OT: Uberti (Colt type) hammer springs

[J Miller]

Does anyone here know of a source of quality full strength hammer springs for the Colt or copies?
I'm currently running a Wolff spring in my Uberti (IJ) and I don't like the soft squishy feel to the action. And at quarter cock there is virtually no tension.
I have original Uberti springs but I'm not overly impressed with them. Would like a better quality full power spring.


Joe

[edwardyoung]

I'm assuming you tried Colt and couldn't get one. Maybe US Firearms http://www.usfirearms.com/shop/category.asp If that link doesn't take you to the right place, it's on page 6 of their Single Action Gun Parts. $10.50

[J Miller]

I'm assuming you tried Colt and couldn't get one. Maybe US Firearms http://www.usfirearms.com/shop/category.asp If that link doesn't take you to the right place, it's on page 6 of their Single Action Gun Parts. $10.50

No, I hadn't tried Colt or USFA, never even thought of it. Was thinking more on the lines of Brownells or Midway. Neither of which I found stock springs. Perhaps I just didn't look deep enough.
I'll check out your link. Thanks.

Joe

[DPris]

Edwardy,
Caution, lest ye be accused of shillin' for Colt or USFA!!!!!!!!
Denis

[SAAJim]

Joe,
If you send me your address, I'll send you a USFA SAA main spring that I'm not using. I like the Wolff springs so my original spring just sits lonely in an envelope. I'll never use it.

Jim

Does anyone here know of a source of quality full strength hammer springs for the Colt or copies?
I'm currently running a Wolff spring in my Uberti (IJ) and I don't like the soft squishy feel to the action. And at quarter cock there is virtually no tension.
I have original Uberti springs but I'm not overly impressed with them. Would like a better quality full power spring.


Joe

[J Miller]

Edwardy,
Caution, lest ye be accused of shillin' for Colt or USFA!!!!!!!!
Denis

Denis,
Although someone might do that, I won't.

It may be that to get a good quality factory strength spring I might just have to go to one of them. I haven't found any aftermarket ones yet.

Joe

[edwardyoung]

Edwardy,
Caution, lest ye be accused of shillin' for Colt or USFA!!!!!!!!
Denis

Hey Denis,

You got me. I'll redouble my efforts.

[J Miller]

Joe,
If you send me your address, I'll send you a USFA SAA main spring that I'm not using. I like the Wolff springs so my original spring just sits lonely in an envelope. I'll never use it.

Jim

Does anyone here know of a source of quality full strength hammer springs for the Colt or copies?
I'm currently running a Wolff spring in my Uberti (IJ) and I don't like the soft squishy feel to the action. And at quarter cock there is virtually no tension.
I have original Uberti springs but I'm not overly impressed with them. Would like a better quality full power spring.


Joe

Jim,
I'm getting blind. I didn't see your post until after you PM'd me.
Thanks for the spring, I'll see how it works. Also I put a question in the PM.

Joe

[Griff]

I was going offer you my spare Colt spring in exchange for your Wolff. I've never tried a Wolff as I trim my own. Don't know why this one is still unmodified as I haven't used a stock spring in over 20 years!

[J Miller]

I was going offer you my spare Colt spring in exchange for your Wolff. I've never tried a Wolff as I trim my own. Don't know why this one is still unmodified as I haven't used a stock spring in over 20 years!

Griff,

I appreciate the thought but I got the Wolff spring set. Hammer, bolt/trigger, extra strength base pin latch spring so I'm gonna hang on to them. That Wolff spring does work, it's just a bit lighter than I'm used to. I'm used to Rugers so this one feels really light.

You said you have to "trim" your own, how do you "trim" them?

Joe

[Lefty Dude]

I just changed out my Uberti/45 stock springs to the Wolff springs. Made a big difference. I have always shot Uberti's & Colt SAA as tuned Revolvers. I do not like the feel of Rugers. I still can not get the feel of my Ruger SBH/44. The Ruger RSS's are O.K. I guess I prefer a leaf type main spring. I do not like the feel of the Wolff piano/wire bolt spring. I ordered the springs seperate. My bolt/trigger spring is a reduced leaf also. I had to fit both springs, they were not drop-ins.

