Author Topic: Colt Peacemaker (Read 480 times)

Major Biggles · « **on:** October 18, 2007, 01:22:49 PM »

question for all those gun nuts over the pond...

i've always wondered how the SAA worked, and of course have never been able to see one up close. what exactly does single action mean? i presume the cylinder doesn't turn and **** the hammer as you pull the trigger. do you have to **** the hammer, turn the cylinder manually, and then pull the trigger?

random question from a dumb brit, but it'd be great if someone could enlighten me

cheers, biggles

john9001 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 18, 2007, 01:26:17 PM »

when you "****" the hammer it rotates the cylinder, then pulling the triger drops the hammer and fires the gun.

double action rotates the cyl and ***** and releases the hammer when you pull the trigger.

i think almost all double actions can also be fired single action.

Airscrew · « **Reply #2 on:** October 18, 2007, 01:45:29 PM »

this ***** stuff can be soooooo stupid sometimes....

Toad · « **Reply #3 on:** October 18, 2007, 01:47:48 PM »

Just say "clock" the hammer.

Clocking the hammer rotates the cylinder.

Major Biggles · « **Reply #4 on:** October 18, 2007, 02:05:26 PM »

ahhh, makes sense now lol, cheers guys.

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 18, 2007, 02:14:55 PM »

Basically, Single Action means that you can only fire when the hammer is clocked. If the hammer is not clocked, either manually or by other means (will explain in a moment), then pulling the trigger will not clock the hammer, and thus, the gun will not fire.

Double action operates like Single Action in that the gun will fire when the hammer is clocked, but it will also clock the trigger, and then release it to fire when it is not already clocked.

Now, here's the catch. Most semi-auto pistols are single action. What this means is that as the bullet is being fired, the energy from the bullet will push the slide back. This ejects the cartridge, chambers another cartridge AND clocks the hammer making it ready to fire the next round.

Single Actions are more accurate due to the light trigger pull weight leads to less strain pulling the trigger. Firing through double action is less accurate, because you are pulling more weight and trying to keep the gun steady.

lazs2 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 18, 2007, 02:17:40 PM »

another feature of the colt peacemaker of model of 1873 was the it had a solid frame and the cylinder was held in with a pin that went through the center of it.

To load the firearm you had to "clock" back the hammer to half "clock" and thus free up the cyl to rotate. you then flipped open a moveable part of the recoil sheild (loading gate) and exposed the holes in the cyl that would contain the rounds (chamber)..

Acceptable way to load was... load one.. skip one... load four. When you the closed the gate and fully "clocked" the hammer... you would then rotate the cyl to an empty chamber and could safely lower the hammer on said empty chamber..

This was important in that the firing pin would otherwise rest on the primer of a live round.. the possibility of an unintended discharge was great.

To unload.. you repeated the first steps and then.. with the spring loaded ejector rod under the barrel... you would poke out all the empty brass cases one at a time through the loading gate.

The cold was and is an elegant and strong firearm.. perfect looks and balance. and... to this day..

no handgun is faster from the holster to the target for the first shot.

There is a huge market in replicas of this fine gun.. these are shooting replicas of course... not non firing ones.

lazs

Toad · « **Reply #7 on:** October 18, 2007, 02:28:49 PM »

The new SAA's are ~$1250 at Cabela's.

Nice gun but not that nice to me.

Maverick · « **Reply #8 on:** October 18, 2007, 02:47:24 PM »

Colt has gotten way too proud of their products. There are others out there with better quality and lower prices. I'd rather have a Ruger Vaquero than a new Colt SA.

Yes I have both kinds a New Vaquero and a rather old Colt that belonged to my Dad. The Colt isn't safe to shoot now since it was stolen and recovered over 50 years ago. The hugahunks that stole it knocked off the front sight, then drilled a hole all the way through the wall of the barrel and put a half penny there for a front sight. It was something really popular for the idiots to do back in the early 50's.

Mark Luper · « **Reply #9 on:** October 20, 2007, 12:49:13 AM »

Speaking of Colts, I bought me a 1991A1 Commander Monday. Shot it on Wednesday and it shoots where you point it. It's a used one that is still nice and tight. I was shooting a 6" group at 30 yrds in what I call slow fire, one shot per second. I'm not the greatest shot but I feel I could probably protect myself well enough with that grouping.

First Colt I've ever owned and I've wanted the Commander for some time now. Oh, it's 45ACP.

Mark

lazs2 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 20, 2007, 10:28:24 AM »

mark... nothing wrong with that grouping for an average shot with an untuned short barrel defensive pistol while firing standing at a rapid rate... with that you should be able to put all of the shots into about 8" at 50 yards.. farther than you need..

prone.. no reason you couldn't keep em on the paper at 100 yards...no need to of course.. but fun.

I never seen a colt commander (they are not 1911's) that was very accurate... you are doing pretty well with it... change ammo around a little and find one it likes and you will do even better... get used to the gun and you will probly be grouping 4" at 30 yards all day long... very respectable.

lazs

Mark Luper · « **Reply #11 on:** October 20, 2007, 07:29:04 PM »

I was shooting some Remington ball amo, 230 grain fmj. I purchased a brick of 250 of them.

I also fired some Federal Hydrashock hollow points also at 230 grain. Bought 20 in a small box just for use around the house. They put holes in the paper the same way the ball amo did. I was surprised because I expected them to spread the group some.

The grouping with the ball ammo got tighter the more I shot it. I probably got the group down to around 5 inches by the time I quit. I need to practice more. I've always shot revolvers so this is going to take some getting used to.

Thanks for the input Lazs.

Mark