Tuning colt clone revolver worth it?

[Death rider]

Hey everybody,

I was curious if sending a revolver off for tuning/smoothing was worth it?

I swapped the springs for Wolff rp springs and was curious if I should send them off to get tuned/smoothed? 

Will it make a big difference?

[Cholla]

The logical side of me says no, but the illogical side of me tried a 1873 rifle tuned by Shotgun Boogie and said it had to have one...someday.

[Shooting Bull]

First and foremost, it depends on who’s doing the work. One gunsmith’s finished product is another’s starting point.

 

if you already have a smith picked out, see if you can find an example of their work. Compare that to what you already have. Then you get to decide if the difference is worth the $$$. 

[watab kid]

ill go one further and say it depends on who is running them , if you are a young fast shooter maybe , if your my age and here for the fun it would be an expence to justify in your mind and dont expect a lot , i have one thats slick enough for a fast shooter to get advantage from but i never was that shooter and certainly never will be but i do enjoy shooting it , i never discourage anyone from improving their game - be it to speed up or just to enjoy it more , if you can spend that disposable cash on this do it and enjoy it , otherwise save it to pay for your ammo and next match 

[Slow Poke]

I had the same thoughts I changed my springs and polished what I could on a set of taylors 73s, they just didn't feel smooth still. I sent them to a gunsmith that did my rugers ( that came back very nice). With his know how I got them back and they are night and day different. I am actually going to use them as my main match black powder pistols now, where before I would never have considered the thought. 

I used Marshall shorty in Oklahoma,  I am extremely happy with his work.

 

[Tex Jones, SASS 2263]

For most folks tuning and short stroking doesn't add more speed, but it does make the guns run more smoothly.  I have some done by Bob Munden years ago and they still run well; no cylinder ring for example.  Nice guns, BTW.

Edited February 21 by Tex Jones, SASS 2263

[High Spade Mikey Wilson]

I have 4 sets of revolvers, all stock. I have nothing against "tuning" revolvers, but in my case it really wouldn't cut my times down much if at all. I'd probably save more time by practicing making smoother gun transitions, and smoother shotgun reloading, than by tuning my pistols. That's just me. It might benefit you more.

[Rye Miles #13621]

It’s not about making you shoot faster it’s about having a smooth action that’s pleasing to shoot. Who doesn’t like a nice smooth action on ANY gun? I’d say go for it. You only live once!🤠

[Boggus Deal #64218]

^^^^^^ This but also about making the guns more reliable and last longer. These guns aren’t built for this kind of use and smoothing out the burrs and rough spots, makes the not wear as much.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

If tuning the gun makes it work better for you, do it.  If you think it works just fine as is, don't do it.

Most of my guns are stock, or pretty close to it.  The only guns I have had tuned were ones that were so rough from the factory as to be almost unusable.  Those have included an Armi San Marco Model 92, rifle, and a Colt NRA Centennial revolver.  In the opposite extreme, I have an Uberti 66 that was so slicked up and the springs so lightened that the hammer didn't fall fast enough to set off the primers.   I asked Happy Trails if he could return it to "more or less stock," so that it would work.   He did.  It's still probably the "slickest" rifle I have, some things can't be undone, but I had it taken back to a functional level, so to speak.  I did get an action job for a Uberti/Taylor's 86 that was overly stiff out of the box.  More recently, I got a replica of the Remington 1863 .31 Cap and Ball made by Pietta.  Horribly made gun.   Had the gunsmith tune it up nice.   

Other guns only get needed repairs.  So in the end, do what you think it needed for your guns according to your preferences.

[Frontier Lone Rider]

3 hours ago, High Spade Mikey Wilson said:

I have 4 sets of revolvers, all stock. I have nothing against "tuning" revolvers, but in my case it really wouldn't cut my times down much if at all. I'd probably save more time by practicing making smoother gun transitions, and smoother shotgun reloading, than by tuning my pistols. That's just me. It might benefit you more.

As said by Mikey, having my revolvers tuned would not affect my times that much.  I am a lower middle of the pack shooter and at 78 am getting a little slower each year.  I have no allusions of ever being 25 again or getting any faster.  I shoot for the fun of the game and for the comradery.  Having taught Machine Shop at our local Vocational Center, years ago, I try to smooth out my own revolvers.  I do expect to run and function smoothly.  I always replace the springs, cylinder rod, and smooth the Hammer Spring Strut.  I do my own short strokes and smoothing on my 1866s which I use for black powder.  I also have 8-1873s which are Cody-Matics that I use for the monthlies shooting smokeless.

 

I do fumble somewhat when transitioning with my shotgun, so that is also where I need to improve.  That is, if I ever improve or get any faster.

 

 

[Griff]

I'm a slow shooter... but... if my revolvers/rifle/shotgun are tuned properly, they simply work much easier and are less troublesome than they were in stock condition.  Timing is very important for both revolver & rifle.  If your cylinder over rotates or the bolt comes up too early, (not to mention late), you're going to eventually have a problem.  Rifle timing is equally important, for the toggle links, carrier/bolt interference is deadly.  it's one thing to see that you have plenty of clearance when operating the gun slowly... but knowing how to ensure there's plenty of clearance when running at speed is quite another.  While I typically run slowly... there are times when I want to speed up or slow down, knowing I can do that at will, (even if it's not for an entire string... let alone doing that for an entire stage), is peace of mind that allows me to run a stage how I want to.  Changing from running a stage is 50+ seconds, to running in the low 30s, or high 20s, (which is very fast for me), is worth a few bucks.  (By-the-way, I can't do that when shooting Frontiersman, my thumb is simply a single speed affair when shooting duelist).  

