Colt SAA/Revolver Question

[hkwinger]

I got to shoot my new Colt SAA today and it was super fun and I had a blast. I got it home and cleaned it up and I had a few questions. It's my first revolver so I am thinking/hoping that everything is normal. It looks like there is a bit of wear on the cylinder. I am guessing its from muzzle blast returning over the top of the cylinder. I got a good pic of it below. I put 150 rounds of Fiocci cowboy ammo with lead flat nose bullets through it incase that helps.

I shoot all my guns so I am not worried about appearance. I am just wondering if everything is mechanically sound with the gun. (cone to cylinder gap etc.) There was a bit of lead that had built up in the corner of the frame that had to be cleaned. I looked for other pics on the net with similar wear patterns but cant seem to find any so thats why I am asking.

Not sure if these things are meant to be shot so much, as my ejector rod popped off after about 100 rounds. I am assuming a little loctite should do the trick but again, I figure I should ask first.

Thanks for your help

[tonelar]

I shoot old style single action revolvers. If you're shaving enough lead to have it coming back onto the outside of the cylinder, have your forcing cone re-cut.

While it's in the hands of a good gunsmith, you might want to have your timing and cylinder gap checked. If it's new, these will probably be fine.

Were these RNFP bullets? Or are you talking about wad cutters?

[hkwinger]

I shoot old style single action revolvers. If you're shaving enough lead to have it coming back onto the outside of the cylinder, have your forcing cone re-cut.

While it's in the hands of a good gunsmith, you might want to have your timing and cylinder gap checked. If it's new, these will probably be fine.

Were these RNFP bullets? Or are you talking about wad cutters?

They were RNFP. Do you believe that the wear pattern indicates I need to take the gun to a gunsmith due to the forcing cone issue? The gun was brand new from colt.

Thanks for your help

[tonelar]

If it's brand new, definitely contact Colt. Is the silver on the front of your cylinders lead?

Also, get a good gunsmith screwdriver or hollow ground screwdriver tip.. None of the screws on my SAAs stay put after putting 2-3 boxes through 'em.

[hkwinger]

If it's brand new, definitely contact Colt. Is the silver on the front of your cylinders lead?

No, its wear in the bluing.

[redcliff]

Are you double-dog sure its not lead build-up? Firing a new revolver should not remove the blueing from the cylinder. If its lead it will take a lot of soaking to loosen up with solvent.

[hkwinger]

Are you double-dog sure its not lead build-up? Firing a new revolver should not remove the blueing from the cylinder. If its lead it will take a lot of soaking to loosen up with solvent.

tonelar and redcliff,

Thanks for all your help. I give myself the idiot award. It was in fact lead buildup. It has been removed with a lead away patch.

I also got a 1860 BP revolver, so I apologize for the questions sure to come.

Thanks again.

[redcliff]

Just becareful with that lead-away cloth, it can remove blueing

[TRAP55]

hkwinger, tonelar nailed it, that pistol should not be shaving lead like that. It needs to go back to Colt, or one of their authorized service centers.

[ojisan]

Back in the day I used to buy commercial reloads of .38 special for $3.00 a box.
This ammo had super soft bullets and would lead up Smiths and Rugers just like in your pics.
I suspect this Fiocchi Cowboy ammo uses very soft bullets to better accomodate the different bore and chamber dimensions of the various SAAs.
There might be some forcing cone roughness or timing isuue...but I would try some ammo with harder bullets first and see what happens.

[wtkaiser]

The lead on the frame is normal, as well. All my revolvers do it. You probably can expect it with a mechanical device with that much free space built into it in the name of reliability. That being said, it looks to me like the cylinder is not square with the barrel. I have had probably a dozen revolvers and have never seen any of what you pictured (nice work, BTW) there. Definitely return it to Colt, say I.