OK. This is an interesting, but annoying issue which I hope will be resolved by the replacement of a spring or something simple. Since I'm not a gunsmith, I'd appreciate some informed comments as to what the problem may be, please. I know several of you folks are very knowledgeable in this arena, and I respectfully ask to pick your brains for a resolution.
I own a Model 66-1 (manufactured circa 1981). It has probably been fired once in its lifetime and that was probably when it was first acquired by the owner around 1982. This revolver dry fires and operates perfectly with spent .38 cases in it UNTIL I turn the muzzle up; say, 45 to 90 degrees. I can hold the gun in any other direction, dry fire, and the problem is non-existent. When the muzzle is up, I can lean the gun to the left or the right and neither direction has an effect. It still seizes. Sometimes the hammer moves back about halfway when it seizes and sometimes the hammer will not move at all. If it seizes in the halfway position, I can release the trigger, let the hammer return to the down position, and then it's totally locked up until I manually rotate the cylinder. As soon as I acquired this firearm a week ago, I immediately removed the sideplate and lubed it with TW25B. The action was dry from non-use. I've been dry firing to get the trigger to smooth out a bit, and it is very smooth now. The firearm seizes a great deal on one chamber, but not always on that one chamber. It probably seizes on the one chamber 80% of the time.
Do any of you have an idea as to what the problem is, please? I'm hoping its just an old, weak spring that needs replacing, but the one cylinder issue may suggest something else, of course. I'll thank you in advance for any helpful information you may offer.
I own a Model 66-1 (manufactured circa 1981). It has probably been fired once in its lifetime and that was probably when it was first acquired by the owner around 1982. This revolver dry fires and operates perfectly with spent .38 cases in it UNTIL I turn the muzzle up; say, 45 to 90 degrees. I can hold the gun in any other direction, dry fire, and the problem is non-existent. When the muzzle is up, I can lean the gun to the left or the right and neither direction has an effect. It still seizes. Sometimes the hammer moves back about halfway when it seizes and sometimes the hammer will not move at all. If it seizes in the halfway position, I can release the trigger, let the hammer return to the down position, and then it's totally locked up until I manually rotate the cylinder. As soon as I acquired this firearm a week ago, I immediately removed the sideplate and lubed it with TW25B. The action was dry from non-use. I've been dry firing to get the trigger to smooth out a bit, and it is very smooth now. The firearm seizes a great deal on one chamber, but not always on that one chamber. It probably seizes on the one chamber 80% of the time.
Do any of you have an idea as to what the problem is, please? I'm hoping its just an old, weak spring that needs replacing, but the one cylinder issue may suggest something else, of course. I'll thank you in advance for any helpful information you may offer.
