Author Topic: Broken Super Black Hawk Hunter (Read 2753 times)

ccoker · « **on:** December 02, 2008, 06:01:42 AM »

Yesterday I was shooting my Blackhawk Hunter Bisley 44 mag and saw something fly away from the gun and hit the ceiling of the indoor range I was at..
freaked me out of course

Turns out the screw that holds the ejector housing on sheered off
I picked up the housing, removed the cylinder and went outside,
didn't even realize that the ejector rod and spring were missing, too freaked out by a gun that came apart...

It's never been shot with hot loads, all standard current level loads
Called Ruger explaining the problem and asking if they could just ship me the parts and I would fix it myself.

They would sell me the parts but not send them out free.
A little frustrated that I have to send it in and hope they cover it under warranty.
The gun has not been abused whatsoever

Anyone else ever see this happen?

Hunting season is here and this stinks!

What should I expect for turnaround time excluding shipping?

BlkHawk73 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 02, 2008, 10:49:56 AM »

It happens. A lot of stress on that little retainer. Had it happen myself. Just order the part and do it yourself. Cheaper than shipping it and all that. I would think they'd send the retainer and it's screw but leaving the housing and rod there was your part in forgetting them at the range.
If you read your manual, you'd see there is no actual "warrantee" per say.

Luckyducker · « **Reply #2 on:** December 02, 2008, 01:25:29 PM »

It seems the only SBH's I have heard breaking the ejector housing screw wear 7.5" barrels. I was at the range in my home town (haven't lived there in 24 years) a while back and started a conversation with a guy about his SBH and he all but insisted I shoot it, so I aimed it at the target and have no idea if I hit it because the ejector housing, rod and spring flew off of it. I felt terrible and looked until I found the missing pieces. This was the first time he had the gun out to shoot. This revolver was a stainless steel 44Mag.

adirondacker · « **Reply #3 on:** December 02, 2008, 01:57:18 PM »

my 44 5 1/2 barreled sbh did the same thing,it appears as though the screw threads may not be long enough.i did a little machining on a new screw a little longer,reached some clean threads,and reassembled it.no problems since.looks like a common prob though,good luck adker.

ccoker · « **Reply #4 on:** December 02, 2008, 03:31:33 PM »

I tried to get them to send the parts out but they insisted I send it in or buy the parts..
I understand about the liability part of it, wanting to see the gun.

While I agree that the parts that were lost aren't really their problem per se, they wouldn't have gotten lost if it hadn't of broken.
I have never had a gun fail on me in the 30 plus years of shooting and hunting, so, when it came apart while firing, I probably wasn't in the most rationale state of mind.
When I got home I realized it and they were already closed by the time I snapped to the missing pieces

I apologize if this post came across as whining and bitching about customer service before I got the word back from them on the outcome.
Was more curious if this were a problem seen by others, a total fluke or something that is rare but does happen from time to time..

I 2nd day aired it and hope to get it back soon and as I have a hunt coming in a few weeks.

Thanks
Charles

Flash · « **Reply #5 on:** December 07, 2008, 06:01:34 AM »

This isn't a fluke at all for the Super. It might not happen often enough for a remedy from Ruger but it does happen a lot. What you can do to alleviate this is remove the screw and ejector rod housing and coat the mating surface of the housing with red Loc-Tite. I am refering to the surface that touches the barrel. Then assemble the rod and housing as normal but tighten the screw with a good quality screwdriver. Another fix is to use a socket cap screw, cut to length and reduce the head size so it fits within the housing hole recess. Or, buy a dozzen housing screws and inspect them often. This one pictured is ready to separate soon so its going in the trash.

ccoker · « **Reply #6 on:** December 07, 2008, 06:24:53 AM »

thanks Flash
that is something I will do

ccoker · « **Reply #7 on:** December 18, 2008, 08:37:36 AM »

good news
called Ruger
it's headed my way, no charge

+1 for Ruger

Graybeard · « **Reply #8 on:** December 18, 2008, 01:38:24 PM »

Ruger has no warranty on their firearms. They do however have excellent customer service to deal with such problems. It seems to be happening to a LOT of their revolvers. I think it's time they learn to pin their barrels like S&W once did.

ccoker · « **Reply #9 on:** December 19, 2008, 06:41:27 PM »

got it today
they overnighted it
very nice, repacked better than I sent it in

thumbs up!

AtlLaw · « **Reply #10 on:** December 20, 2008, 03:53:38 AM »

- $100

ccoker · « **Reply #11 on:** December 20, 2008, 03:59:19 AM »

was thinking of selling it to fund a different pistol but found an alternative way
too nice to sell
I would regret it

kevthebassman · « **Reply #12 on:** December 20, 2008, 04:20:48 AM »

I had the actual button that the screw goes into pop off the barrel. THAT was no fun. Ruger took pretty good care of me.

