Problem with 1858 Remington

[Tracy]

Does anyone know how to reshape the cylinder pin holes in a brass framed Remington.The holes are oval causing the cylinder to wiggle around a bit.I was wondering if you could use brazing rod or somthing like JB weld to partly fill the holes and redrill them?Would heating the frame weaken it?Could you drill the holes larger and put in a steel sleve?The end play in the cylinder is 5 thousands.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Drill the hole larger, and sleeve it, with a bushing. Just center the enlarging hole properly so you don't have to be messing with the bushing, too.

Or you can buy a replacement cylinder and have that fitted properly.

 

[Poor Private]

A new cylinder will only cost about 40 bucks, and it will include new nipples also. You can get them at VTI gunparts, or Dixie.

 

[n.h.schmidt]

I think Jess is talking about the the holes in the brass frame being worn oval. I don't have one of these so I don't know if there is eneough meat around the holes to be able to insert a sleeve .
n.h.schmidt

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

If you are talking about the holes in the frame being out of round, this is usually a sign that the revolver has been fired with heavy loads and you also are probably dealing with a stretched frame. Unless you know the history of the revolver, and know that it was never abused, you may be dealing with more trouble than the gun is worth.

 

[Tracy]

It is the holes in the frame that are ovaled.The gun has had a little less than 200 rounds through it,mostly 20 to 25 grains with a roundball.It has had 4 or 5 cylinders of 30 grains with roundball also.The owner used .457 balls and heavy compresion.With the hammer at full cock and the cylinder held back it is a tight 5 thousands gap between cylinder and barrel,so I dont think the frame is streched.I think the .457 balls and the heavey compression on the powder may be the cause.

 

[bingo1952]

Drilling and bushing is your best bet. After you get the bushing installed and working properly a little soft solder applied to the bottom of the bushing and frame will help to keep them locked together.

 

[Zonie]

JB Weld is not strong enough and brazing will warp the frame making it unusable.

IMO, unless the misalignment caused by the loosness is enough to make the cylinder not align with the barrel more than 1/32 of an inch, I would just consider it a "plinking gun" and have fun shooting it as it is.