Loose barrel on Uberti 1851 Navy

[Tron Wayne]

Howdy all,

I recently bought a new Uberti 1851 Navy .36 cal. I've had it out to the range once and noticed after shooting that the barrel seem to be a bit loose, It "rattles" a bit when shot. The arbor and frame are solid, but barrel/loading lever assembly wiggle back and forth. The wedge is easy to remove, requiring very little thumb pressure. Is the wedge to narrow/thin? If so can it be adjusted? Or could the problem be somewhere else?

Thanks, in advance

 

[pargent]

Can you tap the wedge in a bit more ?when I assemble my c&bs Ican't push the wedge back out by hand they require at tap with a small dolly .Make sure the cyclinder will still rotate .

 

[Zonie]

The wedge on the Colt pistols is tapered on the sides so when it is pushed in, it moves the barrel aft toward the frame.

This usually takes just a light tap with a small mallet or block of wood to seat out the barrel against the frame below the loading ram.

While some people think they should hammer the wedge in until it is as tight as it can be, others just lightly push it in with their thumb.

Neither of these two methods are the best and both can cause problems.

 

[M. De Land]

Sounds to me like the alignment pins at the front lower frame are loose in their holes and the arbor hole in the barrel assembly is a bit large,if the wedge is snug and it's still wiggles side to side.
I forget now what the pins are made of but if loose they can usually be swaged from the front a bit bigger with a brass drift until a snug slip fit. The arbor hole can be shimmed or sometimes bushed if necessary to tighten things up
OOOps sorry, was trying to reply to Tron.MD

 

[George T.]

How does she shoot? I'm asking because I have thought the barrel assembly was loose when it was the loading lever flopping around. If it shoots good that may be it. Heck if the barrel is moving you should be getting LARGE groups. Geo. T.

 

[crockett]

The loading lever is obviously loose even when the barrel is on tight. A lot of guns get damaged by over zealous "gunsmiths" so think before you act.
The easiest fix is to tap in the wedge a little more- try that.
On very rare occasion the face on the barrel where the pins engage needs to be stoned- don't do that for now.
I never thought about the pins being undersized. Maybe coat with auto wax and fill the pin holes with epoxy putty.
For now, I'd bide my time and keep asking some more questions.

 

[Billnpatti]

The first thing to do is to gently but firmly tap the wedge in with something like a plastic mallet or a block of wood. Do not be over vigorous, just firmly but gently tap it in to seat it. If that doesn't do it, get back to us and let us ruminate on it a bit more. Of course, the option of returning it to the place where you bought it is open and may be your best recourse if tapping the wedge does not solve the problem because that would indicate the distinct possibility of a manufacturing error.

 

[Tron Wayne]

Good advice as always...

The loading lever is nice and snug and the Alignment pins as well. The wedge is just as loose all the way in or all the way out...
The problem seem to be that the arbor fits too loosely into the "arbor hole" (not sure what to call it).

I came up with an odd solution but it worked. I placed a thin strip of masking tape along the bottom of the tip of the arbor. This worked as a soft shim of sorts. Maybe not the long term solution...

I just got back from the range and shot nice 2-3" groups, off-hand at 15 yards, so the accuracy seems fine.

 

[necchi]

:hmm:
I wonder if you could take the right thickness blade out of a feeler gauge and use that instead of the tape?
You can buy replacement arbor bolts(pin?)

 

[M. De Land]

Figure out what size shim stock you need (mic it) and PM me your mailing address and I'll fire off a bit for you to use on your arbor. Remember you'll need some clearance.I can talk you through how to install it. The tape won't last long in the oil of the arbor hole most likely.
There is a good chance your wedge will tighten up as well when the hole is made tighter with a shim. MD

 

[crockett]

Might want to think about buying another wedge. If the replacement is loose you could solder a shim on the bottom of the wedge.

 

you didn't state if new or used?
Yes the wedge is tapered.
The taper is designed to push
the barrel assembly back towards the
main frame.
Did you buy it used? If so check to make sure
the serial numbers on all parts match.
If not that could be an issue.
Or previous owner may have filed the slots or wedge
too much
If new: could be you aren't seating the wedge enough.
I bought a new Uberti Walker kit last fall.
I had to use a small mallet to seat the wedge till the spring tab popped up.
With a little careful and judicial smoothing, I can now press the wedge in and out with finger pressure, and no looseness of the assembly.
Just look it over carefully. Perhaps try a new wedge, see if better fit.