Slight Mishap on the Range Today

[JimT]

I took the .357 Flattop to the Range again this morning, wanting to test some loads. I had 3 loads ... one with 5 gr. of 231 .. one with a heavy load of Lil' Gun and one with a heavy load of H110. Of the heavy loads, the Lil' Gun loads had the fastest recoil. I ran 15 rounds of Lil' Gun and 15 rounds of H110 on paper, seeing if there was a difference in accuracy. I didn't do enough shooting to establish that as the next 5 rounds were the 231 load. This load was like a nice .38 Special. The first 3 went into the black at 20 yards. The 4th shot was about an inch high and the 5th shot was about an inch above the 4th! I wondered what was going on. As I began to unload the empties I noticed the cylinder pin was about halfway out of the pistol and the cylinder latch was AWOL!

I spent 20 minutes or more looking for the latch, the latch nut and spring without any success. I did find 2 loaded 5.56 rounds that someone had dropped, but they were not a help with what I needed.

It ain't the first time I have had a single action cylinder pin latch assembly depart for regions unknown. In fact I have a clear mental recall of standing behind Paco when he was shooting his heavy .357 loads (over 1500 fps) and seeing his cylinder pin come back over our heads and land behind me several feet. Never found the latch on that one either.

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[Bronco]

Glad It was not what I first thought! Happy no injuries occurred!
Frustrating losing parts and not finding them.

[coyote nose]

Happened to me also, with a 3rd gen Colt SAA. Now I always assemble the cross pin with blue loctite. PS I never found mine either, had to order a new assembly from Colt.

[JimT]

Happened to me also, with a 3rd gen Colt SAA. Now I always assemble the cross pin with blue loctite. PS I never found mine either, had to order a new assembly from Colt.

I usually loctite single action screws ...BUT had not done it on this gun. I will change that!

[samsi]

I've never lost a base pin latch but I did throw the base pin in 3 shots shooting 200 gr XTP's over 28.5 of H110 in a 44 mag Vaquero. Recoil was pretty brisk, and it also made the magazine tube jump the detent notch on a Rossi 92. I don't shoot that load anymore.

[AJMD429]

.
I've used metal detectors at the range for more than finding lost brass....

Four or five times I recall using one to look for a firearm part, and once a scope turret cap.

[JimT]

.
I've used metal detectors at the range for more than finding lost brass....

Four or five times I recall using one to look for a firearm part, and once a scope turret cap.

I thought about running home and getting my big magnet that we've used to clean up old burn piles of nails and screws. But I only thought about for a minute ... cuz I saw the shooting range is carpeted with empty steel 5.56 and 9 mm cases .....

[Ysabel Kid]

I'm just happy you are safe, Jim. Latches can be replaced, even on beautiful older guns like your flat top.

[JimT]

I'm just happy you are safe, Jim. Latches can be replaced, even on beautiful older guns like your flat top.

THANK YOU! And yessir they can ... and it is being replaced.

[Griff]

I lost one on a 3rd Gen Colt SAA... and a pard found it. Said he saw it come apart and watched where it fell... That was a lucky day... as it'd have ruined my match!