Single Action Cimmarons

Bullrock · June 26, 2005, 05:08 PM

Last week someone put me onto Cimmaron Firearms. Today I selected my next gun. If anyone has any information, or opinions pertaining to construction, maintenance, and accuracy of these guns I'd like to hear from you...Here Tis,

This may not happen for awhile because I haven't picked up my new Vaquero yet. But when it does, I'm thinking about changing my screen name to 'The Schofield Kid'

Sir William · June 26, 2005, 05:38 PM

Ubertis, made in Italy. There have been timing problems reported. They will only safely fire CAS 38 Special loads, NO +P or defensive loads. The sights are difficult to pick up and align. That is a built in fault of the design. Taylors are equally good. I don't suggest taking them apart for cleaning. The wedge won't take much assembly/disassembly. That has kept me from buying a pair from Navy/Replica or Taylors.

Bullrock · June 26, 2005, 05:55 PM

That's awful news William. I'ts so beautiful!!! I had selected the .44 special with a 5 1/2" barrel. Guess I had better go re-think...

Sir William · June 26, 2005, 08:40 PM

The 44 Specials have been hard to find. I wanted a pair myself. The 38 Specials seem to be more available but, limited in loads except for, CAS loadings. The 200 gr 44 Special in FNL seems to be the only load to use in the open tops also. They are good for period look in CAS when paired with a 1866 Yellowboy LA rifle. I don't see them as being of much use for general carry or field. They are nice eye candy though. Nickel versions with faux ivory grips are especially nice.

XavierBreath · June 26, 2005, 09:06 PM

Both are Cimarrons.
Top is a .357magnum.
Bottom is a .45ACP with a spare .45LC cylinder.
If you buy a .357magnum, it should handle any .38spl round fine.

GUNSMOKE45441 · June 26, 2005, 09:59 PM

Wow!!! that's some cool Iron.X

Sir William · June 26, 2005, 10:14 PM

XB, the single actions referred to are black powder framed, clones of Richards-Mason Colt opentop conversions. They are limited in what they can handle pressurewise. They are also difficult to clean through and through. Your pics of your Cimmarons are the later 1873 Single Action Army revolvers and are a much better and stronger design. They are still limited in what cartridges they can safely handle in my opinion. There are hotter loads out there in the marketplace than cowboy revolvers can handle. No offense meant. Even Rugers aren't up to RUGER ONLY loads any longer. The new Ruger Vaqueros cannot handle loads that the old Ruger Vaqueros could handle. My opinion is that any CAS firearm should not be loaded with anything other than CAS lead cartridges. They are not built for hot defensive or hunting loads. YMMV

Bullrock · June 27, 2005, 02:27 PM

I think I'm getting a little confused...Here is what I want to buy

Here is what I would use for ammo

Quote:

Cowboy Action Cartridges, Model 44B, 44 Special Caliber, 240 Grain Lead Flat Nose Developed specifically for Cowboy Action Shooting enthusiasts, these new flat nose lead bullets are designed and manufactured to assure superior accuracy

OK, are you saying that the gun will only last for a limited amount of time caused by shooting, and disassemble/reassembly? I would use it for paper plinking, and showing off at the range...But soon it will become a paperweight?

Thanks

Sir William · June 27, 2005, 06:03 PM

Actually, yes. These black powder framed revolvers are difficult to clean properly. If you remove the locking screw and tap out the wedge that holds the barrel to the frame, you risk damage every single time it is tapped back together. They can even be tapped in too far and the revolver will lock up. The alternative is simply spraying Gun Scrubber through the action and running a cleaning rod from the muzzle back to clean the bore. The cylinder would be cleaned by running a cleaning rod through each chamber from the loading gate. The arbor would suffer a lack of cleaning and lubrication. If you disassemble it to clean it properly, you should buy a few extra wedges and locking screws. I also suggest the 200 gr FNL bullets in 44 Special.

Bullrock · June 27, 2005, 06:32 PM

Thanks Sir Will...Kinda in between a rock and a hard place on this one. I hate to pay $400 for a paperweight...

Sir William · June 27, 2005, 09:24 PM

It won't be a paperweight. I simply wanted to alert you and others to their shortcomings and the special care they demand. If a 1851 or 1860 Colt black powder shooter wanted to upgrade to smokeless, these are a great way to accomplish that. If a smokeless shooter was expecting to have an easy to maintain single action, these conversions are not that simple. There is a fairly rigid cleaning and lubrication schedule for them. The way to think about these is if you only shoot them on weekends and clean them, that is 52 times a year that they would be stripped down, cleaned, relubed and reassembled. Would you buy a vehicle that had to be stripped down, reassembled and repeated everytime you drove it? They are good revolvers, they are labour intensive though. If you are already into black powder, they are an excellent smokeless choice.

Bullrock · June 28, 2005, 02:37 PM

I went into a small gun shop this morning looking for something cheap to restore. The owner had one similar to the model I posted, for $100. Kinda beat up. My thoughts went right back to this thread. After your counsel, a new one maybe, but not that one...

Thanks...

Sir William · June 28, 2005, 06:31 PM

I simply post my experiences and knowledge. I have seen many of those revolvers turned into $100.00 beaters due to shooters being unfamiliar with their needs. It is sad to see a good firearm abused. A little research and Q&A as you are doing, goes a long way. I appreciate this board for the members knowledge and experience.

Bullrock · June 28, 2005, 07:08 PM

Me too Will.

