Hand Spring

[Noz]

Got 12 rounds thru one of my new Pietta 1858s and the hand spring broke.
Common?
Pleased with the way they shot. Both shot left a couple of inches-rough triggers and low about the same. I've cleaned up the triggers quite a bit and will not touch the front sight for a while. It's not off far enough to get excited about it. When I'm sure of the load then I'll mess with that.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I've broken one hand spring in one of my Ubertis. I understand this is the most common problem with them. They're cheap from VTI so I keep a couple around for that reason but I'm tempted to make one out of piano wire if another one breaks. That should last indefinitely. To mount it in the hand, I'll flatten the end to stick it in the slot.

[Sunwapta Haze]

A perfectly servicable (and IMHO better) hand spring can be from a bobby pin. 

Simply bend the flat portion of the bobby pin to the desired shape and then heat it with a propane torch (or similar device) to a cherry red color and quench it in water or oil.  That's the easy part.  Now that you have a brittle piece of steel you need to temper it back to a spring (if you don't temper it back you'll break the new spring on the first or second cocking).  To accomplish this you need to clean the hand spring up to bare shiny metal and then carefully heat it to a blue color and let it air cool.  Heat the spring at the end of the flame.  If you go past the blue point just take it to red and quench again. Eventually you'll get it right and if you run out of patience at least you have only invested a bit of time.   

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[Cincinnati Slim]

Howdy,

The hand spring and trigger/bolt spring are prone to breaking on both Colts and Remmies.

You can order extras from Midway USA, Dixie Gunworks or VTI Gun Parts.

Get some screwdriver bits from Brownell's that properly fit the gun's screws.

Keep it all handy when you're out shootin'. Best to just have some spare parts on hand.

These old timey six-shooters like to lose screws and break leaf springs.

Part of the Charm I supose...

Happy Trails

Cincinnati Slim

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Best to just have some spare parts on hand.

These old timey six-shooters like to lose screws and break leaf springs.

I find it a good excuse to have an extra pair of Remmies.

[Noz]

Do the Uberti springs listed fit the Pieattas?

Has anyone done anykind of work on FFg vs FFFg in the 44s and 36s?

The FFg or Pyrodex RS is so much easier to find than FFFg or Pyrodex P.

[sundance44`s]

Fer slapping steel targets up close the 2f powder or RS pyrodex is fine in the remmies . For tighter shooting at greater yardage i`d suggest the 3f or Pyrodex P .
All of the replac ment parts you will find will need some fitting, reguardless of where you buy them  ..they all come a little large so a stone and a dremel are about a must for smithing . and a good set of screw drivers fer sure ( no one screw driver will be a propper fit on these guns eaither ) . Been a lot of fine smithing gone on at the kitchen table in here ...and don`t forget a bottle of cold blueing fer touch ups .

[tinker2]

This is what I do for springs.
http://www.smallparts.com/products/descriptions/fss.cfm

I use FFg for most of what I shoot .28 to .75 caliber.
I have a lot of FFFg and FFFFg but I don’t hardly ever use it
Anymore.  To me anyway it seems more consistent shot to shot
With the FFg.

When I use my flintlocks it is a bunch more reliable in the pan.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thanks for the link, T2. Small Parts is where I get my piano wire. I may have to get some flat, too. What size do you find adequate without being too stiff?

[tinker2]

Marshal Will Wingam

.015 thick.  For the hand spring. An assortment is nice to have.
A set of Music Wire or spring Wire bending pliers is great to have 
around also.


Tinker2

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thanks, pard. I have the pliers already for bending my piano wire. I'll look into it.

[Noz]

Update on the broken hand spring. Placed an order with VTI on Monday. Parts are here and in my gun today. Super service.  I'll order from them again. Considering an order for all springs, screws and parts so that a replacement is on hand.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I've always had great service from VTI. They have good prices, too. Congrats on the fix.

[Sod Buster]

Looks like the hand spring broke today on my Uberti 1875 Remmie "OutLaw".  The cylinder will not turn when the gun is cocked and the hand does not extend out.  Since I have never taken this gun apart yet & have no experience doing so, how hard is it?  Is there disassembly instructions somewhere?

[Noz]

With a good set of screwdrivers:
Remove the grips.
Remove the mainspring(tap out the bottom after loosening the tensioning screw that bears on the base of the mainspring)
Remove triggerguard(single screw in front of triggeer guard bow)
Remove trigger and bolt spring(single screw)
Remove trigger(single screw thru frame)
Remove hammer(single screw thru frame)
Work hammer down in frame until small screw in hand, which is attached to the base of the hammer, becomes visible.
Remove hand thru bottom of frame, hammer thru top.
Put it back to gether by going in reverse.
VTI hand is universal and may need to be reshaped and shortened. Save old hand for pattern. Buy two or three hands while you are at it. I screwed on up before I got a good fit.

[Arcey]

This might help a little.  It's a '58 but the guys are the same.

http://www.cimarron-firearms.com/Parts/1858-new-army.htm

[Smokin Gun]

I've had success makin' a hand spring out of feeler guage stock. A friend George sent me some from back East, luckily before I ever needed it. Bot iworked great i soldered it in place as tryin to resqueeze the hand was hopeless. Some use stranded wire or piano wire. Paper clips or bobby pins...in a pinch.
Of course that's only if you can't wait or don't want to order ...like me LoL!