Mean Matt McCord, SASS #24683 Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 I finally got my long awaited pair of open tops this week, and shot them for the first time today. To say I enjoyed them is a major understatement (ya can't beat the style points with those things, plus they did not miss a lick the whole match), but I have a question about the ejector rod assemblies. At the unloading table, I noticed that when I rotated the cylinder until it clicks, the ejector rod was not lined up with the cylinder chamber, and I had to kind of hold the cylinder to just before the click so I could push the empties out. Both pistols are like that. Is this normal, or is there something amiss here? Thank you in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Dan Dawkins Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 plus they did not miss a lick the whole match I have nothing relevant to say, then again, I usually don't. Anyways, give yourself a lil credit. You looked at the front sight this time, didn't ya? Borrowed a pair for a stage once. I seem to recall something peculiar like what ya mentioned in unloading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene, SASS # 27489 Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Howdy Matt, That is not uncommon, especially in the .38's with their smaller cylinder holes, and the .38 ejector rod is not milled flat on one side like on the Model P's. Remember these guns were designed after originals, which were all .44's with bigger holes. Plus variations in fitting by the Italians. You have to load/unload them like OMV's. A good gunsmith can probably correct the timing and/or mill the ejector rod as mentioned. You can even try loosening the ejector housing screw and twisting the angle of the housing a tad. One of my '51 conversions has this problem. I just live with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flint 976 Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Abiline beat me to it. If you have a 44 or 45, the ejector rod will clear the edge of the chamber. If you have a 38, you will need to put a flat on the rod to get the rod into the hole. I did this to one set of rods for when I use the 38 cylinders and barrels. As it turns out, I much prefer the balance and pointability of the revolver as a 44, so I use them with 44 Russian ammo, though one cylinder is chambered as a 44 Colt and the other a 44 Special. I seldom shoot them as 45 Schofields, as there are too many reports of cracked forcing cones in 45 caliber. I have been shooting them as main match pistols in 44 caliber for several years without problems. I did remove the little tit Uberti put on at the front edge/corner of the ejector slot, as it makes the rod difficult to rotate for pushing without lifting it a bit first. I filed off the corner a bit and the ejection is smoother. Use purple or (at the strongest), blue Locktite on the ejector housing screw threads, as they tend to shoot loose. Do NOT use Red Locktite!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mean Matt McCord, SASS #24683 Posted February 6, 2011 Author Share Posted February 6, 2011 As usual, y'all are a wealth of information. Thank you all, and have a good weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt Ryan 29370 Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Hey Mean Matt, Two things, the ejector rod housing has a burr just as the rod begins to rotate over. disassemble the housing and remove the bur and sharp edges from the manufacturing process. you will see what i mean when you remove the ejector rod housing from the barrel and take the rod out of the housing. the burrs will be at the muzzle end of the housing. Second the 38s rotate different than any of the model p, peacemaker, ruger vaquero models. With the hammer fully at rest in the fired position you will see that the ejector rod goes directly into the cylinder . pull the hammer to full cock and let it release to the fired position and the ejector rod goes to the second cylinder. this is a querky way if you are used to the "newer versions" but now there is no rotating the cylinder and stopping it just before it goes too far past the point where you can eject the spent brass. Let me know if you have any trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdgun Quail, SASS #63663 Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Like others have said, my .45 Colt open tops have no problems with the ejector rod. I've had my open tops with 7.5 inch barrels for three years now and love 'em. Had some problems initially, but when a smith tuned them, the problems went away. I shoot duelest and that's the style of shooting where the open tops really shine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Whiskers Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Yup...mine too.I shoot 51 and 72 open tops in 38...one of each.My 72 is fine for unloading,but the 51 is just like you described.I learned to hold back on the cylinder rotation just a tad for unloading it.Love the guns...great shooters.Better than me anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mean Matt McCord, SASS #24683 Posted February 6, 2011 Author Share Posted February 6, 2011 I have nothing relevant to say, then again, I usually don't. Anyways, give yourself a lil credit. You looked at the front sight this time, didn't ya? Borrowed a pair for a stage once. I seem to recall something peculiar like what ya mentioned in unloading. Dan, I said THEY didn't miss a lick. We won't talk about the operator... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seamus McGillicuddy Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 MMMc, My .44 spl OT has the same issue. I know others have as well. One pard cured this by shaving a bit off the end of the rod to decrease the diameter. Seamus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Coconino Pistolero, SASS # 72432 Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 MMMc, My .44 spl OT has the same issue. I know others have as well. One pard cured this by shaving a bit off the end of the rod to decrease the diameter. Seamus So do my .44s. You get used to it. I shoot .44 Russian or .44 Colt BP. Best pointing pistolas I have shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene Slim SASS 81783 Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 The issue has less to do with alignment of the ejector housing than it does with timing of the cylinder when indexed for loading & unloading. If you look at the alignment of the chamber relative to the loading gate, I'll bet it's off center. That's common to Uberti Open Tops and a good gunsmith can fix that. The simple solution as one pard said is to hold the cylinder between clicks to line things up. I don't recommend loosening the housing mount screw and trying to change the angle. (Tried it on my .45s) I found it keeps the housing from being fully seated and secured against the barrel. Eventually, the screw will loosen and the housing will fall out of alignment, or worse, fall off when you're shooting. If the housing is held tight to the barrel, it should clear the chambers (but probably not by much). The other thing to check periodically is the ejector rod itself. I found that over time it will start to unscrew and get loose, which adds to the problem. As a matter of fact, check all the gun screws for tightness before a match. You might be surprised how loose things can get. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickahominy Charlie Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 I shoot '72 Open Tops in .38, and wouldn't have much to add to what's already been said except this: I don't find the rod misalignment to be a problem. At the unloading table, I simple give the pistol a little "flip" (muzzle downrange, of course) and the casings normally start falling out. Sometimes they fall all the way out, and sometimes I have to give them a little pull with a fingernail or something to get 'em all the way out. We're not loading our casings very hot, so there shouldn't be a lot of opportunity for case expansion in the cylinder. Glad to hear you like your Open Tops as much as I love mine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oklahomabound Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 I shoot '51 Richards Mason Open tops by Uberti in .38 Special; plum full of Black Powder. And yes, I did have the same problem, which our club's gunsmith fixed... it was the cylinder timing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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