Jim Watson

I had Mr Jungkind do a Python about two years ago. A very little stacking left in but it whacks all primers. My Colt Custom Shop - Tedford fires nothing but Federals. Python uses a floating firing pin, easy enough to turn a new, longer one. Jerry Moran was said to have done that. And C&S are making +.015" firing pins for current Smiths. Has to be something in favor of using maximum firing pin protrusion for better ignition with a minimum mainspring.

I shot an early Sherman roller action Colt, must have been 25 years ago. It was wonderful when the roller rolled, but every once in a while it would skid and give a sudden increase in DA pull. Friend of mine has a C&S roller S&W that he likes but I cannot see it any better than a well honed standard action; not as smooth as a *very* well honed standard. But then, it was drop in parts, no gunsmith intervention or air freight expense.

Reg

Did the Colt - Tedford tune remove some of the stacking? From what I gather on Cylinder & Slide master tunes the C&S tune does not. It is interesting the approach Mr. Behlert took to remove the stacking compared to bending the double action camming surface of the trigger.

I am in the process of trying one of the C&S extended firing pins in a 686 that has been highly tuned. Just need the time to get to the range. What with the headspace at a minimum I am sort of wondering about pierced primers (i.e. if some
protrusion is good more is better story). From what I gather on the Smiths the extended firing pin allows one to reduce double action by about 3/8 pound.

Jim Watson

My CCS-Tedford Python has almost all of the stacking removed. The "raftered" mainspring leaves it reliable with Federal primers only. If I were shooting it a lot, I would try a longer firing pin, and maybe a spring with less bend. Wish the Trapper springs were still available.

Actually the very nicest Colt trigger I know of is one done for a friend by a local man, since deceased, after studying my Tedford. He applied the same trigger curve, retime, spring bend, etc., but did not have a company quota to get through that day and tweaked and tuned and polished everything just right.

The owner of That Colt wanted clip feed and bought a PC625. He has given it a limber spring set, a C&S firing pin, and some breakin rounds and dryfire, but no polishing or adusting. He gets reliable (Federal) ignition and a DA that will not pick up a 7 pound weight. No pierced primers in .45; I don't know about Magnums. If you got pierced primers at +.015" I would think you could trim the C&S back as required and probably end up with more than factory firing pin protrusion.

Reg

Haven't had a chance to try the extended pin yet. Before, the 686 had a 7.25 pound double action and would fire everything I ran through it including magnums. The double action currently is at 6 3/4 pounds but haven't tried it yet. I would guess that with Federal primers it would work quite well at 6 3/4 and probably a bit lighter. FWIW the local APG gunsmith sets his competition K/L frames (old style) at 6.5 pounds if they are using Federal primers only and a bit over 7 pounds if it is to work with anything. Over at the Smith Forum others claim one can go lighter than 6 1/2 if using Federals exclusively.

I wonder if many have played with firing pin protrusion on the hammer mounted firing pin Smiths? It would be interesting to see what one could reduce the pull to on those.

That leaves Rugers to play with the firing pin protrusion on. Some gain can be achieved by shaving the front of the hammer.

There may be some of the Trapper mainsprings left at one of the online sites. Or you might try contacting Trapper. My memory is bad on this but it is in Michigan. I seem to remember Gratiot (don't know if it is the street or city).

I can relate to the story on the Python not having to be done to a schedule. It would be interesting to dissect the work of the various masters and build a best of the best so to speak.

Jim Watson

I have tried to sweet talk my FLG into making a longer hammer nose S&W firing pin, but he is a 1911 man and has no interest in revolvers other than pocket carry. I wish I had a local revolversmith, I have not been lucky with mailorder shops and comebacks at air freight rates really hurt. Maybe when Bob Lloyd (70 miles) retires from his day job he will return to gunsmithing.

Reg

Could not the front of the hammer (with the firing pin removed) be shaved a little to get more protrusion. I did see an old style S&W that someone had machined the inside of the frame to get more protrusion.

Jim Watson

I've thought of that, but am too chicken to start cutting on a good gun.

Reg

Took out the 686 Plus and it fired all rounds including 100 magnums of various brands reliably with no misfires. The trigger is set at 6 3/4 pounds double action. I imagine it could be lightened further but I am content with where it is currently.

JamesBeach

Frederick A Sadowski passed away on March 1, 1987. I left 300 in June of 1987. 300 Gunsmith Service continued on for several years under new ownership, but failed eventually. Fred and I, along with several apprentices, did action work on numerious firearms, including S&W, Colt, Ruger, Dan Wesson, Charter Arms and many others. Not only did we do action work, we also did considerable rifle and shotgun work. We had an extensive article done in 1985 by Shooting Times.

retDAC

Thanks James and Welcome Aboard!