blackhawk gripframe coming loose!

[superdown]

 hi everyone ok about 15 years ago my dad bought a super black hawk new model in 44mag shot about 400 rounds through it the grip frame came loose with all we could do it did not stay tight new screws old screws locktight torqueing them mind you this is with factory loads. then about two years ago i bought a stainless super blackhawk 44mag again factory loads only no cor-bon type ammo and the grip frame came loose on that also  the first one was purchased in washington state the second was bought in idaho one blued one ss 13 years apart has anyone else had this problem with these pistols. oh and i almost forgot i purchased a vaquero ss 44mag and cylinder deformed cases so badly the cylinder had to be replaced by the factory standards the cylinder was almost 45 cal. :?    so any info would be great thanx,superdown

[RCL]

I don't personally know anyone who hasn't had there's come loose at one time or another. It has happened to all my Ruger single actions, and my Freedom Arms .454 as well. Just part of normal maintenance.

[Lloyd Smale]

I check the screws about every 100 rounds on all my guns.

[Dan Chamberlain]

Heck, buy a Colt sometime and keep the screwdriver in your shooting hand!

Dan C

[Throckmorton]

buy a gunsmith-type screwdriver with interchangable tips,so they fit the srcrew heads properly,and keep it handy.Very common occurance.

[superdown]

:eek: is it truly resonable to be woried that  a firearm will fall apart in your hands i have very many hanguns and rifles and this truly bothers me that a handgun that is suposed to be able to take such heavy loads  will just loosen or for that matter something as pricey freedom arms pistol for my money something that falls apart after 200 rounds would NOT be worth upwords 1000.00$  sorry if this offends anybody but my cheap old mod29 smith after 5,000 rounds has never had loose screw on it. but thats just me. thanx superdown

[Onty]

I prefer Ruger Bisley more than any other revolver. But, this revolver has two screws hidden by grips and you have to remove them in order to check those screws. I found on all three Bisley-s these screws were bit loose when purchased them (used). Next thing I am going to do is to remove all grip screws, blast the holes with something for oil cleaning and apply blue Loctite. Some folks are using clear nail polish or fishing line. Have to ask my folks on aircraft assembly line what they use when wire or cotter pin cannot be used.

However, if you really want one that is basically worry free regarding screws getting loose, get Redhawk or Super Redhawk. There is nothing on those two guns to get loose, at least I didn’t find, except grip screw, but even that one rarely. Ruger folks had done marvelous design, especially SRH. The only thing they neglected is the shape of hammer spur...

[superdown]

 iam suprised at how many  people are ok with this kindo of quality in a firearm i would apreciate any  more info on this if in fact iam way of base,
 thanks

[RCL]

I don't think it's an issue of quality, it's just "the nature of the beast".

It is what it is, if you want to shoot single actions you deal with it.

[Steve P]

I have numerous blackhawks (no, I don't know how many) and have never had a problem with grip frame screws.  Grip screws yes, but the frames, no.  My guns are almost never shot very much before they are disassebled to have some polishing and stoning done on them.  They are reassembled and the screws tightened.  I do check the screws on cleaning, to double check, but have no memory of ever having to run get a screwdriver because of a loose screw (in a blackhawk  :lol: ).

If you do have this problem, go to a local auto parts store and get some loctite 222 (purple).  If they don't have it, have them order it.  

Good luck,

Steve  

[m-g Willy]

LOOSE SCREWS!!!
Don't ever get a Harley :shock:
I had the same problem with my SBH fixed it with loc-tite.
I also had the problem of the cylinder pin jumping forward.
Fixed that by installing a screw through the end of cyl.pin and into a detent in the barrel.
No more problems :wink: ------yet  
--Willy

[knight0334]

My Virginian Dragoon does the same thing with factory ammo.  Some nonperminate Loktite has slowed the process..   ...still keep a small screw driver with my shooting supplies for when it needs tightened.

[jro45]

My new model LC 45 Blackhawk screws don't come loose yet. I've only put about 500 rounds thru it so far. Will watch them tho.

[Flint]

As someone mentioned, if you want to see loose screws, shoot a Colt SAA.   The vibration of firing causes it, and Colt has little fiber washers under the screw heads, which do little good, and Ruger used to use Nylock screws, which helped a little, but Locktite works best, just DO NOT use the Red Losktite unless you never want to disassemble again.

The first screw to loosen in the Colt is the one holding the ejector rod housing to the barrel, and that can lead to a lost screw in the dirt.  This also loosens in a Ruger, leading to a sheared screw there, and one of the reasons Ruger had changed to an alloy housing.  The front and rear TG screws loosen and the frame starts to rock, answer, keep a screwdriver with you with any Single action.

This has little to do with the "quality" of the gun, but to the physics of recoil, and a design that has far too many screws in it, and one of the reasons the Civil War and Indian War soldiers liked Remingtons with their solid frames, and single TG screw.