Joe;
If you installed the wire bolt/trigger spring in your piece, this is the difference in feel you are experiencing.
BTW; that wire spring with age, will change tension, not so much with the leaf type spring. Granted, the piano/wire might last longer than the leaf. The leaf will always have the same feel.

I trim my springs with a Swiss pattern file,only.

[Griff]

Joe,

If you were to hold the spring in front of you as tho' you were holding the gun pointed downrange, (wide flat visible & curving away from you), I "hourglass" the spring. I start just above the hole, (think of centering the hole equidistant to the edges and where you start narrowing the "hips") and I grind away any metal down to a consist .25" up to where the "trough" for the hammer roller begins. I make sure all new corners are radiused and new edges are also. I then stone all the "grind" marks off until the new edges are polished.

I did this to my "weak" hand Colt SAA in 1993. It still has that same spring in it. When Bill Oglesby tuned it in 1995 he left my spring in it as "it's nicer than the ones I have."

It's a lot of work, & IMO worth it in longevity, it isn't what I'd expect a pro to do... they'd have far too many hours in just the spring and might NEVER have a replacement sale!

When Bill rebuilt my strong hand SAA he returned my springas he replaced it with his adjustable Colt mainspring. A heck-uv-a-B-Day gift!

If I remember I'll take a pic when I get home and post it.

[J Miller]

Lefty Dude,
My Wolff springs came with the leaf springs. I didn't want the wire ones, read to many not good things about them.

Griff,
That's exactly what NKJ did to my original main spring. I had to shorten it at the hammer end because it was rubbing on the bottom of the hammer and slowing it down. The Wolff spring just bolted in and fit fine. Perhaps I should be happy with what I got and forget about it.



Joe

[Griff]

Lefty Dude,
My Wolff springs came with the leaf springs. I didn't want the wire ones, read to(o)* many not good things about them.
Griff,
That's exactly what NKJ did to my original main spring. I had to shorten it at the hammer end because it was rubbing on the bottom of the hammer and slowing it down. The Wolff spring just bolted in and fit fine. Perhaps I should be happy with what I got and forget about it.
Joe

Yep, it's the best way of lightening the spring, yet retaining the spring rate. The key is not getting the spring hot enough to remove any temper, but remove some of it's strength. Unlike the leather washer or plastic washer some recommend, a steel lock washer doesn't have any flex in itself... the base of the spring is held rigid. On a couple of guns owned by shooters at our club that came with the leather washer, there were some ignition issues... I took out the leather washer, installed a lockwasher... and viola, nice hammer pull and consistent ignition.

* The English minor took hold and ran rampant!

[J Miller]

Lefty Dude,
My Wolff springs came with the leaf springs. I didn't want the wire ones, read to(o)* many not good things about them.
Griff,
That's exactly what NKJ did to my original main spring. I had to shorten it at the hammer end because it was rubbing on the bottom of the hammer and slowing it down. The Wolff spring just bolted in and fit fine. Perhaps I should be happy with what I got and forget about it.
Joe

Yep, it's the best way of lightening the spring, yet retaining the spring rate. The key is not getting the spring hot enough to remove any temper, but remove some of it's strength. Unlike the leather washer or plastic washer some recommend, a steel lock washer doesn't have any flex in itself... the base of the spring is held rigid. On a couple of guns owned by shooters at our club that came with the leather washer, there were some ignition issues... I took out the leather washer, installed a lockwasher... and viola, nice hammer pull and consistent ignition.

* The English minor took hold and ran rampant!

Nary a problem, my fingers just got carried a way and the spell checker didn't catch it.

Anyway, I do prefer a bit heavier spring. And I'm just not good enough to grind on springs.
Plus, years and years and years and well a lot of years ago a gunsmith lightened the hammer spring on my Mdl 28 by thinning it down sideways. All was well for about 10 years or so then I started having misfires. I checked everything and even posted on it over on another forum. One member came back and said; replace the hammer spring it's become fatigued.
Not ever having had that happen with a stock spring I didn't believe him. That is until I replaced the spring and the problem went away.
I know S&Ws and Colt designs are different, but a flat spring is a flat spring and I'm worried that in due time this spring will fatigue just like the one in my Mdl 28. So if I switch to a stronger ( even just a little bit) spring now, I won't worry so much.

Joe