Short Barrel, Vertical Dispersion

[nkbj]

The 1851 "Sheriff" model .44 can easily pose a difficulty with vertical group dispersion.
Ever seen one that produces two groups, one above the other even though the chambers all mike out the same?

 

[nkbj]

Oops, shoulda said... one shot high with each cylinder full.
Chambers are .449 at mouth, .445 at 5/8" deep.

 

[George T.]

It is not uncommon for very expensive modern revolvers to have a chamber that shoots out of the group. I mark the chambers and shoot several groups. If the shot out of the group is the same number the mystery is solved. Geo. T.

 

[nkbj]

I'm real tempted to straight reamer the chambers. The taper ream that Pietta put on them is just wrong, especially for a stingy barrel's short loading lever.

 

[D Sanders]

The taper ream that Pietta put on them is just wrong,

Thats sounds interesting... Explain why you think the taper is wrong. :hmm:

HH 60

 

[Dphar]

The 1851 "Sheriff" model .44 can easily pose a difficulty with vertical group dispersion.
Ever seen one that produces two groups, one above the other even though the chambers all mike out the same?

Miking the same is not the same as all 6 properly aligning with the barrel.
Pull the nipples and look to see if they all line up the same.
Dan

 

[Zonie]

The chamber size isn't the problem.
It usually is the spacing or the locations of the slots the cylinder bolt engages.

As was mentioned, this 'throwing one shot out of the group' is quite common so those folks who take their target shooting seriously will often mark their chambers with numbers using a paint that can be removed.

Shooting several loads thru each chamber and keeping an eye on where the gun is hitting often shows only one chamber as being the trouble maker.

They will often make a permanent mark by that chambers mouth and every time they load the gun for competition they leave that chamber unloaded so it won't mess up their score.

 

[nkbj]

The taper ream that Pietta put on them is just wrong,

Thats sounds interesting... Explain why you think the taper is wrong. :hmm:

HH 60

With that much taper on the chamber the ball is being driven into a funnel and consistency is not to be had. Well, unless you do your loading on the lab bench. I have overcome tapered chambers in the past with a tapered conical but that is not feasible in a '51 frame reamed out to .44. Works with a '60 or '61 but not '51.

 

[nkbj]

And I hasten to add, with a shorty loading lever.

 

[nkbj]

Got another '51 model Pietta that's undergoing reconstructive surgery. Been sitting on the shelf for years and I finally decided to tackle it.
The hole in the barrel that the cylinder pin goes in is about 0.015" not deep enough for the barrel to rest against the frame. And, thickness at the end of the pin from the slot to the end of the pin is about as thin as I've seen. So, do I emery it down or have the hole deepened just enough? The factory forced the wedge into the slot and as the result moved the slotted end of the pin to the left while swaging it larger. As the result of that the slotted end of the pin had to be worked down to get the cylinder off of it. So, do you try to bend it back or emery it down?
Pagliacci!
:haha:

 

[necchi]

I'd start by replacing the pin, Dixie has one for $11. http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_434_435_440&products_id=1070

 

[nkbj]

Yeah!
Was just looking at that part on their web page. Think I may ask them (DGW) whether they know if their part will fit a Pietta of questionable age. Meanwhile, if I work down one side of the currently installed pin and take a few thou off the end (as in take it off until it fits) and then try the piece out... then I will find out if I have to spring for a new pin (arbor to some) or just grin and be happy.
One thing I have figured out, this pin is not of the same exact dimensions as other 1851 pins. The diameter apparently started out close but the length and the slot machining are a little different when compared side by side with another Pietta. Which gets me to wondering what hath Pietta wrought and will a replacement pin of current origin fit any how.
My oh my what an interesting addiction.

 

[necchi]

Could be you just got a "Monday" gun, :idunno: :wink:

 

[nkbj]

Dude, don't know. How long you reckon it's been since they made a steel frame '51 .36 with the Confederate flag battle inlet into the white grips?

 

[nkbj]

Been blackening, fitting, polishing and blackening again and again. It's almost there!

 

[nkbj]

Got the refit done on the .36. Ladies first!

 

[cynthialee]

oh it is rather spiffy looking!

I couldn't show such a gun around to my family though. We fought for the North.

 

[nkbj]

The PVC grips are a little much but the price was right.
Tried it out with these conicals too. More fun.

Being Pietta's the chambers on the '51 are the same diameter as the '58 so the conicals are a perfect fit. Initial results show both shooting the same.