Anybody know why my 3rd gen Colt SAA won't let me turn the cylinder in the second click loading position. The hammer then locks in place and I can't **** or index the gun. It has worked flawlessly for the last twenty years averaging about 100 rds a year and when I took it out to inspect it last week I cocked it to full ****, let the hammer down and went to re-**** it and it locked up. Any 'smiths out there? Thanks, Kurt

 

I can't quite remember what it was that did it, but I did that to my dad's once too. I couldn't get it undone, but he knew what the problem was right away and fixed it right up. I'll try to remember to ask him what it was.

 

Is the cylinder stop (the piece in the bottom of the frame, that engages the notches in your cylinder) dropping free of the cylinder? If you have some light oil, put a small shot in there (between the bottom of the cylinder and frame). It may be gumed up and binding. Also, you may want to pull the grips off and look at your mainspring. It will be a long leaf spring in the frame under the grip. Make sure it's not broken. SAA's are known for breaking leafs (usually old first Gens, because of age), particularly where the leaf engages the hammer. Also, is it loaded? If so, look to see if the next chamber has an over-length cartridge thats stopping the cylinder at the forcing cone (breech of barrel).

 

Thanks, guys, for the ideas. Its not loaded, but I have to pull the cylinder out to aleviate the problem and as soon as I index it it locks up again. I will check the mainspring and probably dissassemble it when I have some time to see whats wrong.