Ruger revolver issues

[olywa]

If you've seen this post on another board, my apologies. But is it just me, or am I hearing about more problems than usual with late model Ruger revolvers? I've had Ruger DAs (Redhawk, Security Sixes, SP101) since the early '70s and had nary a problem with them in all that time.

So here's problem instance #1 for me: I decided to try a Ruger SA and bought a 4 5/8" SBH last year. I thoroughly enjoy this revolver and I put about 1500 rounds through it before the action bound up on me a few weeks back. I found that I couldn't lower the hammer after cleaning it post range session. Since it was fairly new I sent it back to Ruger. They sent it back to me after changing the pawl and trigger. I cleaned it up since it was obvious that Ruger had test fired it but not cleaned it. After a couple of dry fires the hammer wouldn't come back for me. Back to Ruger she went.

I just got my SBH back today and Ruger indicated that they put in a new pawl, trigger and base pin this time. Everything now looks and feels great, off to the range we go for a few satisfying bangs, and then back home for cleaning. I decided to put my Belt Mountain base pin in after cleaning and was surprised to find that it no longer fit the cylinder. It certainly used to fit and I only removed it when I sent the SBH in to Ruger so that they wouldn't be tempted to swap it out. Of course this means that Ruger also swapped the cylinder for one with a little tighter tolerance and then neglected to say anything about it on the repair order.

Problem instance #2: I was so lonley for my SBH when it went in for repair that I bought a little new model stainless Bearcat. I barely had any rounds through it before the transfer bar broke off. Off to Ruger. When it came back I had to drop the cylinder in order to get the plastic shipping insert out. Then I wiped it down and put it back together at which time the base pin broke. The pin at the end came off and it and the spring fell into the action through the mounting hole. Off to Ruger and I'm still waiting for it to return.

By this time I'm feeling pretty snake-bit with Ruger SAs. When I sent the Bearcat in for the second time I told Ruger that I'd just as soon they take back both my SAs ang give me one of their new 4" Redhawks. I feel a little better after having some quality time with the SBH at the range today but I'm still a little leery. Plus I seem to be hearing about a number of similar problems with Ruger revolvers (both DA and SA) on some of the boards I visit regularly. I take VERY good care of my revolvers and I'm a huge Ruger fan, but I'm starting to get a little concerned. Hopefully I won't have any further trouble.

[dubber123]

Don't feel alone, I got 3 lemons in a row, a 10-22, a Single Six, and a MKII.  All were fixed no charge.  I was pretty P-O'd by the time # 3 happened.  Would I buy another Ruger?  Yep, because they took care of their problems.  I have had a recent experience with another company that was just the opposite.  I'll never buy from them again.  Ruger will take care of you, and hopefully this will be the end of your bad luck.

[Ahab]

Very interesting, in the last 12 months I bought a .454 SRH, a .44 Mag Bisley hunter, and a 7mm-08 M77. All  have performed flawlessly. Triggers have been awesome and bores/chambers smooth. In the past I had to do a trigger job at the least. Hmmm, sorry you guys have had problems.

[olywa]

I hear you dubber123. I will probably be beating down the door for one of the first 4" Redhawks.

Ahab - My past experience with Ruger mirrors your own right up until I started buying SAs. Now that the Ruger family isn't involved so heavily in the business, I have some concerns about how their product support might change. Time will tell, I guess.

[olywa]

One other positive out of this worth noting. My cylinder gap on my SBH used to be about .0045. With the new cylinder and the work that they did it is now about .003. Change is good...

[Racer X]

The last 3 new Ruger revolvers I bought all had to go back.

1) My GP-100 spit lead badly and the crane was bent, allowing cartridges in one of the chambers to slip behind the extractor star and fall into the chamber. They fixed it, no charge.

2) My SBH Hunter 45 Colt (limited edition from Lipseys) had dings in the grip frame. I sent it back and made them replace the grip frame. However, the gun had other problems that ultimate led me to send it to David Clements. Those included undersized throats and oversized groove diameters.

3) I just sent a new Single Six back because it shot to the left because the rear site was mounted off-center. They turned the barrel to fix it, but my site picture will probably be screwed up since they turned the barrel cock-eyed to accomodate an off-center rear site. They are supposed to ship the gun back to me tomorrow. If I can catch them before it ships, I will insist they replace the gun.

I have heard many people say their quality has gone to crap since Bill Ruger died. I have to agree.

[Rickk]

A local guy had a S&W revolver with fixed sights that had a crooked barrel. He brought it back and they filed down the rear sight at an angle for him to match.

We took pictures of it, sent them to the manager of qualtiy control and the VP of sales, and let them know that we were going to keep the gun and show it off at every match that the owner attended if they would not fix the gun.

He got a call to bring the gun back. Fortunatly, S&W is 15 miles from here, so that was easy. They took the gun away to see what they could do, and 20 minutes later out came a new gun with his old serial number stamped on it.

Ruger is generally a good company. You appear to be having things happen to you that you should not have happen to you. Call New Hampshire and ask to speak to the Quality Control Manager and explain what is going on to him. Ask him if there is any way to fix the gun, as it is embarasing you to show such a crappy piece of Ruger off to all your friends at all the matches that you attend. He will ask you to send it back I am sure. Make sure you arrange to sent it to him, not to ther repair department. They will handle it with more care when he personally walks it down the hall and asks them to fix it properly.