 

Added:  BTW, (channeling my inner Phantom), don't use "I'm only here to have fun" as an excuse for being slow.  Fast shooters have just as much fun.  And if they end up on the podium, a little recognition.  A good thing!  If you're a slow shooter, Just flat OWN it.  I shoot slowly, because I'm more comfortable.  I'm not comfortable on the "ragged edge of control".  I might as well have a bunch of sugar in my coffee!

[Major Hazzard, SASS #23254]

39 minutes ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

If tuning the gun makes it work better for you, do it.  If you think it works just fine as is, don't do it.

Most of my guns are stock, or pretty close to it.  The only guns I have had tuned were ones that were so rough from the factory as to be almost unusable.  Those have included an Armi San Marco Model 92, rifle, and a Colt NRA Centennial revolver.  In the opposite extreme, I have an Uberti 66 that was so slicked up and the springs so lightened that the hammer didn't fall fast enough to set off the primers.   I asked Happy Trails if he could return it to "more or less stock," so that it would work.   He did.  It's still probably the "slickest" rifle I have, some things can't be undone, but I had it taken back to a functional level, so to speak.  I did get an action job for a Uberti/Taylor's 86 that was overly stiff out of the box.  More recently, I got a replica of the Remington 1863 .31 Cap and Ball made by Pietta.  Horribly made gun.   Had the gunsmith tune it up nice.   

Other guns only get needed repairs.  So in the end, do what you think it needed for your guns according to your preferences.

^^ What he said. ^^

If you you have reason to question whether your box-stock guns are functioning correctly, have them repaired under warranty.  If they function correctly, but come up short of pleasant  to handle and shoot, there's things you can do yourself, depending on your skills and knowledge.  Just about anyone can change out their own springs, but smoothing and optimizing actions takes "stuff" most don't have; trial and error can get expensive. My first cowboy sixgun, was an ASM made SAA replica in .45 Colt, imported by EMF in 1996.  It was their entry-level New Model Dakota and mine did look really nice, but the action could not have been grittier or heavier.  It was safe to shoot, but that's all.  Mike Venturino's favorite gunsmith Tom Sargis (now retired) at Bozeman Trail Arms turned it into a gun I'll never part with.  My second .45, a Uberti imported by Cimarron Arms, only needed a spring kit to make it a keeper.  When I decided I wanted to go to .44-40, I purchased a pair of Uberti made SAA replicas, also imported by EMF in 2001.  These were Hartford Models, also beautiful but the actions were no better than the ASM gun.  Springs were not going to help.  I sent them to Long Hunter, now they're perfect.  My last three (Pietta) Cimarron Frontier SAA replicas included two that needed warranty repairs out of the box and one good enough as is.  So, I guess that all adds up to this ain't the Army.  Your guns should be a pleasure to shoot.   If they're not, you have options.  If they're unsafe, they should be fixed under warranty, otherwise fix what you can.   A "well tuned" revolver or lever gun is a luxury that may or may not directly impact your game, but they are sure nice to have if you can afford them.

[Geronimo Jim SASS # 21775]

I ain't shooting nutting without Cody going through it! 

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

Rye Miles pretty much said it.  For myself, and when I had mu shingle out, it was and is all about making your guns "User Friendly."  If there is uncomfortable drag, rough spots, or little hitches, yule feel that whenever you shoot.  Have those little niggley little problems addressed.  If you don't know how to do yourself, have a good SA technician do it for you.  Smooth easy running guns are a joy to play with.  Don't stick yourself with "I Wish I Had" 'cause that will nag you every time you shoot.

[Sgt. Hochbauer, SASS #64409]

If you like the way they feel now, why try to fix it if it aint broke.  that said I have a pair of OMV Rugers in .357 that I just changed out the springs and had the lower hammers put on. They run fine for me the lower hammers made a difference as I shoot duelist. That said I also have several pair of pistols in .38spcl and 44wcf and 73's that were tuned by Cody. They are very nice to shoot all smooth as silk. Then tuning did not or has not made me any faster. As High Spade Mike said " I'd probably save more time by practicing making smoother gun transitions, and smoother shotgun reloading, than by tuning my pistols."

I will never be a fast shooter, but my goal is to shoot clean. There is not wrong or right thing to do just what you decide.

 

Sgt H 

[Go West]

I think rifle and shotgun tuning would help more than tuning pistols. I've felt the actions on a slicked up pistol and boy howdy, it was smooth. But my Pietta clones are good enough for me and the rifle and shotgun made a big difference in my times. Of course I'm much slower now as I get older and never did threaten any top gun shooter. If your transitions and efficiency of movements are top notch and you have the money, go for it.

[watab kid]

i have 5 sets of revolvers i use for SASS depending on my thinking at the time , the rugers are all stock and run great ont of the box the EMFs as well , i have that one tuned up one , the recent uberti pair are a little stiff but some of that has to my worsening anthric condition ,  

[John Barleycorn, SASS #76982]

Sixgun Shorty told me years ago that an action job on a Colt SAA destroys all collector value. Just something to keep in mind. If they are your match guns and will remain such tune them up if you want to. 

Edited February 25 by John Barleycorn, SASS #76982