Inertia Rules!

[larbike]

I recently picked up a gently used Model29-2 at my local gun shop. The revolver was in excellent condition but did have a bent rear sight blade. After a little haggling we agreed on a good price, so I went ahead and took the plunge. I ordered a replacement rear sight kit for the revolver and decided to install it today in preparation for a range trip this weekend. As many of you may know, the existing sight screw is first sheared off by turning it. Then the super tiny plunger and spring inside the screw head are removed so that they can be installed on the new screw. I discovered that the plunger had become peened into the cavity in the screw head and would not come out. Tweezers and picks proved useless since the plunger tip is conical and there is nothing to hang on to. After a few minutes of pondering the problem I came up with this solution: I used my inertia bullet puller to extract the plunger and spring. First, I took and old . 45 acp brass case and used a 15/64 drill bit to enlarge the primer hole. Then I pressed in the broken-off screw head into the hole sideways so that the plunger was facing straight down. I then inserted the case into the bullet puller and after a few sharp raps, the plunger and spring came out undamaged. I then carefully reinstalled these into the new sight screw and installed the new sight leaf. I could have just ordered a new plunger and spring but I did not want to wait. I enclosed a few photos to show the setup but I had already transferred the plunger and spring when I took them. I hope it will help someone facing a similar problem.

 

[Barbarian-CBX]

Brilliant!

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[SS336]

One of those, "I wish I thought of that" moments
Copied that and I will save it for the future. Of course probably won't remember where I put it.

 

[Hondo44]

larbike,

I agree, simply brilliant!

And in fact I have an application for your method:

I need to remove a stuck cyl hold open plunger from an I frame yoke. I'll give it a try but it's going to be a 'little' more difficult to mount on the bullet puller!

Thx for sharing,

 

[larbike]

larbike,

I agree, simply brilliant!

And in fact I have an application for your method:

I need to remove a stuck cyl hold open plunger from an I frame yoke. I'll give it a try but it's going to be a 'little' more difficult to mount on the bullet puller!

Thx for sharing,

What does the plunger look like? Do you have any pictures?

 

[Hondo44]

The plunger is sticking out of the yoke on the left and has a coil spring behind it. But mine is shoved all the way in the hole and stuck with gunk or rust or both, been soaking it for weeks.

Photo credit: handejector

 

[mmaher94087]

Hondo44
Try heating the yoke with a hair drier. If the hole on the yoke expands enough then the spring will make the pin pop out. This also applies to the 1880's .44 DA's where the cylinder stop is part of the trigger.

 

[ameridaddy]

Bravo!! Bravo!!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The people here always amaze me with their improvising solutions. Well done sir and thank you for sharing with the rest of us...

 

[Ruger 13]

Good idea!