Outdoorsman troubles

[Fullmetaljacket]

I recently picked up a 1934 vintage 38/44 Outdoorsman. Function seemed normal when I picked it up at my FFL. I took it home and stripped it down for a good cleaning per usual for me. Sideplate off, remove everything, soak and clean. Polished up the rebound slide a little, other than that didn't touch any critical surfaces on hammer, trigger or anywhere else. All the springs seemed ok so left them alone. Put everything back together anticipating that sweet, smooth early long action...nope. Double action trigger feels like 20 lbs. or more single action 10 or 12. It seems to operate normally, just crazy heavy and stiff to the point I don't feel safe cocking the hammer with live rounds on board. No rub marks on the cylinder face to indicate binding.
I'm at a loss. Going to take it apart again and examine everything more closely. Any tips on what to look for while I'm in there? This is a beautiful piece, feeling a bit crestfallen that I can't enjoy it yet.

 

[Fullmetaljacket]

Obligatory pics.

 

[stansdds]

Could be something as simple as the extractor rod has backed out or there is some debris hiding under the extractor. Either of those will cause a lot of cylinder binding as the action attempts to rotate the cylinder. Did a previous owner place cylinder end shake shims in the cylinder yoke bore and now they are not allowing the cylinder to rotate freely when the cylinder is closed? Simple way to test if it is cylinder binding, with the cylinder open, hold the cylinder release in the rear position and try the trigger. If it is still twice as heavy of a pull as it was before cleaning, then something is amiss beneath the side plate.

 

[gwpercle]

Make sure your re-assembly was done correctly ...

Then do as Stansdds (post #3) advises .

Good Luck ... that is a Fine Revolver , Congratulations !
Gary

 

[Shotguncoach]

Were the pictures taken before or after you worked on it? The strain screw appears to be either backed out or too long in the second pic....

 

[Fullmetaljacket]

Good eye. That pic taken before I worked on it, backed out the strain screw before removing the sideplate and took a quick pic. I took it apart again and REALLY examined everything. I don't have the tools / gauges to check some things but everything I looked at appeared fine. I worked the action with the sideplate removed and mainspring removed and it was flawless. Install mainspring and sideplate and back to ridiculous pull weight. Is it possible that the strain screw is too long? Mainspring too long / heavy? I have a 1930's vintage Heavy Duty for comparison, the trigger pull on that one is "normal", action runs like a sewing machine.
I will pop the grips off that one and compare strain screws and spring. Not sure what else to do short of sending to a 'smith.

 

[nedlate]

Swap main springs with your Heavy Duty. See if that works. I wouldn't be shortening the strain screw.
Ed

 

[chief38]

If you have assembled everything correctly and your trigger weight is still "20 pounds" the strain screw was more than likely replaced and never sized properly. Easy fix, just shorten it - but not too much! Other than that, without seeing it we're only guessing.

 

[Fullmetaljacket]

Thanks for the replies guys. Ed, good suggestion, I'll swap out the spring and screw, one at a time. Hopefully that's where the problem is, that's an easy fix.

 

[2152hq]

If the strain screw is possibly too long,,just try backing it out a little at a time and keep trying the action till (and if..) the gun responds with a normal DA smooth action.

Then you'll know if it that screw. No need to go parts swapping.

If that's the problem,,then take some time and shorten that screw to a correct length.