Ron Power OLD MODEL (three screw) Cylinder Latch

[texaswheelgunner]

:?: :D
Has anyone fitted one of these to an OM Blackhawk three screw? If so, are they way, way oversized in all dimensions or are they relatively easy to fit?

 

[cadillo]

I have fit two of them. The first I botched, the second is good. Fitting the latch to the cylinder notches is easy enough as long as you go slowly, but getting the timing correct, so as to drop the latch into the notch lead, well it's tricky and requires that you be patient, go slowly, and test repeatedly as you progress with fitting the portion of the latch which rides on the hammer plunder. The sweet spot is small and easily gone past, which makes the latch drop early and before the lead, which is what I did on the first one. Once you remove metal, it's gone forever.

When fitting the latch ball to the notch, I never use a file, but rather a piece of 150 grit wet/dry paper laid out on a truly flat surface. I use a piece of machined granite flat plate. Go slowly, checking the ball's fit in both the smallest notch and the receiver's latch window. If it fits the window first, you'll need to carefully remove material from the upper portion of the ball only to get a good fit in the notches while maintaining a tight fit in the window. Once I can press the ball into the smallest notch and have it stick in place, I lightly smooth the sides of the latch ball with crocus cloth, but still want the ball to stick in that smallest notch. It will shortly wear in for a perfect fit.

If you have not yet done so, you should first fit an oversized base pin in order to get the full effect of an oversized latch. Properly done, these parts add a real touch of class to a single action. You would have to go to a true custom or a Freedom Arms to get a tighter lockup.

 

[texaswheelgunner]

cadillo, many thanks for your reply. I have ordered two of the new latches just in case I do botch one. But maybe not now since I've gotten good guidelines from you; this really helps out a lot.

And, yes, I already have the oversized base pin fitted in, so I'm good to go. I have even fitted in a new pawl which took care of the late carryup as well.

 

[texaswheelgunner]

Cadillo, you have a PM.

 

[Hashknife Hartley]

I've fitted one, and can't improve on Cadillo's directions, but can say it gives a very tight lock up and is will worth the effort, particularly on any type of custom gun.
HH

 

[texaswheelgunner]

Thanks Hashknife and Cadillo; I've started the work and am going at it really slowly; taking lots of long breaks in between fitting sessions. I've got the new latch to fit the window perfectly now, but that's just the first step.

The gun I'm fitting it to is an old three screw, .44 Flat Top, Serial 18272 with 7 1/2" barrel.

I'll get back here with a report after I'm finished. :D

 

[Boxhead]

Do note that tightening all of that up on a bone stock mass produced cylinder'd Ruger could lead to issues with the cylinder centerline not lining up with bore centerline. The bit of cylinder slop is a design requirement of the mass produced product.

 

[texaswheelgunner]

Boxhead, yes, I'm aware of that. I remember at least forum member here found that out by the simple addition of an after market and slightly oversized center pin. I appreciate your comment and I'll be checking with my set of range rods.

 

[Boxhead]

Boxhead, yes, I'm aware of that. I remember at least forum member here found that out by the simple addition of an after market and slightly oversized center pin. I appreciate your comment and I'll be checking with my set of range rods.

Well I may be that member as I had that problem with my first run Accusport 45 Colt Bisley using Iowagen's range rod.

 

[texaswheelgunner]

Boxhead, well, of course it's been at least 4 or 5 years since the member posted his problem here, but I believe it was J. Miller. As I remember, he had an old .44 Flat Top, three screw that, after he'd installed the new center pin, the top edge of inside of the breach (where the back of the barrel extends through the frame) was shaving bullets as they traveled from the cylinder into the barrel. But, he did add (again, I may not be remembering all this accurately), that he felt the gun was miss aligned at the factory, in the base case, even with the stock center pin. The new, oversized center pin just made the problem worse; so much so, that he had to have it attended to by a pistolsmith. As I remember, it was an expensive fix too.

So now, that makes at least two forum members that I've heard of, (you and him) that have run into problems like this.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

The gun I'm fitting it to is an old three screw, .44 Flat Top, Serial 18272 with 7 1/2" barrel.

Wow. There are only like 750 .44 Flattops with the 7-1/2" barrel. That's quite a "keeper" you have there.

:shock: :mrgreen: :shock:

 

[J Miller]

Boxhead, well, of course it's been at least 4 or 5 years since the member posted his problem here, but I believe it was J. Miller. As I remember, he had an old .44 Flat Top, three screw that, after he'd installed the new center pin, the top edge of inside of the breach (where the back of the barrel extends through the frame) was shaving bullets as they traveled from the cylinder into the barrel. But, he did add (again, I may not be remembering all this accurately), that he felt the gun was miss aligned at the factory, in the base case, even with the stock center pin. The new, oversized center pin just made the problem worse; so much so, that he had to have it attended to by a pistolsmith. As I remember, it was an expensive fix too.

So now, that makes at least two forum members that I've heard of, (you and him) that have run into problems like this.

texaswheelgunner,

Yes I was one that had some alignment issues with an over sized base pin. It was with an OM BH in .45 Colt. After re-cutting the forcing cone to 11° and replacing the O S base pin with the factor pin the miss-alignment is still there but not as bad.

I may have to check out the over sized cylinder latch. I didn't know they had them for old models. Been out of shooting for a while.

Joe