Terrible accuracy

[ShotgunDave]

Your local Lowes or Home Depot would have the wood dowel.

By any chance is the arbor loose? How does the wedge fit? Does it just fall out, or push out with your finger? Or do you have to knock it out?

[kernriverarcher]

the wedge actually fits quite loose. usually can remove it with just my hands. but today when i took those pictures i had to use a little more force to get it out. confusing, i know. but usually i can just remove it by hand. and the arbor isnt loose at all(is the arbor the metal rod the cylinder and barrel slides onto?).

Also, wouldnt you see some evidence on the cylinder side of the barrel of misalignment? or is lead just that soft that it wouldnt even scratch the barrels forcing cone(if thats what is called)?

[ShotgunDave]

Hmmm. The wedge tightness changing drastically would be of concern to me. Can you grab the end of the arbor and wiggle it, or twist it at all?

[Hawg]

You need to tap the wedge in. I used to do mine thumb tight til I was shown the error of my ways.Lead wont scratch steel. It will leave lead smears where it shears but the fouling will probably hide it. You would notice lead spitting before anything else.

[kernriverarcher]

yea the arbor feels nice and sturdy. no movement at all when i try to wiggle it. but ill try that with the wedge then. did seem weird that i could so easily remove it when i see everyone on youtube using a rubber mallet to bang it out.

you guys are life savers.

[kernriverarcher]

i gave the wedge a nice little tap and now the sucker is in there good. cant remove it with my thumb thats for sure.

and after i take it shooting again ill take a pic of the barrel cone. i can swear i saw some lead shavings along with the fouling. not too much but definitely something. 

[ShotgunDave]

I agree with Hawg. The wedge should be tapped in, not finger tight. If the barrel is loose at all, that means it's flopping around out there on the front of the gun. Accuracy will be terrible.

Glad that the arbor is tight. That's a pain to correct. Try tapping that wedge in with a mallet. You don't have to hit hard, just tap it in good and tight. I bet your accuracy improves.

[ShotgunDave]

If after firing, the wedge gets loose again, then we'll have to address that problem. But now I'm curious if just tapping it in good has fixed the problem.

[kernriverarcher]

THANK YOU GUYS! that makes total sense. But its nice and in there now and I will take it shooting either tomorrow or wednesday. depending if my state (commie-fornia) shuts down again due to covid. I would not be surprised if you guys just fixed my problem. Ill let you guys know.

[ShotgunDave]

Can't wait to hear!

I'm in Kommiefornia too. Looks like we're both behind the lines.

[ssb73q]

Hi kernriverarcher, a 7/16" metal or wood rod can be used to check barrel to cylinder chamber alignment on most .44 caliber BP revolvers.

Regards,
Richard

[kernriverarcher]

Hi kernriverarcher, a 7/16" metal or wood rod can be used to check barrel to cylinder chamber alignment on most .44 caliber BP revolvers.

Regards,
Richard

Thanks! That would have been a guessing game for me haha

[kernriverarcher]

Well great news guys. I want to thank everyone who chimed in to help me but especially shotgunDave and hawg! You guys were spot on about the wedge. Literally was night and day for my accuracy! The photo I attached was at 25 yards! And let me remind you I was missing the target completely before at like 10-15 ft. ! You guys made this gun enjoyable for my girlfriend and I. I can’t thank you enough.

[ShotgunDave]

Woohoo!!!

That's great news! Glad we could help you figure it out.   

[Hawg]

Glad you got it running right.