Vaquero Base pin question

[Alter Requiem]

So recently ive been screwing around with reloading the entire cylinder on my vaquero to speed up reloads.

https://youtu.be/3CXcEN8b054

Just when i was getting pretty damn fast at it, my base pin started acting up. it used to fall free from the cylinder when the latch was depressed and the gun was pointed straight down. but now at seemingly random times, the base pin will require a ridiculous amount of force to either:
a)lock it fully through the cylinder
or
b)pull it away from the latch, even while the latch is depressed.

From what i can tell the problem is with the base pin, but maybe running the pin through the cylinder so much caused an issue there. Ive lubed everything up and it still gets caught in those places.

So i guess my question is, Is it possible that i bent the base pin? Ive only heard of rare cases of max load ammo doing it so i highly doubt my manlet hands have that kind of destructive power.

Or maybe the way it was falling freely at first was not how the base pin is meant to behave. Would be nice to know if thats the case so i dont go buying new parts i dont need.

 

[22/45 Fan]

Is the base pin hole through the frame and cylinder clean? If it's dirty that may cause the sticking pin.

Also, try rolling the pin on a flat surface like a glass table top to detect any bend.

 

[Alter Requiem]

Is the base pin hole through the frame and cylinder clean? If it's dirty that may cause the sticking pin.

Also, try rolling the pin on a flat surface like a glass table top to detect any bend.

Ive swabbed and oiled every orifice on the damn thing.

Ive tried this but ive got an older vaquero which has a pin with a weird U shaped indentation in it so it cannot roll completely. Hard to tell.

 

[Chuck 100 yd]

What shooting game requires a single action and a reload on the clock?

 

[Alter Requiem]

None that i know of, but i figured it couldnt hurt to figure out how to reload a single action in 4 seconds flat lol, probably less if i was still able to practice >:(

 

[roylt]

Clean again and this time leave everything dry to see if the lube is the problem. If it is tight tolerance like it should be the lube could be "holding" the pin.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[contender]

Welcome to the Forum!
I fully understand your desires & all. Fast reloading a Single action isn't nearly as fast as most other designs.
While I don't exactly have an answer for you,,, I do have a few things for you to consider.

I own my fair share of Ruger SA's,,, and very, very few of them have a loose enough base pin to where they slip & slide as easily as you describe. And often,,, I can have one that I pull the pin easily 10 times,,, followed by it being "stuck" on the 11th time.
Next,, MANY, MANY people buy a slightly oversized base pin to tighten up cylinder play. Belt Mountain base pins are a common addition to many Ruger SA's. Why? The idea is to tighten the play to assist in accuracy by keeping the cylinder aligned with the throat of the bbl.

And lastly,,, any SA design, (other than a few oddball customs) is not a fast reloading type of firearm. As such,,, a phrase was coined many years ago; "The fastest reload is a second gun!"

I shoot USPSA competition. I have used a 1911,, and a DA revolver quite a bit. Even with moon clips,, my revolver & I are much slower than when I use my 1911 & magazines. It's just the nature of the design.

Personally,,, I'd prefer a tighter base pin as to me,, accuracy is paramount to my shooting.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Does the base pin drop out without there being a cylinder in the gun? The notch on the head of the base pin keeps it from rotating in the gun and it has to slide along the barrel and sometimes binds. Most of the guns I have will the pin will drop on it's own when the latch is pushed but it is somewhat harder to put it back in place. Rotating the cylinder helps. If that pin is slightly rotated it will push away from the barrel and not line up with the cylinder.

 

[Alter Requiem]

Thanks for the replies everyone, the base pin is in fact a lot smoother to drop when the cylinder is missing, i dont know what that means exactly, but it must be some interaction with the cylinder that has caused it to become a rougher fit.

If the looseness of the pin contributes to lower accuracy, i havent noticed it. I can nail small targets at 30 yards with this guy and its easily my most accurate pistol.

In response to the second gun, i wish brother. Lol

Im thinking the issue may be in a weakening of the spring at the end of the base pin, not pushing the pin out hard enough to pass the friction of the cylinder anymore.

If i wanted to order a new pin, is there any model differences i need to be aware of? My vaquero was from the early 90s i think, so any pin advertised to work on "vaqueros" in general should be compatible, right?

 

[Alter Requiem]

Strangest thing, i left the gun overnight after cleaning it. Just picked it up this brisk morning, and everything is sliding like greased butter again. Maybe heat fron my hands fumbling with it does something to the parts??

Anyways, heres a showcase of the reload im talking about, thanks for all the help everyone.

https://youtu.be/3CXcEN8b054

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Anyways, heres a showcase of the reload im talking about, thanks for all the help everyone.

https://youtu.be/3CXcEN8b054

WOW!!! That is slick. Do you have an extra fitted cylinder? Almost as fast as moon clips.

 

[s4s4u]

Pale Rider

 

[Alter Requiem]

Bought this used from a gun show a few years back, as far as i know its a stock vaquero with a bisley grip.

 

[contender]

"Im thinking the issue may be in a weakening of the spring at the end of the base pin, not pushing the pin out hard enough to pass the friction of the cylinder anymore."

The pin & spring at the end of the base pin is for the Transfer bar. It's not under much tension in general.