Ruger Warranty Issues

[les45]

Anyone know the current turnaround times for warranty work on pistols at Prescott? Had to send my brand new ec9s back for FTF and mag release problems. This is my fifth brand new Ruger that has gone back to the factory almost on day one. Love my SS revolvers but nothing but problems with semi autos and LCR's.

 

[les45]

Well I can answer my own question. I returned the gun on May 8 and received it back from the factory today (May 20). However, my bad luck with Ruger pistols continues. Ruger fixed a mag release problem but the gun will still not eject when racking it manually. When I try to clear a round in the chamber, it gets stuck in the top of the chamber and I have to turn it upside down and shake it to get it out. It doesn't matter how hard I sling shot the slide, it simply will not eject. Also, the barrel looks like its been used and abused. There are scratches on the top of the bonnet and all around the bell end of the barrel. It looks like somebody worked on it with a metal tool. It does not look like normal wear from actual firing of the gun. Got a call in to Ruger now to send it back again.

 

[hittman]

Well, as unpopular as this is gonna be, I’ll jump in.
Why slingshot it?
Why the need to manually cycle a loaded firearm?
My experience with all things LC and EC has been horrible. I cured that by vowing to never again buy $300 guns and expect them to work like a Glock, CZ, Walther or Sig.

 

[Pál_K]

... However, my bad luck with Ruger pistols continues. Ruger fixed a mag release problem but the gun will still not eject when racking it manually. When I try to clear a round in the chamber, it gets stuck in the top of the chamber and I have to turn it upside down and shake it to get it out. ...

This is really sad to hear. It worries me that apparently Ruger did not perform even a basic functional check of the firearm.

I wonder if they're having staffing issues and are unable to hire qualified people to check and work on their firearms.

I've been lucky with my newer Rugers: LCP, MK IV, and GP100. Years ago I did buy a new Stainless Bisley Blackhawk in .45 Colt that had scratches on the frame and a divot in the ejector shroud - it looked like the gun had been worked on by a rank amateur and had no quality control inspection. I replaced the shroud and the gun shoots fine, but that made me a bit wary of what comes out of their factory sometimes.

Write them a letter and describe your disappointing experiences. Five times is too much.

From what you describe, I'd say they owe you a new replacement firearm - one that's been tested!

 

[les45]

Well, as unpopular as this is gonna be, I'll jump in.
Why slingshot it?
Why the need to manually cycle a loaded firearm?
My experience with all things LC and EC has been horrible. I cured that by vowing to never again buy $300 guns and expect them to work like a Glock, CZ, Walther or Sig.

I always manually eject a loaded round when I'm trying to clear the gun for cleaning or storage. On most guns, the round will eject but to different degrees. Some will shoot out a foot or more and some will just barely pop out. But they always eject. I've been shooting pistols of all kinds for fifty years and this is the first time I've had one just seize up inside the chamber. The round comes out of the barrel and then gets stuck before ejecting. Doesn't matter whether the mag is in or out and it doesn't matter how hard I rack it. I agree with your last statement. I will not be buying anymore $300 guns and especially Ruger pistols. This one gets sold as soon as it returns.

 

[les45]

This is really sad to hear. It worries me that apparently Ruger did not perform even a basic functional check of the firearm.

I wonder if they're having staffing issues and are unable to hire qualified people to check and work on their firearms.

I've been lucky with my newer Rugers: LCP, MK IV, and GP100. Years ago I did buy a new Stainless Bisley Blackhawk in .45 Colt that had scratches on the frame and a divot in the ejector shroud - it looked like the gun had been worked on by a rank amateur and had no quality control inspection.

They actually did a 15 rd functional check and declared the fun fixed. I guess they don't manually eject a round as part of their inspection routine. The barrel on this gun was marred on both ends with some kind of tool and I've had similar problems in the past with Ruger technicians damaging the bluing on warranty repairs requiring another round of shipping back.

 

[les45]

This video is a good example of the issue I'm having. It's for the LCP but my EC9S is doing the same thing.

 

[Pál_K]

I'm glad I don't have it, but that is such a Seattle accent.

Like this:

 

[blume357]

Well, as unpopular as this is gonna be, I'll jump in.
Why slingshot it?
Why the need to manually cycle a loaded firearm?
My experience with all things LC and EC has been horrible. I cured that by vowing to never again buy $300 guns and expect them to work like a Glock, CZ, Walther or Sig.

How else are you going to clear the chamber if you want to leave the gun unloaded? I guess just fire it until it is empty... where ever you are?
Long time ago my friends and I took a guy named Zukowskie rabbit hunting... we showed him how to load and shoot the shot gun we loaned him but not how to unload it.... guess how he unloaded it? Can't make this stuff up.

For me now I hold the pistol actually upside down and pointed down range and pull the slide back and let the round fall in my support hand. You tend to not lose the ejected round as often this way.
The real issue with what the OP is describing is if one needs to do a failure to fire function actually in a deadly force encounter..... one wants to be able to wrack, tap and return to the ready fast.

 

[hittman]

Yes, I fire it until it’s empty. At the range or at the farm, that’s how it’s done. I’m not loading and unloading and tinkering in my living room.

 

[KS25-06]

It would appear to me that it is an ejector problem.

 

[Hondo44]

This video is a good example of the issue I'm having. It's for the LCP but my EC9S is doing the same thing.

Yes it is! So does your gun have the slide with the problem "tab" shown in the video?
Did you forward the video to the Ruger rep to see the "tab" problem?

