debating an action job for my 66

[Jgbeerman]

Evening-

 

I am debating getting an action job for my 66 as the topic title states (its been a long day, haha). I was wondering if there was any advantage to getting the action job other then smoother use of the gun. Would sinking another $200-$400 into the gun make it last longer?

 

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

If you just want it to last longer (and also smooth it up a bit) replace the carrier and lifter springs and the mainspring with lighter aftermarket springs. The stock springs can accelerate wear on the internal parts.

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

Evening-

 

I am debating getting an action job for my 66 as the topic title states (its been a long day, haha). I was wondering if there was any advantage to getting the action job other then smoother use of the gun. Would sinking another $200-$400 into the gun make it last longer?

 

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Paying more than $200 for an action job/shipping alone (no speed parts) would be about like stagecoach robbery. With short stroke kit installation, then $400 might be right.

 

Action job and short stroke will have much more to do with ENABLING you to shoot FASTER, than with making the gun last longer. Smooth feels good, but smooth does not directly show up on your score card. Smooth helps, but what it really helps is that smooth usually can be converted into FAST.

 

For someone just learning the game, you may not be able to use the action work to good advantage. But, within 6 months or a year, you WILL be able to use it. The bottom line for new folks usually is: if you understand the game and like the people, then you will only gain from working your rifle over soon. If you have a history of bailing out on sports after you try them a little while, or you have not been able to strike up good friendships in your previous competitive sporting attempts, you might hold off on tuning up the gun - it will probably sell a little easier if you have not had a "cheap" action job or speed kit installed.

Some folks are kinda ticked off if they decide to bail out of CAS after a year and find they can't recoup all their investments.

 

Only you know yourself well enough to answer that.

 

Good luck, GJ

[Checotah]

Best way to make it last is to not shoot it. Otherwise, the physical movement of the action parts will wear. Smoothed parts will wear less quickly than those with rough edges that wear their corresponding mating parts. Of course, that's all basic, and likely not really what you're asking. Most action jobs, by their very natures, both extend the life of some parts (because the smoothing helps reduce wear) and shorten the life of some parts (because the smoothing effort itself wears away some material). I, personally, have action jobs done on all my guns simply to make them easier to use and less likely to jam. All my toglelink '66 & '73's have action jobs by Pioneer Gun Works (Will Shootem), my Marlins by LongHunter, and my '92 by Nate Kiowa Jones. There are other good gunsmiths out there, and I think you would be pleased with the work of any of them.

[Jack Houston # 35508]

Easy to decide......shoot your stock rifle then someone's 'slicked up" rifle!!!!

[Blastmaster]

You should consider your cowboy guns as tools. Use them, don't baby them to save the cosmetic value. The exterior will get banged, bumped, scratched and wood dented in the course of staging and restaging them onto tables and such. Your pistols(if blued) will get the bluing worn off from the holsters over time. Mechanical wise, you will not live long enough nor shoot them enough to ever wear them out. Whatever may brake, can be replace or easily repaired. If you just can not stand a scratch or dented wood on a firearem, then it is best you do not take them cowboy shooting. If you do anyway, then you will be spending so much time carefully restaging the firearm that a lot of time will be wasted and your times will show it.

 

Should you get an action job? If you like handling fine tools that are easy and smooth to operate? most definitely yes. We all do. Will an action job make you automatically faster? Yes, to a small degree. Good transitioning between firearms and removing misses and procedurals will save you way more itme and lower your times. Combine good basic fundamental gun handling and good smooth guns is the ultimate.

 

A good action job will also remove some of the gun/ammo malfuncitons, like jams, faulty brass ejeciton, cycling and such, which allows you to complete the course of fire w/o gun issues. That makes the sport more fun for just that reason.

 

There are many more things one can say about getting or not getting an action job. You have to decide and at the end, take an educated gamble with your money to see if the benifits outway the $$ spent on an action job.

