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Old 03-31-2018, 02:34 PM
1sailor 1sailor is offline
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Is the hand hitting the case rim on 686+ Is the hand hitting the case rim on 686+ Is the hand hitting the case rim on 686+ Is the hand hitting the case rim on 686+ Is the hand hitting the case rim on 686+  
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Default Is the hand hitting the case rim on 686+

This has been an ongoing issue that I've been trying to correct. Trying to determine what was causing a very hard single action cocking of the hammer which sometimes locked up the action. I did a little more investigating last night. First I took some cases and painted the base and edge of the rims with magic marker. Not enough for any real "build up" but enough to color them. Loading the empty cases into the cylinder I cocked and decocked the revolver 7 times to give each case a pass. What I found was that each of the seven rims picked up a pretty obvious nick in the edge of the rim in exactly the same place in relation to how it was aligned in the cylinder (I made a small dot on the base of each to keep track). There were no marks of any kind in the ink on the base of the rim. Next I colored only the very edge of the rim base with a very thin coat of bright lavender model paint and made sure there was none anywhere else but the very edge of the rim around the base. After cocking and lowering the hammer 7 times to give each case another pass I inspected everything in good light with a magnifying glass. The only place where any paint rubbed off on the pistol was right on the edge of the hand. It looks like this is where it's hitting. I never knew that the hand could do this but it sure looks like it. Does this sound right to you guys? The nicks and everything line up perfectly and it explains why it's always the round that's next in rotation that hangs up.

Last edited by 1sailor; 03-31-2018 at 03:46 PM.
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Old 03-31-2018, 02:39 PM
Protocall_Design Protocall_Design is offline
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Is the hand hitting the case rim on 686+ Is the hand hitting the case rim on 686+ Is the hand hitting the case rim on 686+ Is the hand hitting the case rim on 686+ Is the hand hitting the case rim on 686+  
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I have seen this on a few guns. It's not that uncommon. The easy fix is to stone off the part of the hand that contacts the case.
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Old 03-31-2018, 04:45 PM
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Alk8944 Alk8944 is offline
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Is the hand hitting the case rim on 686+ Is the hand hitting the case rim on 686+ Is the hand hitting the case rim on 686+ Is the hand hitting the case rim on 686+ Is the hand hitting the case rim on 686+  
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Simply open the cylinder, pull back on the thumbpiece and cock the hammer. The tip of the hand should not protrude ahead of the breech face, if it does then the case rims will catch on the hand. Sound familiar?

The second definitive test is to load the cylinder (empty cases, dummies), hold the gun muzzle down and try to cock the hammer. The cases should not catch on the hand. Next hold the gun muzzle up and cock the hammer, now the cases will catch on the hand!

The solution is to trim the point of the hand so it doesn't protrude past the face of the breech. Don't cut it any more than absolutely necessary. Keep the face of the tip square, do not bevel or round the corners!
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Old 03-31-2018, 05:01 PM
1sailor 1sailor is offline
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I sure wish either of you guys had been following my other thread in the revolver section. The symptoms described by ALK8944 are exactly what I described there. What is the best thing to dress the hand with (it absolutely does extend too far). I don't have any fancy stones or anything. Is a small smooth file okay?

Last edited by 1sailor; 03-31-2018 at 05:08 PM.
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Old 03-31-2018, 05:14 PM
Protocall_Design Protocall_Design is offline
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A regular file will just skate off the hand. It's hard tool steel. Get a cheap set of diamond files (the expensive ones are the same ones, just marked up) they will cut it easily. We are talking about maybe $10 or less for a set.

With the sideplate off, you can look through the hand window and see what it's doing as it moves through the stroke. No need to guess.
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Old 03-31-2018, 07:20 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Toolguy View Post
A regular file will just skate off the hand.
Actually this is not true. The hand is no harder than the ratchet and will cut easily with a sharp fine cut file.
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Old 03-31-2018, 07:47 PM
1sailor 1sailor is offline
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Well in either case I cannot find the file I thought I had so it looks like the job has come to a standstill until after Easter.
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Old 03-31-2018, 08:24 PM
Protocall_Design Protocall_Design is offline
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All the hands I've seen are much harder than a ratchet.
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