Question on Pietta 1851 Navy plunger

Smiling Bob · January 8, 2010, 03:34 AM

Picked up a Pietta 1851 barrel and complete loading lever with plunger from Dixie Gunworks for my Pietta 1861 Navy. The barrel fits great, but the plunger rattles at both ends is this normal ?

Smiling Bob

Doc Hoy · January 8, 2010, 07:50 AM

About half of my Colt clones have a rattling plunger.

With the loading lever latched in the firing position, grab hold of the plunger with your thumb on the near side of the pistol and your forefinger on the far side. (You are holding the revolver grip in your right hand with the muzzle pointed to the left...at a Democrat).

Now wiggle the plunger and you will see where the rattling comes from. Once you see that, you can accept that a little bit of rattle is probably okay.

If the plunger travels into the chamber under load without binding you have an additional indication that all is well.

madcratebuilder · January 8, 2010, 10:09 AM

Bob, you must have some excessive side clearance at the plunger pivot, while this pivot point needs to be able to slide it should not rattle. Can you tighten the pivot screw? Maybe press the plunger slot on the lever to close up some of the gap. Use a wave washer, a thin steel washer that has a wavy shape to stop rattling but still allow some movement. Out of a couple of dozen Colts with the pivoting lever the only loose one I have is a .44 Navy from Pietta and it's not so loose as the rattle.

How tight is the plunger body in the barrel lug? It should be a fairly tight fit, easy to slide in and out but not sloppy.

Fingers McGee · January 8, 2010, 12:20 PM

The plungers on about half of my '51 Navies rattle - especially the Piettas; although one of the 2nd Gens does too. Tightening (torquing down) the screw helps some, but, if you tighten it too much, the plunger binds when you try to seat a ball. I just let them rattle.

None of my '61 Navies rattle.

January 8, 2010, 03:34 AM	#1
Smiling Bob Junior Member Join Date: December 23, 2007 Location: Cheyenne, Wyoming Posts: 13	Question on Pietta 1851 Navy plunger Picked up a Pietta 1851 barrel and complete loading lever with plunger from Dixie Gunworks for my Pietta 1861 Navy. The barrel fits great, but the plunger rattles at both ends is this normal ? Smiling Bob

January 8, 2010, 07:50 AM	#2
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Yup! About half of my Colt clones have a rattling plunger. With the loading lever latched in the firing position, grab hold of the plunger with your thumb on the near side of the pistol and your forefinger on the far side. (You are holding the revolver grip in your right hand with the muzzle pointed to the left...at a Democrat). Now wiggle the plunger and you will see where the rattling comes from. Once you see that, you can accept that a little bit of rattle is probably okay. If the plunger travels into the chamber under load without binding you have an additional indication that all is well. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

January 8, 2010, 12:20 PM	#4
Fingers McGee Senior Member Join Date: March 19, 2008 Location: High & Dry in Missouri Ozarks Posts: 2,113	The plungers on about half of my '51 Navies rattle - especially the Piettas; although one of the 2nd Gens does too. Tightening (torquing down) the screw helps some, but, if you tighten it too much, the plunger binds when you try to seat a ball. I just let them rattle. None of my '61 Navies rattle. __________________ Fingers (Show Me MO smoke) McGee - AKA Man of Many Colts - Alter ego of Diabolical Ken; SASS Regulator 28564-L-TG; Rangemaster and stage writer extraordinaire; Frontiersman, Pistoleer, NRA Endowment Life, NMLRA, SAF, CCRKBA, STORM 327, SV115; Charter member, Central Ozarks Western Shooters Cynic: A blackguard whose faulty vision see things as they are, not as they should be. Ambrose Bierce

January 8, 2010, 10:09 AM	#3
madcratebuilder Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2007 Location: Northern Orygun Posts: 4,923	Bob, you must have some excessive side clearance at the plunger pivot, while this pivot point needs to be able to slide it should not rattle. Can you tighten the pivot screw? Maybe press the plunger slot on the lever to close up some of the gap. Use a wave washer, a thin steel washer that has a wavy shape to stop rattling but still allow some movement. Out of a couple of dozen Colts with the pivoting lever the only loose one I have is a .44 Navy from Pietta and it's not so loose as the rattle. How tight is the plunger body in the barrel lug? It should be a fairly tight fit, easy to slide in and out but not sloppy.