millwrightdude
Single-Sixer
How hard is it to remove and install another hammer. I have a hammer from a Montado that I want to install in my Sheriff's model. Can some one walk me through this?
Ruger Vaquero hammer replacement
- Thread starter millwrightdude
- Start date
EDK
Single-Sixer
Get out your owners manual and read it a couple of times. Assemble the screwdrivers you need plus something to capture the hammer spring. Read the book again. Have a clean and cleared table top to work on...with the floor clean and clear also in case you drop something!
Send the wife, children and inside pets somewhere for a few hours...they do not need to hear words unsuited for Sunday School. Proceed with the disassembly process and pay attention as you go. The first round will be the toughest. After you do it several times, you'll be OK.
FAIR WARNING: After you go through the process, you MIGHT find that your replacement hammer has raised the trigger pull to DOUBLE DIGITS. Your options then are a trip to the gunsmith or put the old hammer back in. You could save yourself some frustration by having the gunsmith do it.
I did two hammer and trigger switches with used SUPER BLACK HAWK parts from 2 Dogs last fall...got excellent results. I also did several other guns with FACTORY NEW hammers and they now reside in the back of the safe until the gunsmith (who has a waiting list) calls me to send them. All of them went from halfway acceptable to un-usable. I'll admit to being picky about trigger pulls...3 pounds +/- and crisp please...and all of my older guns have been tuned.
Send the wife, children and inside pets somewhere for a few hours...they do not need to hear words unsuited for Sunday School. Proceed with the disassembly process and pay attention as you go. The first round will be the toughest. After you do it several times, you'll be OK.
FAIR WARNING: After you go through the process, you MIGHT find that your replacement hammer has raised the trigger pull to DOUBLE DIGITS. Your options then are a trip to the gunsmith or put the old hammer back in. You could save yourself some frustration by having the gunsmith do it.
I did two hammer and trigger switches with used SUPER BLACK HAWK parts from 2 Dogs last fall...got excellent results. I also did several other guns with FACTORY NEW hammers and they now reside in the back of the safe until the gunsmith (who has a waiting list) calls me to send them. All of them went from halfway acceptable to un-usable. I'll admit to being picky about trigger pulls...3 pounds +/- and crisp please...and all of my older guns have been tuned.
OP
millwrightdude
Single-Sixer
I thought they were drop in and go
EDK
Single-Sixer
millwrightdude said:
They will PROBABLY "drop in." As far as "go," the afore mentioned Original Size VAQUEROS...all stainless; 2 in 357 and 2 in 44 magnum...do not have acceptable trigger pulls any longer, BUT they needed trigger work before the hammer swaps. If I was a bit more organized, I'd have had them all apart at the same time and done some parts swapping BUT I'd have had small pieces scattered from H***-to-breakfast!
I just retired as a power plant machinist...a sledge hamer mechanic changing parts, working on coal mills and conveyor belts, among other things. I had a machining job about once a year. You know the old saying about "inter-changeable parts that don"t inter-change."
Go ahead and try. You'll do some cursing and learn, if nothing else, how it works and that a good gunsmith is one skilled dude. H***, you might get lucky and get a good trigger! THEN go buy a lottery ticket, send the kids to grandma, and take the wife/girl friend out for the evening.
JWhitmore44
Blackhawk
I put a super Blackhawk hammer in my Vaquero and a Bisley hammer in my Single Six. The only thing I had to do was reshape the Bisley hammer to fit the standard grip frame of the Single Six. You wont have that issue since you wont be using a Bisley hammer. If you can disassemble you your gun and put it back together then the procedure is petty much drop in. There is always the possibility that the tolerances are opposite from each other and you may need to smooth up the sides of the hammer or if the sear doesn't engage correctly on the hammer notch. If either occurs you will notice quite quickly with a few dry fires if the hammer seems to hang up or it trips too easy on trigger pull. You already have the hammer the only thing you wil have invested is the time to take it apart and put it back together, possibly twice if it doesn't work.
OP
millwrightdude
Single-Sixer
I installed it this morning and all went well. It went it just as good as the old one went out. Shoots good too
EDK
Single-Sixer
millwrightdude said:
You might be on a roll. Go get the lottery ticket and take the little woman out for the evening.
I've got one of the 2 Dogs SUPER BLACK HAWK hammer and trigger sets in the 44 magnum Original Size VAQUERO converted to a SHERIFFS MODEL. The lower hammer spur is as easy to use as a BISLEY hammer.
Enjoy your project.
OP
millwrightdude
Single-Sixer
Now if I can find someone to install a Power Custom free spin pawl, I'll be in good shape
JWhitmore44
Blackhawk
Don't know how comfortable you feel about doing your own work
http://marauder.homestead.com/files/FreeSpin.html
http://marauder.homestead.com/files/FreeSpin.html
OP
millwrightdude
Single-Sixer
I have read that before, great reading. I bought a powers free spin pawl and tryied to install it, but couldn't get it to work, so I took it back out. I didn't do any fitting on it so that I could send to to a gunsmith to get it done right. Now I need to find somewhere to take it
The Blackhawk Kid
Blackhawk
My free spin pawl just dropped in and it works. Check for burrs on the little window where the pawl protrudes. Hmmm, I didn't have any problems. The free spin pawl is just a tad shorter and thinner than the factory one. Stone the edges of the FSP and try it again. Assuming there are no other hammer issues, I just removed the hammer and replaced the pawl to the Power FSP, deburred the new pawl and window, reassembled, and shot! It worked! Hope this helps a little. BhK
