Odd problem

[Gene L]

I hope I can make this post intelligible. I have a .40 caliber rifle built by someone a long time ago. It's got a great 1 1/16" barrel, weighs about 10 1/2 pounds, and was poorly assembled. I've had the rifle for probably 35 years and only fired it a few times.

The problem is when the hammer is down on the nipple, it surpasses the half-cock notch. In other words, I can't put the lock on half-cock. Not enough room.

The lock is a Russ Hamm lock, which I'll probably replace since I've replaced the brass furniture with iron and reduced the stock by about an inch...and it's still too long. The spline (if that's the right term) is square, so there's no possibility of moving the hammer back enough.

If this is clear to anyone and if I'm making sense, please advise. I don't know what to do. It's a drum and only about 1/16 to 1/8 away from half-cock notch locking. At first, I though it didn't have one, but I took the lock off and it does and of course a fly.

 

[coloradoclyde]

If I understand you correctly....the half cock will not engage because the hammer cannot drop far enough....

first I would see if the gun has a sear screw and if it is turned in too far making halfcock sear engagement impossible.

If that doesn't solve the issue,
I would remove the nipple and seeing if the half cock engages.

If it does measure the distance.

It may be as simple as a shorter nipple.....or possibly heating and bending the hammer.

But is it very difficult to tell without having it in hand....

 

[Gene L]

The hammer will engage, the half-cock won't. It'll bust a cap just fine from full cock. Which it goes to easily. If a shorter nipple would solve the problem, I'd be happy, but I don't know of a shorter nipple.

It's got a Douglas barrel that's quite accurate, as I remember. It would probably be OK for the range, and since I don't intend to tote the heavy sucker around, I may just live with it.

But I'd like to have it "right." Russ Hamm doesn't have a reputation for making top-of-the line stuff.

 

[coloradoclyde]

nipples come in many different lengths.....and can also be shortened....to a point.
Does it have a sear screw?....If someone adjusted it to far to make the trigger pull lighter, the halfcock will not engage.

 

[Gene L]

The half-cock will engage if the lock is off the gun. So I know it's there.

I think it has a sear screw. The problem isn't with the trigger, though, I think it's the nipple height. Or am I wrong?

Is there a source for shorter nipples? I couldn't find one.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Plan B could be a piece of leather between the hammer and the cap.....A cap will not fire if a heavy piece of leather is between it and the hammer......I use a leather capper for a safety on one of my shotguns.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I think it has a sear screw.

Is there a screw in the tumbler that regulates the depth of sear engagement in both the halfcock and full cock notches?....

 

[coloradoclyde]

Is the sear chipped or broken?......

L&R may make a replacement for that lock ....if it comes down to that.

 

[Gene L]

Yeah, I think I'm replacing the lock.

My wife got me this rifle back in 1976 for Christmas. Now my wife has died 20 years ago and I'm trying to get things back to normal. It's an emotional thing.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I've always been a fan of time travel....It's possible you know...But, only in one direction...FORWARD....the speed however is variable.....

Fixing your gun is much easier than fixing the past.....

Good night Gene,,....I like to sleep on problems....

 

[MC One Shot]

Is it possible that there is some wood in the lock inlet that is preventing to lock to go to half cock.

 

[Captjoel]

Gene, I have an old rifle that sounds like it could be a twin to yours.
Mine however has an original Leman lock on it and it was made without a half cock notch.

As heavy as it is, I have never considered taking it to the woods for hunting, just a very accurate target rifle. Safe to shoot as long as it is pointed down range when it is cocked to full cock.

I have enjoyed shooting this from a rest and accept it's limitations. Most likely because I have a lot of other rifles that work for other uses.

Now, I will tell you that it is possible to move the half cock notch on the tumbler of your lock with some fancy file work.
I would try that before you replace the lock.

You can also have a new tumbler made or look for one that will fit.

Or you can take the ole gal out to the target range and get to know her better. A lot of rifles were made that way (without a half cock) back in the mid to late 1800's.

Hope this will help you! Joel

 

[fleener]

one possible solution is to simple put a new hammer on it. Get one that has not got the square hole cut in it yet so you can set the timing of it.

It is not that hard to fit one.

Fleener

 

[Gene L]

It's got a half-cock notch that engages with the lock off the rifle. When on the rifle, the hammer can't fall far enough forward to engage the half-cock notch. It's somewhat above the half-cock.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

As Colorado Clyde mentioned..., it may accept a smaller nipple, and perhaps that nipple might be shortened a tiny bit on top of the substitution of it for the present nipple.

The next option as mentioned, would be a different hammer. That's probably a better bet than swapping out a lock..., or at least it's simpler and cheaper and probably faster too.

LD

 

[hawkeye2]

Gene although it sounds daunting a simple solution would to buy a blank hammer and drill it then file the opening square to fit the tumbler and also to be timed to strike the cap at the limit of its travel. You could also do the same by pluging the hole in the existing hammer. Dixie has a great selection of unfitted hammers:
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/default.php?cPath=22_567_588_217_219

They also used to carry a trial hammer with a square hole in a seperate piece that could be rotated and locked in place with a set screw but I can't find it now.

 

[fleener]

The hammer is not timed properly to the lock and the nipple placement.

Either replace the hammer, replace the lock or simply shoot the rifle without a half cock.

Fleener

 

[Black Hand]

Is there interference between the hammer and the stock? Occasionally, insufficient wood is removed for clearance of the hammer.

 

[nwtradegun]

if you replace the lock check with l and r locks they make ahttp://lr-rpl.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49:cvatraditions-lock-small&catid=36:cva-small&Itemid=62 replacement for the russ hamm lock

 

[Black Hand]

Gene,
Can to provide a picture or pictures? It may make it easier to diagnose the problem and suggest a solution.