Author Topic: Cylinder play?? (Read 1413 times)

benny · « **on:** September 10, 2008, 03:22:25 PM »

Been enjoying my 97 41 mag for a few months now. Getting ready for our deer season in PA and looking forward to using the gun for that. Had a quick question. I notice a slight amount of play in the cylinder and am just wondering if that is normal after a little break in time? I read posts from guys who say there is absolutely no cylinder play on their FA guns and just wanted to be sure everything is OK with mine. Have been shooting some heavier loads from grizzly and buffalo bore, but they are all saami and fit the cyl length fine so I doubt that is anything to worry about.

Thanks for any help.

Now how can I sneak a 475 83 into the house...

benny

WL44 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 10, 2008, 07:19:28 PM »

Clean out the cylinder notches with a toothbrush or something. Clean the cylinder latch (I think that's what you call the thingy that locks into the notches). Lightly lube the cylinder latch. See if it changes anything.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #2 on:** September 12, 2008, 02:19:55 AM »

if your not doing it allready make sure your putting a little bit of lube on the ratchet and the nose bushing face. If you dont it will beat itself up and you will eventually get endplay. I use a little dab of teflon grease on both ends.

benny · « **Reply #3 on:** September 13, 2008, 10:46:56 AM »

Lloyd,

the cylinder has just the slightest amount of end shake. I can hear a tiny click with my ear to the gun when I push the cylinder to the rear. I put a little grease on like you said and it seems to be eliminated, although it must be moving a hair as I can hear a very slight movement of the grease when up to my ear. The cylinder play went away with lubing the bolt.

Is the minor end shake something to worry about? I honestly can't remember if it came that way, and maybe the lube got displaced with use, but would a few hundred rounds, only maybe a hundred of heavy stuff cause that condition if it wasn't already present?

thanks,

benny

doghawg · « **Reply #4 on:** September 13, 2008, 11:47:49 AM »

benny

This would be a good place for Paul105 to chime in........He's got thousands of rounds through his Mod 83's and 97's......and they're still tight. Follow Lloyds advice and keep those bearing surfaces lubed and enjoy yourself.

STJ · « **Reply #5 on:** September 13, 2008, 04:14:49 PM »

Typically the 'bank vault' lockup is referring to 83s. My 97 has more 'noticeable' (still very little) cylinder movement than my 83.

Lee Robinson · « **Reply #6 on:** September 13, 2008, 04:28:59 PM »

There is going to be some variation with any man made item...even from the best of them. IMO, Freedom Arms is an awesome company...although I only have 1 gun from them I have seen several of their products.

My personal gun is a FA model 1997 45 Colt...with fixed sights, a fluted cylinder, 5 1/2" barrel (crowned), a trigger job, marcata grips.

The gun locks up like a vice. It hasn't changed a bit. I tend to shoot hot loads and it handles them GREAT. Even pushing 270 grains down range at over 1200 fps (H110 powder) the guns recoil is very manageable and I can't see a bit of wear or "break in." It is still a VICE!...despite being the "lowly 1997 model."

The reason I am so pleased with mine is because this "bank vault" lockup isn't only when the hammer is back and/or when the trigger pulled...but even when the hammer is down and after the trigger is released (and the firing pin is retracted while the gun is at "rest") my gun still has absolutely no play in it. It simply doesn't get any better IMO. If there is some play in your though...I wouldn't worry about it. Call Freedom Arms up and ask one of their gunsmiths if there is a problem with what you can describe to them. They will listen to your concerns and will tell you if you need to have it checked out.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #7 on:** September 14, 2008, 02:49:02 AM »

was it like that when it was new? DId you always have grease on it? Putting the grease on it now will pretty much stop it from getting worse. I guess if it were mine and it shot well i wouldnt worry about a small amount of endshake. If you find it gettting worse i would send it in and have FA look at it.

Quote from: benny on September 13, 2008, 10:46:56 AM

Lloyd,

the cylinder has just the slightest amount of end shake. I can hear a tiny click with my ear to the gun when I push the cylinder to the rear. I put a little grease on like you said and it seems to be eliminated, although it must be moving a hair as I can hear a very slight movement of the grease when up to my ear. The cylinder play went away with lubing the bolt.

Is the minor end shake something to worry about? I honestly can't remember if it came that way, and maybe the lube got displaced with use, but would a few hundred rounds, only maybe a hundred of heavy stuff cause that condition if it wasn't already present?

thanks,

benny

benny · « **Reply #8 on:** September 17, 2008, 05:29:16 AM »

talker to bob baker and everything is fine. measured the endshake with some feeler gauges i picked up the other night and it appears to be about .0005 +/-

getting ready to mount a trijicon red dot and see how that works.

thanks for all the help guys.

benny

Steve P · « **Reply #9 on:** September 22, 2008, 08:54:56 AM »

If you want, I can let you play with one of my Rugers for a while. Your FA cylinder play will become insignificant.

Steve

WL44 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 22, 2008, 07:50:46 PM »

Steve, do your Rugers also have the adjustable velocity feature.

It's unique - you push the cylinder forward for the high vel setting pull it to the rear for small game. In reality my cylinder play is not that much when my Ruger is loaded; the case rims take up the slack.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #11 on:** September 23, 2008, 01:48:10 AM »

that aint much and like bob said it shouldnt hurt a thing. Just makes sure you religously keep it lubed properly and it will last your lifetime. Ive had rugers that rattled like a babys rattle brand new and found that with that much endplay its just a matter of time even lubed properly that your going to have a beat up gun if you load heavy loads. those guns are now sold or used for project guns.

Quote from: benny on September 17, 2008, 05:29:16 AM

talker to bob baker and everything is fine. measured the endshake with some feeler gauges i picked up the other night and it appears to be about .0005 +/-

getting ready to mount a trijicon red dot and see how that works.

thanks for all the help guys.

benny

Steve P · « **Reply #12 on:** September 23, 2008, 07:15:35 AM »

Quote from: WL44 on September 22, 2008, 07:50:46 PM

Steve, do your Rugers also have the adjustable velocity feature. It's unique - you push the cylinder forward for the high vel setting pull it to the rear for small game. In reality my cylinder play is not that much when my Ruger is loaded; the case rims take up the slack.

How did you know?? I thought I was the only one who had that. Cylinder chambers 2,4,and 6 are about 100 fps faster than 3 and 5. They are about 100 fps slower than cylinder chamber #1

(just kidding of course.)

My Rugers have just enough movement that you can feel it. Cannot see much, but you can feel it. My FAs lock up tight. NO movement of any kind. A friend has an early FA 44 with 10" Octagon barrel. You can feel his cylinder move just a skosh, until you load it. then it locks up tight. That 44 has had thousands of silhouette rounds shot thru it and still is the most accurate single action handgun I have ever seen. If you take care of 'em, they will last forever.

Steve