June 26, 2005, 05:08 PM	#1
Bullrock Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2004 Posts: 2,686	Single Action Cimmarons Last week someone put me onto Cimmaron Firearms. Today I selected my next gun. If anyone has any information, or opinions pertaining to construction, maintenance, and accuracy of these guns I'd like to hear from you...Here Tis, This may not happen for awhile because I haven't picked up my new Vaquero yet. But when it does, I'm thinking about changing my screen name to 'The Schofield Kid' Last edited by Bullrock; October 9, 2005 at 06:56 PM.

June 28, 2005, 02:37 PM	#12
Bullrock Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2004 Posts: 2,686	Sir Will I went into a small gun shop this morning looking for something cheap to restore. The owner had one similar to the model I posted, for $100. Kinda beat up. My thoughts went right back to this thread. After your counsel, a new one maybe, but not that one... Thanks...

June 26, 2005, 05:38 PM	#2
Sir William Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2004 Posts: 3,261	Ubertis, made in Italy. There have been timing problems reported. They will only safely fire CAS 38 Special loads, NO +P or defensive loads. The sights are difficult to pick up and align. That is a built in fault of the design. Taylors are equally good. I don't suggest taking them apart for cleaning. The wedge won't take much assembly/disassembly. That has kept me from buying a pair from Navy/Replica or Taylors.

June 26, 2005, 05:55 PM	#3
Bullrock Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2004 Posts: 2,686	That's awful news William. I'ts so beautiful!!! I had selected the .44 special with a 5 1/2" barrel. Guess I had better go re-think...

June 26, 2005, 08:40 PM	#4
Sir William Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2004 Posts: 3,261	The 44 Specials have been hard to find. I wanted a pair myself. The 38 Specials seem to be more available but, limited in loads except for, CAS loadings. The 200 gr 44 Special in FNL seems to be the only load to use in the open tops also. They are good for period look in CAS when paired with a 1866 Yellowboy LA rifle. I don't see them as being of much use for general carry or field. They are nice eye candy though. Nickel versions with faux ivory grips are especially nice.

June 26, 2005, 09:06 PM	#5
XavierBreath Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2002 Location: North Louisiana Posts: 2,800	Both are Cimarrons. Top is a .357magnum. Bottom is a .45ACP with a spare .45LC cylinder. If you buy a .357magnum, it should handle any .38spl round fine.

June 26, 2005, 09:59 PM	#6
GUNSMOKE45441 Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2004 Posts: 129	Wow!!! that's some cool Iron.X

June 26, 2005, 10:14 PM	#7
Sir William Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2004 Posts: 3,261	XB, the single actions referred to are black powder framed, clones of Richards-Mason Colt opentop conversions. They are limited in what they can handle pressurewise. They are also difficult to clean through and through. Your pics of your Cimmarons are the later 1873 Single Action Army revolvers and are a much better and stronger design. They are still limited in what cartridges they can safely handle in my opinion. There are hotter loads out there in the marketplace than cowboy revolvers can handle. No offense meant. Even Rugers aren't up to RUGER ONLY loads any longer. The new Ruger Vaqueros cannot handle loads that the old Ruger Vaqueros could handle. My opinion is that any CAS firearm should not be loaded with anything other than CAS lead cartridges. They are not built for hot defensive or hunting loads. YMMV

June 27, 2005, 06:03 PM	#9
Sir William Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2004 Posts: 3,261	Actually, yes. These black powder framed revolvers are difficult to clean properly. If you remove the locking screw and tap out the wedge that holds the barrel to the frame, you risk damage every single time it is tapped back together. They can even be tapped in too far and the revolver will lock up. The alternative is simply spraying Gun Scrubber through the action and running a cleaning rod from the muzzle back to clean the bore. The cylinder would be cleaned by running a cleaning rod through each chamber from the loading gate. The arbor would suffer a lack of cleaning and lubrication. If you disassemble it to clean it properly, you should buy a few extra wedges and locking screws. I also suggest the 200 gr FNL bullets in 44 Special.

June 27, 2005, 06:32 PM	#10
Bullrock Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2004 Posts: 2,686	Thanks Sir Will...Kinda in between a rock and a hard place on this one. I hate to pay $400 for a paperweight...

June 27, 2005, 09:24 PM	#11
Sir William Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2004 Posts: 3,261	It won't be a paperweight. I simply wanted to alert you and others to their shortcomings and the special care they demand. If a 1851 or 1860 Colt black powder shooter wanted to upgrade to smokeless, these are a great way to accomplish that. If a smokeless shooter was expecting to have an easy to maintain single action, these conversions are not that simple. There is a fairly rigid cleaning and lubrication schedule for them. The way to think about these is if you only shoot them on weekends and clean them, that is 52 times a year that they would be stripped down, cleaned, relubed and reassembled. Would you buy a vehicle that had to be stripped down, reassembled and repeated everytime you drove it? They are good revolvers, they are labour intensive though. If you are already into black powder, they are an excellent smokeless choice.

June 28, 2005, 06:31 PM	#13
Sir William Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2004 Posts: 3,261	I simply post my experiences and knowledge. I have seen many of those revolvers turned into $100.00 beaters due to shooters being unfamiliar with their needs. It is sad to see a good firearm abused. A little research and Q&A as you are doing, goes a long way. I appreciate this board for the members knowledge and experience.

June 28, 2005, 07:08 PM	#14
Bullrock Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2004 Posts: 2,686	Me too Will.