the balls in the cylinders. Yes, I do fill it even with the top, as I use a tongue depressor to put it on.

I just took the whole thing aprt and found that the shaft is screwed into the housing, and then pinned so that it doesn't back out. The threads are obviously loose. I drove out the pin and backed the shaft out (unscrewed it). In the process, the threads got buggered up. Upon inspection, it looks as if the steel shaft actually has some pretty bad threads on it. They should be sharp, but they seem to have been stripped somewhere along the way (in production). The brass would not strip the steel threads. So for now, I need a new housing assembly, including the shaft that the cylinder rides on.

I would imagine that having to pry the cylinder off actually loosened the whole works.

I think it's time for the ten year old and me to buy a kit and assemble a new pistol ourselves. Kyle is quite a trap shooter already, but I want him to understand and appreciate black powder as well.

 

[bingo1952]

It may have but I would be more inclined to think those 26 grain loads are what loosened it up. I won't shoot more than 15 grains in a .36 and 20 grains in a .44 brass framed gun. The best of them will not stand even moderately heavy charges for any period of time. Now if they would use bronze for the frames they wouild fare better but common brass is very soft and ductile hence the shooting loose problem. Those threads may not be a 60 degree thread they could be an ACME but without pics it's hard to say.

 

[madcratebuilder]

I agree with runnball, that 26gr load is a bit stout for a brass frame .44. I like to keep mine no more that 20gr, 18 is even better.

 

[Mulebrain]

I would clean that one up and sell it as a parts gun, and put that money towards a steel frame.

Upgrade time :thumbsup:


Great getting the youngins into black powder, and building those life long memories!

 

[Leatherbark]

I'd put the cylinder pin back in the frame with some "RED" locktite or "JB weld" and assemble the gun while it is drying so it will be lined up. You may have to buy a new Arbor first. Then I'd shoot 18--20 grains of 3f and try that...................Good luck........Bob