I started shooting black powder firearms in 1962 and have learned a lot about them over the years. That being said, I still learn something new from time to time.
I had an early, but still pristine, Rogers & Spencer Revolver that would throw about a three foot group "Off the Bench" at 15 yards. I knew that the first 2,000 or so imported into the U.S. came from the factory with chamber diameters smaller than the bore diameter-so, I figured it would be a simple matter to ream out the chambers until they were slightly larger in diameter than the bore.
OOPS!!!
After the ream job, the R & S started throwing 4 Foot groups "Off the Bench!!!"
I asked my grown son, who is a decent gunsmith to look at the R & S and see if he could figure out what the problem was....
He took the cylinder out, took a good look at it and announced: "Gee, DAD!" "The arbor hole in the cylinder is drilled Off Center!!!"
I took a good look at the cylinder, threw the calipers on it and by Gosh!!! The arbor hole was drilled off center!!!
To make along story short, I ordered a new R & S cylinder from Dixie Gun Works, and even though the cylinder was manufactured 30 years after the rest of the revolver, it fit perfectly. Ten minutes later the R& S was throwing tight groups with it "Off the Bench!"
There is a moral to that story somewhere.
I do have a problem with the OLD R & S cylinder....it is too light to use as a boat anchor! DANG!