AtlLaw · « **Reply #13 on:** December 20, 2008, 05:30:00 AM »

+ $150

kevthebassman · « **Reply #14 on:** December 20, 2008, 06:30:20 AM »

Only $78... I think. Cost of shipping was all I paid.

AtlLaw · « **Reply #15 on:** December 20, 2008, 08:08:47 AM »

Quote from: kevthebassman on December 20, 2008, 06:30:20 AM

Only $78... I think. Cost of shipping was all I paid.

No no Kev...

A little private joke between ccoker and me.

kevthebassman · « **Reply #16 on:** December 20, 2008, 09:24:16 AM »

bluecow · « **Reply #17 on:** December 20, 2008, 02:17:16 PM »

yup 5 1/2 44 stainless darn thing came off and hit me. a gunsmith friend replaced the screw with a blue one he had on hand. no problems so far knock on wood

Default · « **Reply #18 on:** December 26, 2008, 07:21:40 PM »

Yeah Blue ,

I'm over here knockin on wood now myself ... Think i didnt need to know bout all this lol

My SBH is a '87 year model and no trouble with it at all ... well other then needing a little tiny set of screw drivers for that damn rear sight to adjust it

Default

Flash · « **Reply #19 on:** December 27, 2008, 03:56:13 AM »

Quote from: Graybeard on December 18, 2008, 01:38:24 PM

Ruger has no warranty on their firearms. They do however have excellent customer service to deal with such problems. It seems to be happening to a LOT of their revolvers. I think it's time they learn to pin their barrels like S&W once did.

I have been unsure of this since I first learned of it but other guns were pinned too. I once owned a LLama 22 which was pinned so how could recoil be a factor in a rimfire 22? Graybeard, care to share your take on the benefits of pinning a barrel? I'm interested in hearing it.

Hank08 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 04, 2009, 04:35:42 PM »

It doesn't have anything to do with it being Ruger. The same thing happens with every single action ever made and they don't usually shear they just unscrew themselves. Either locktite the screw or tighten it everytime you shoot it. Ruger cured it one time by changing from steel ejector housing to aluminum but now they have gone back to steel so expect it if you don't locktite it. Some custom pistolsmiths
put on barrel bands that butt up on the front of the housing so that it can't move forward with heavy loads.
H08

ccoker · « **Reply #21 on:** January 04, 2009, 05:36:24 PM »

Quote from: Hank08 on January 04, 2009, 04:35:42 PM

It doesn't have anything to do with it being Ruger. The same thing happens with every single action ever made and they don't usually shear they just unscrew themselves. Either locktite the screw or tighten it everytime you shoot it. Ruger cured it one time by changing from steel ejector housing to aluminum but now they have gone back to steel so expect it if you don't locktite it. Some custom pistolsmiths
put on barrel bands that butt up on the front of the housing so that it can't move forward with heavy loads.
H08

gotcha
thanks

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #22 on:** January 05, 2009, 07:21:00 AM »

Mine has done the same thing, but I now use red-locktite on all my single action pistol ejector housing's.

ccoker · « **Reply #23 on:** January 05, 2009, 07:38:43 AM »

seems like if it were a known issue they would red loctite from the factory
oh well, this serves as good info for other users to at least keep an eye on that screw or better yet red loctite it

Racer X · « **Reply #24 on:** January 17, 2009, 05:03:26 AM »

David Clements can put a wedge key on one to keep it from flying off. Not too expensive, but I wouldn't bother doing it unless I had lots of other custom work I wanted done. Otherwise, try the locktite solution.

Steve P · « **Reply #25 on:** January 23, 2009, 08:41:36 AM »

My stainless SBH 10" did it. Washer or housing, or whatever you want to call the oval piece they solder into the barrel popped right off when I let go with a 300grain cast bullet load. Wasn't that hot of a load either. I sent mine gun to Ruger and had it back within a week. All I paid was initial shipping.

I have a 357 BH that I left in my truck one week when I took a vacation. I had been carrying it when hunting and put it in the glove box still in the holster. Must have drawn moisture or I got dew or dampness on it while hunting. Came back a week later and remembered where I put it. Had little flecks of rust already starting to grow. Called Ruger real quick and asked them to send me a couple of replacement screws as the screw slots seemed to be the worse. They suggested I send it in. They called me about a week later and said they could fix it for me. When they sent it back, it had new screws in all 5 places on the grip frame and was re-blued. Total charge was $35.

Yep, make mine a Ruger!

Steve

Three Bears · « **Reply #26 on:** January 28, 2009, 04:11:44 PM »

I had my 44 mag SBH do the same... paid postage to Ruger. They replaced the broken screw, replaced the hammer spring and reblued. It looks like a brand new SBH. That is why I have "several" Rugers.