While still a practicing Gunplumber, I became by default, the local Open Top specialist. Fame, believe me, is a fickle mistress. But I
digress.
Based on the descriptions from the OP, while the gate screw can be a problem (easy fix), and the gate itself a problem (easy fix), the
chambers are the obvious culprit. As mentioned by Abilene, the chambers in Open Top cylinders, for .44, are only correct by accident.
While suppose to be of a single dimension, rotz of ruck. Seldom are they correct. I've personally had two sets of 44 Open Tops, when
I was shooting them as my Main Match guns. Of four, only one would actually chamber a 44 Special.
The cylinders are initially machined to run 44 Special cases, so the specific rim diameter and thickness are not at issue. It's all in the
depth of the chamber and where the throat begins. I still have my chamber reamer (now dull) for "adjusting" 44 chambers.
Since the Open Top was originally chambered in a proprietary rimfire cartridge by Colt (near duplicate of the 44 Henry Flat) I always
suggested to my customers to forego chamber reaming and just go with a round much closer to the original chambering, the 44
Russian. Easy to load for with smokeless and a dandy BP cartridge. Pick up box (500) cases from Starline (Midway) and your set
forever.
Coffinmaker