Pietta wedge getting tighter

chaz12 · July 4, 2012, 04:43 PM

I got a Pietta 1860 army a few months ago which was my first BP revolver.

I have probably shot about 300 rounds thru it now.

When I first got it, you could remove or install the wedge with your fingers.

Lately it has gotten a lot tighter so I have to tap it in and out with a hammer.

Is there some common thing that causes this? Can it be reversed? I can't figure out by inspection what is causing it. It's not a big problem to use the hammer. Mostly I would like to understand what caused the change.

Thanks

Chaz

Beagle333 · July 4, 2012, 05:06 PM

On any of mine, if I push em in, I can wiggle em out later. If I tap em in, I have to tap em out. (I usually tap, just 'cause.....well, it's what I do.)
I haven't had one bind up in there after pushing in.

sltm1 · July 4, 2012, 05:12 PM

As much as you've shot it, there's a good chance that the wedge now goes in farther that it once did, metal on metal wear. That means you've worn out the "sweet spot" and are using fresh metal on the wedge. Sorta like breaking in shoes...only in reverse.

Hawg · July 4, 2012, 05:34 PM

I never had one that thumb pressure wasn't good with.

Unless of course it was brand new.

Doc Hoy · July 5, 2012, 04:48 AM

What Hawg said.

mykeal · July 5, 2012, 04:24 PM

Quote:

it has gotten a lot tighter so I have to tap it in and out with a hammer

I think you've gotten cause and effect reversed.

arcticap · July 5, 2012, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaz12

I have probably shot about 300 rounds thru it now....
...Mostly I would like to understand what caused the change.

There's probably slight wear around the periphery of the wedge & all of the slot areas from being fired. And just like when the foundation of a house begins to settle into place, the gun parts now need to be coaxed a little bit more.
If you didn't fire 300 shots then how the parts fit together probably wouldn't have changed either.
Sometimes a burr can form on the connecting slot surfaces, but if the wedge or barrel assembly aren't getting stuck on the arbor then that doesn't seem to have resulted.
So it seems that the parts have just begun to mate themselves into place.

July 4, 2012, 04:43 PM	#1
chaz12 Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2008 Posts: 223	Pietta wedge getting tighter I got a Pietta 1860 army a few months ago which was my first BP revolver. I have probably shot about 300 rounds thru it now. When I first got it, you could remove or install the wedge with your fingers. Lately it has gotten a lot tighter so I have to tap it in and out with a hammer. Is there some common thing that causes this? Can it be reversed? I can't figure out by inspection what is causing it. It's not a big problem to use the hammer. Mostly I would like to understand what caused the change. Thanks Chaz

July 4, 2012, 05:06 PM	#2
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	Haven't seen that problem yet. On any of mine, if I push em in, I can wiggle em out later. If I tap em in, I have to tap em out. (I usually tap, just 'cause.....well, it's what I do.) I haven't had one bind up in there after pushing in.

July 5, 2012, 04:48 AM	#5
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Yup! What Hawg said. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

July 4, 2012, 05:12 PM	#3
sltm1 Senior Member Join Date: February 25, 2009 Location: Idaho Posts: 353	As much as you've shot it, there's a good chance that the wedge now goes in farther that it once did, metal on metal wear. That means you've worn out the "sweet spot" and are using fresh metal on the wedge. Sorta like breaking in shoes...only in reverse.

July 4, 2012, 05:34 PM	#4
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	I never had one that thumb pressure wasn't good with. Unless of course it was brand new.