Buying some parts for my Cattleman

[Sawed-Off]

Howdy Pards,

I'm just in the process of working out what parts I need for my Cattleman. I'm getting them from the VTIParts website. One of my Cattleman is much older than the other, and a previous owner has filed the front sight down too far, so I'm getting one of those. I'll have it fitted by a local 'smith. I figure since I'm ordering parts, I should give it a bit of a freshen up. Would I need much more than the lightened main spring they sell? On the newer gun, the cylinder is somewhat stiffer to spin than the older gun. Should I be looking at doing something about that, by making the newer one easier, or the older one stiffer?

They're both 7.5" blued 45LC. Regarding the lightened mainspring, I use Winchester primers, if that's a consideration.

[amin ledbetter]

If I'm not mistaken the older Cattleman had a colt style hand with a flat style spring attached to the hand itself. These are bad for breaking and/or weakening with heavy use. The newer Cattleman will have a coil spring and plunger that pushes on the hand and the frame has been drilled to except this style of spring. The Ruger Vaqueros are set up this way. The coil spring is a much more efficient and stronger set up. Of coarse if you wanted to convert the earlier Cattleman to that set up you would have to have a smith drill the frame to accept it. It is in my opinion a worth while investment to have done. The Trigger and bolt springs are a flat leaf style on both the newer and older Cattleman. Though I have never broken one personally it is said they too are bad for becoming two pieces when you least want them to! When I slicked my Cattleman I used the shooters spring kit from Brownells. It replaced all the springs except the hand spring. ( That way they can service both new and old Cattleman. ) I bought the one with the wire Bolt Trigger spring in it! I'm told that is a much more reliable style spring setup. Worked wonders on mine. I did not see the hand coil spring and plunger listed on VTI's website. I am sure they sell it though. If it is not listed give them a call. If you decide to have it done. Oh you would also want to buy the hand for the coil spring if you decided to do this mod. Might want to get a few more opinions before you start buyin parts! Might be some other good things to buy for em as well. When it comes down to the end though! It's all really up to how much time and cash you wanna put in em pard!

[Sawed-Off]

Thanks amin. Looks like I need to put in a little more research before I buy anything major. I didn't realise there was likely to be some differences beyond their ages.

[amin ledbetter]

No problem Pard! If you don't me given some more advice, I think if I was you. I'd order that front sight, and go ahead and get it to a smith to put it on! While it is there have him yank the back strap off and see if the frame has been drilled. If it has there be a small flat slot head screw just above the left hole where the top of the back strap mount hole is. If she has that I'd buy two Shooter spring packs from Brownells and and toss them in both guns while watchin a western and drinkin a beer!  Then the next day I go shootin! That's what I'd do anyway! If you have any more questions feel free to ask.