 

Blastmaster

[Marshall John Joseph]

Had the same question when I started. Took a "chance" and sent mine to Cody Conhager for an "action job", no short stroke. It was well worth the money (about $150 total). My '73 is as smooth as butter. I have since sent an 1860 and my Marlin. That Marlin is something! It is worth the money, IMHO. I bought a 66 from a Pard from the classified on the Wire and I am just waiting a bit to send it off to Cody. He does great work and is a gentleman. There are some other great 'smiths out there, he just happens to be in the next State. Come to think of it, I would probably send it to him if I was clear across the country.

 

MJJ

[Cowboy Junky]

Paying more than $200 for an action job/shipping alone (no speed parts) would be about like stagecoach robbery. With short stroke kit installation, then $400 might be right.

 

Action job and short stroke will have much more to do with ENABLING you to shoot FASTER, than with making the gun last longer. Smooth feels good, but smooth does not directly show up on your score card. Smooth helps, but what it really helps is that smooth usually can be converted into FAST.

 

For someone just learning the game, you may not be able to use the action work to good advantage. But, within 6 months or a year, you WILL be able to use it. The bottom line for new folks usually is: if you understand the game and like the people, then you will only gain from working your rifle over soon. If you have a history of bailing out on sports after you try them a little while, or you have not been able to strike up good friendships in your previous competitive sporting attempts, you might hold off on tuning up the gun - it will probably sell a little easier if you have not had a "cheap" action job or speed kit installed.

Some folks are kinda ticked off if they decide to bail out of CAS after a year and find they can't recoup all their investments.

 

Only you know yourself well enough to answer that.

 

Good luck, GJ

 

Well said....

[Ranger Sgt. Jake McCandless #3368]

Beerman What I look for is a proper functioning gun,something that won't eat it's self alive.Even with what our guns cost to purchase some if not most need some smoothing and massaging.If say we bought a hand fit Uberti 73,from Uberti the cost would most likely run more that what are fine CAS gun smiths charge for their work.The 73 you shot had been tuned by Hap and not short stroked,smooth and crisp a joy to shoot and is 17 years old. The 66 you also tried after the shoot is a Codymatic that is short stroked,that rifle is 6 years old also smooth and a joy to shoot. Nether gun after being tuned has required one thing in the way of parts replaced,nothing worn off uneven or broken, just enjoyable rifles to shoot. The reason I wanted you to try the short stroked Codymatic is so you would have a idea of what a short stroked rifle felt like compared to a non short stroked,tuned rifle,something to go by.The Codymatic http://www.codyscowboyshop.com/ and a fellow who I highly recommend in your neck of the woods http://cowboygunworks.com/ Hap isn't taking new work that I know of. A properly functioning firearm pistol rifle or shotgun,something you don't have to fight with when using it makes for a more harmonious out come at least in my book. Adios Sgt. Jake

[Korupt Karl]

You might mention where you are from and we could probably be a little more helpful with people in your area that do smithin.

 

KK

[Slowhand Bob, 24229]

Ranger, others, it is not for me to make an announcement but I was informed by Jimmy Spurs at our last meeting that he was not currently doing the long guns, except as purchase packages. Its like he had Ruger owners lined up outside his trailer like Black Friday at Best Buy! I currently have one of his guns and a Cody gun, both '73s, and can attest to the great improvement both guns have over stock. It is doubtful that I will ever rise above poor as a shooter BUT a well tuned gun is actually a joy in itself and was well worth the money. By the way, the gun I was going to have done was a '66 this time.

 

I hate that we lost Hap, he seemed to specialize in some areas that I could really use now. Perhaps the day will come when he will rehang the old sign out front and open the doors again, I will hold my place in line for that one.

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

There is a distinct advantage to a good Action Job. The work done and the reduced springs will extend the life of the internal parts by a huge amount. It also makes the gun much more user friendly. You get the most "Bang for Your Buck" from a good action job and a Short Stroke kit can be added later. Highly recommended.

You will also want to replace the OEM loading gate ("Ladle") almost as soon as you get the rifle. It is prone to failure.

 

Coffinmaker

[Buckshot Frank]

You will also want to replace the OEM loading gate ("Ladle") almost as soon as you get the rifle. It is prone to failure.

