1858 Timing Question

ak-kev · December 28, 2010, 09:16 AM

Hello, I received my first black powder revolver the other day. Its a new forged fame Uberti 1858 Remington with a 5.5 barrel. I collect Colt revolvers so I was very nervous about what to expect from Uberti quality. I was very impressed. I've had the gun apart and marveled at its simplicity. Im really liking it. I have noticed that there are no lead cuts in the cylinder for the bolt to drop into. Im reading that a "perfectly timed" 1858 will drop the bolt in the bolt stop perfectly as the cylinder rotates. I know this is unrealistic to expect and more unrealistic to think it would stay that way after many hundreds of rounds. Mine is dropping a little early, where the bolt is 75% in the bolt stop, 25% on the cylinder. I've shot it like this many times for two weeks but Im afraid of it eventually peening the leading edge of the bolt stop. I know Im making this sound difficult, and Im sorry. My question is this......does anyone have a picture of where I need to work on the bolt leg to allow the bolt to drop a little earlier? I would like it to drop just outside the bolt stop and then slide in. I see the bolt leg riding on the hammer cam but I dont know how to make it slip off earlier. Thak you for reading. Kevin.

Doc Hoy · December 28, 2010, 09:58 AM

One of the design features of the Remington is that it is absent the ramp in front of the slot peculiar to Colt revolvers.

The revolver can be timed much as Colts are timed. If you have done this you already know how it is done.

The photos you request are contained in a series of articles under the pen name Larson Pettifogger for tuning Pietta and Uberti Colt clones. You can use these articles to learn how to time the Remington.

The articles address shaping the bolt face as well as positioning the legs of the bolt. They also discuss the interface between the hand and the cylinder ratchet. Do a search on the forum or either Larson Pettifogger ot Tuning the Pietta. I think you will find them. It is very likely that someone will post the links too. I am in a big rush or I would post them.

ak-kev · December 28, 2010, 10:00 AM

Man, you are awesome!! Thank you for taking the time to reply. Kevin.

Doc Hoy · December 28, 2010, 10:06 AM

Here are the articles.

http://www.theopenrange.net/articles...a_Part_One.pdf

http://www.theopenrange.net/articles...a_Part_Two.pdf

http://www.theopenrange.net/articles...ers_Part_1.pdf

http://www.theopenrange.net/articles...ers_Part_2.pdf

http://www.theopenrange.net/articles...ers_Part_3.pdf

http://www.theopenrange.net/articles...ers_Part_4.pdf

When you read these, you will be thrilled.

ak-kev · December 28, 2010, 02:08 PM

Wow, that is some great reading. Thank you so much for the links. Kevin.

ak-kev · December 29, 2010, 09:05 PM

Well, all that reading was so interesting I decided to try to adjust the timing myself. I was successful. I now have the bolt dropping 2 bolt widths outside the bolt stops. This allows it to simply fall into the stops rather than dropping on the edge of the bolt stops and possibly peening them over time. Thank you again Doc!! Kevin.

Model-P · December 30, 2010, 01:26 AM

That sounds about right for fast cycling.

Doc Hoy · December 30, 2010, 06:41 AM

I ordered two more books on gunsmithing handguns yesterday but I doubt they will have the detail embodied in those articles.

December 28, 2010, 09:16 AM	#1
ak-kev Member Join Date: March 10, 2009 Location: Lakeland Florida Posts: 73	1858 Timing Question Hello, I received my first black powder revolver the other day. Its a new forged fame Uberti 1858 Remington with a 5.5 barrel. I collect Colt revolvers so I was very nervous about what to expect from Uberti quality. I was very impressed. I've had the gun apart and marveled at its simplicity. Im really liking it. I have noticed that there are no lead cuts in the cylinder for the bolt to drop into. Im reading that a "perfectly timed" 1858 will drop the bolt in the bolt stop perfectly as the cylinder rotates. I know this is unrealistic to expect and more unrealistic to think it would stay that way after many hundreds of rounds. Mine is dropping a little early, where the bolt is 75% in the bolt stop, 25% on the cylinder. I've shot it like this many times for two weeks but Im afraid of it eventually peening the leading edge of the bolt stop. I know Im making this sound difficult, and Im sorry. My question is this......does anyone have a picture of where I need to work on the bolt leg to allow the bolt to drop a little earlier? I would like it to drop just outside the bolt stop and then slide in. I see the bolt leg riding on the hammer cam but I dont know how to make it slip off earlier. Thak you for reading. Kevin. Last edited by ak-kev; December 28, 2010 at 09:17 AM. Reason: spelling

December 28, 2010, 09:58 AM	#2
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Ak One of the design features of the Remington is that it is absent the ramp in front of the slot peculiar to Colt revolvers. The revolver can be timed much as Colts are timed. If you have done this you already know how it is done. The photos you request are contained in a series of articles under the pen name Larson Pettifogger for tuning Pietta and Uberti Colt clones. You can use these articles to learn how to time the Remington. The articles address shaping the bolt face as well as positioning the legs of the bolt. They also discuss the interface between the hand and the cylinder ratchet. Do a search on the forum or either Larson Pettifogger ot Tuning the Pietta. I think you will find them. It is very likely that someone will post the links too. I am in a big rush or I would post them. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

December 28, 2010, 10:06 AM	#4
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	It turns out that I have more time than I thought Here are the articles. http://www.theopenrange.net/articles...a_Part_One.pdf http://www.theopenrange.net/articles...a_Part_Two.pdf http://www.theopenrange.net/articles...ers_Part_1.pdf http://www.theopenrange.net/articles...ers_Part_2.pdf http://www.theopenrange.net/articles...ers_Part_3.pdf http://www.theopenrange.net/articles...ers_Part_4.pdf When you read these, you will be thrilled. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

December 30, 2010, 06:41 AM	#8
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Aren't those articles great? I ordered two more books on gunsmithing handguns yesterday but I doubt they will have the detail embodied in those articles. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

December 28, 2010, 10:00 AM	#3
ak-kev Member Join Date: March 10, 2009 Location: Lakeland Florida Posts: 73	Man, you are awesome!! Thank you for taking the time to reply. Kevin.

December 28, 2010, 02:08 PM	#5
ak-kev Member Join Date: March 10, 2009 Location: Lakeland Florida Posts: 73	Wow, that is some great reading. Thank you so much for the links. Kevin.

December 29, 2010, 09:05 PM	#6
ak-kev Member Join Date: March 10, 2009 Location: Lakeland Florida Posts: 73	Well, all that reading was so interesting I decided to try to adjust the timing myself. I was successful. I now have the bolt dropping 2 bolt widths outside the bolt stops. This allows it to simply fall into the stops rather than dropping on the edge of the bolt stops and possibly peening them over time. Thank you again Doc!! Kevin.

December 30, 2010, 01:26 AM	#7
Model-P Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2009 Posts: 727	That sounds about right for fast cycling.