MarkIII Hunter

[DDZ]

My Nephew got a Ruger MarkIII Hunter model for Christmas, and he couldn't wait to go out and shoot it. He found out that the gun would not chamber a round. Looking at it he discovered that there is an indent right at the mouth of the chamber. That left a pushed in area at the chamber opening.  Like it was hit with something. I did not see the gun but he said the indent is about in line with the firing pin. He said that a case was sent with the gun that they fired in the gun along with the guys name that did the firing test. The case had a distinct scrape down the side of it. 
 Could the firing pin have caused this damage? I wonder how it could do this, being the hardness of the barrel steel. He said the indent resembles the shape of the firing pin. Also what could be wrong with the firing pin or spring that it would cause a hard enough hit to damage the chamber mouth.
How does something like this get past quality control of a company like Ruger? To say the least he was disappointed the gun has to be returned.

[Graybeard]

Barrel steel is really not that hard as steel goes. Firing pins are MUCH harder. It is common knowledge that you really shouldn't dry fire rimfires tho many do and most get by with it just fine.

While Ruger offers no warranty on their products their customer service is excelent and I'm sure they will take care of it for him. It is unfortunate for sure and I do wonder if it was there when they fired the test round packed with it how they chambered it. How sure are you it wasn't done by him after he got it by dry firing it prior to loading? Or at the dealership from which he bought it?

As an added side note it likely can easily be fixed at home if a few tools are handy but just carefully removing the burr with a jewlers file or some such. If done carefully it will be just fine. I've done it a time or three that way myself.

[DDZ]

I guess I'm not real sure if he could have done it by dry firing or not. He is fairly familiar with firearms. He is in the guard with the military police, and has done a good bit of shooting. Although he is not that familiar with semi auto rimfires, and may very well had dry fired it some before he took it outside. So yes maybe the damage was done by him without him knowing it.
  I agree it could have been done at the dealership also. I want to see the case that he said came with it. It is kind of strange because he did say that a round will not chamber. So if that's the case how did they chamber a round at the factory to test fire it. 

Yes, Ruger does stand behind their products, and I never have had any problem with the rugers I own. I mentioned to him that I could probably take care of the burr with a file, but I think he didn't like the idea of his uncle taking a file to his new gun. So he is set on returning it.  Thanks for the input GB.

[gru]

  I wouod send a picture of that casing and the test info But would keep the casing so it doesn't get lost