 

Coffinmaker

 

Is there an aftermarket gate available for the '73? My carbine is new, and I have already had a problem with the tab on the loading gate being bent in allowing the rounds to protrude too far into the receiver. I bent it back to 90 degrees which fixed the problem, but it isn't exactly confidence inspiring. If a stronger gate is available, I'd love to replace it.

[Ranger Sgt. Jake McCandless #3368]

Buckshot I used a loading gate/ ladle from this place http://www.cowboysandindianstore.com/products?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=9&category_id=1 For my 66 ,which I don't see listed any more but they do have a 73 listed. I am more than pleased with the one for the 66 ,heck for stout,I likely never need to replace it ever again. Adios Sgt. Jake

[Ranger Sgt. Jake McCandless #3368]

Ranger, others, it is not for me to make an announcement but I was informed by Jimmy Spurs at our last meeting that he was not currently doing the long guns, except as purchase packages. Its like he had Ruger owners lined up outside his trailer like Black Friday at Best Buy! I currently have one of his guns and a Cody gun, both '73s, and can attest to the great improvement both guns have over stock. It is doubtful that I will ever rise above poor as a shooter BUT a well tuned gun is actually a joy in itself and was well worth the money. By the way, the gun I was going to have done was a '66 this time.

 

I hate that we lost Hap, he seemed to specialize in some areas that I could really use now. Perhaps the day will come when he will rehang the old sign out front and open the doors again, I will hold my place in line for that one.

Slowhand Sad indeed,back five years ago when not many folks had heard of Jimmy I knew their would come a day when one would have to get in line to get him to do his Magic. He is kind of local to us,neighboring states and see him frequently. You are right about them lining up and out of his trailer,at Guns of August a fellow couldn't get near it. Hap is a great loss, he loved a challenge and worked on projects that others would turn their nose up at, Hap's the Man Adios Sgt. Jake

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

Buckshot,

 

You have two choices for a replacement ladle. VTI Gunparts has a very nice one and Cowboys and Indian Store has/had one that was incredible for stout. Don't use the web site for Cowboys and Indian Store, Jim Bowie (AKA Jim Lincoln) doesn't always keep it up to date. Give him a call. I really like his '66 Ladle.

 

Coffinmaker

 

PS: The Ladle is the only weak link in the '66. Uberti improved the Ladle a few years back, from one that never broke to one that is guaranteed to break. Some improvement huh??

[Nevada Gambler, SASS #10225]

Hello Jgbeerman,

 

I don't know what area of the country you're in, but a great person to do action work or do business with is Colt McAllister (located in Michigan). He did my '66 and it is fantastic -- I cannot use it to its' ability. He stands behind ALL of his work and he's more than helpful in any questions that you may have. So I would suggest that you get in contact with him. If you need an email for him, send me a PM and I will send you his email address.

 

Hope this helps!

 

Nevada Gambler

[Shooting Bull]

 

For someone just learning the game, you may not be able to use the action work to good advantage.

 

While I mostly agree with this statement, there's another aspect that needs to be looked at. When I first got into CAS I started with a Henry Big Boy. (Loved how they looked then and still do.) The problem with the gun was the looooooong stroke that was pretty darn stiff. That necessitated I use my whole hand, arm and part of my leg to cycle the action. After a few thousand rounds of that it became a conditioned response on how to cycle a lever action rifle. Even though I've been shooting a Codymatic '73 for over a year, I still fight the urge to throw my leg up on that lever to get it to cycle.

 

Practice doesn't make perfect. PERFECT practice makes perfect.

[Jgbeerman]

since a few people have asked, i am in central NH

 

thanks for all the replies!

[Chuck Would, SASS # 53289]

Evening-

 

I am debating getting an action job for my 66 as the topic title states (its been a long day, haha). I was wondering if there was any advantage to getting the action job other then smoother use of the gun. Would sinking another $200-$400 into the gun make it last longer?

 

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

Don't debate it. Don't think about it. Just do it.