 

[les45]

Yes it is! So does your gun have the slide with the problem "tab" shown in the video?
Did you forward the video to the Ruger rep to see the "tab" problem?

Not sure what the "tab" is that you are talking about. The guy didn't talk about a tab. I have noticed that my ejector is quite a bit shorter than the one on the LCP Max but they are both doing the same thing hanging up in the chamber.

 

[blume357]

It's the ejector... holds one side of the rim on the cartridge and the slide pulls it back then allows it to be flipped back and out.
From the way you wrote it, I presume the pistol ejects fine when you are firing it? You might try polishing the loading ramp and chamber.... Not being able to hand eject a round is unacceptable in my limited opinion. Like I said, what do you do when you have a failure to fire?

 

[les45]

It's the ejector... holds one side of the rim on the cartridge and the slide pulls it back then allows it to be flipped back and out.
From the way you wrote it, I presume the pistol ejects fine when you are firing it? You might try polishing the loading ramp and chamber.... Not being able to hand eject a round is unacceptable in my limited opinion. Like I said, what do you do when you have a failure to fire?

I've already sent it back to the factory for the second time. If it works when I get it back it will be traded or sold. I will not keep a gun that has had that many problems.

 

[sixmranch]

My recent return took 3 weeks.

 

[blume357]

The problem I'd have with a gun like that is I could not sell or trade it with out disclosing the problems I've had with it. I've got several guns that I'm not comfortable with that I really don't know what to do with ... maybe one of those misnamed "gun buy backs" will come to town one day.

 

[les45]

The problem I'd have with a gun like that is I could not sell or trade it with out disclosing the problems I've had with it. I've got several guns that I'm not comfortable with that I really don't know what to do with ... maybe one of those misnamed "gun buy backs" will come to town one day.

I would never sell a gun that is broken without full disclosure. However, if it comes back from the factory fixed and it checks out good for me then I will sell it or trade it without any qualms. If the future buyer does have a problem later of the same or different nature, the warranty will still cover it. I've bought several used guns that I've returned for warranty work to both Ruger and Smith and Wesson. Most name brand manufacturers stand behind their warranties regardless of how many owners have had the gun.

 

[Star43]

I hear what you say about how a company should stand behind their product. In my opinion, of course if I buy a new gun and it has a problem, that company should stand behind it and fix it. I agree 100% on that. But if a guy sells a gun to another guy and that guy decides to trade it to another guy....where does it end ? To me, that is how a company goes out of business....Me personally, if I buy a used Ruger, and it has a problem, I am going to take it to a gunsmith to look at it and try to fix it. Heck of it's an older gun, how do we even know if Ruger even has the parts. A warranty is a warranty, but there has to be a limit..... especially if any gun is abused. I am not talking about your situation at all. Not at all. I am just thinking about an and any manufacturer's obligation and where it ends. Now that is on older stuff. On a new gun, heck yeah, they should stand behind it and fix it for sure.

 

[les45]

I think the Smith and Wesson lifetime warranty is a classic example of how the system can work. I used to collect S&W revolvers and I bought quite a few of the LE trades which could be in any condition from like new to completely worn out. I sent more than one of those revolvers back to S&W under their lifetime warranty with no questions asked. That was several years ago and I'm not sure if they would do that today but S&W is still in business and apparently doing OK.

 

[OLDGUY79]

I have several Ruger AND S&W semi auto's and every one of them is hard to eject a LOADED round to clear the firearm. The reason....I GOT OLD!! At 79 I don't have he strength to ALWAYS operate the slide fast enough and completely to eject a loaded round.
My wife could not even operate the slides on ANY of our guns.
So, I nought her a Security .380. No more issues of any kind. Many easy rack 9mm are available also.
Sorry to be the one to tell you...getting upper middle age is not for the faint of heart!!!

 

[Star43]

I think the Smith and Wesson lifetime warranty is a classic example of how the system can work. I used to collect S&W revolvers and I bought quite a few of the LE trades which could be in any condition from like new to completely worn out. I sent more than one of those revolvers back to S&W under their lifetime warranty with no questions asked. That was several years ago and I'm not sure if they would do that today but S&W is still in business and apparently doing OK.

I hear what you say and glad that worked for you, but look at your example of S/W. I'm from Mass and am familiar with the company and they are no longer even there. Moved down south. I wonder how long there service continues.....as far as your thinking about service. Until recently I took for granted about a company like Ruger or even S/W would "always be there to back up their guns and fix them for us".....Yeah, that is how I used to think, but it was brought to my attention that that service was "limited service".....meaning they would help you as long as they had the parts.. The parts for so many out if production guns, have stopped being made and when they run out, they run out....so much for the lifetime service. It's not fun to think about, but it is reality. The best thing going for us is Ruger makes a very darn good product that should last a long time

 

[les45]

Parts are definitely an issue. For years I did a lot of my own gunsmithing on my old S&W revolvers but they eventually ran out of parts and that was the reason I got rid of the revolvers and got into modern pistols.

 

[Star43]

And we are all set.....until they run out of parts too. Which will happen for the out of production guns eventually. And so the world turns. Until then, we can enjoy and use what we have.

 

[Hondo44]

Not sure what the "tab" is that you are talking about. The guy didn't talk about a tab. I have noticed that my ejector is quite a bit shorter than the one on the LCP Max but they are both doing the same thing hanging up in the chamber.

Watch the next video: he called Ruger and they sent him a new slide which worked perfectly and he showed close up video of the difference in the two slides. The original slide has a tab that he points out which is machined off of the new slide!

 

[Mike J]

I may be mistaken but I think it is an extractor issue.
I have only had one experience with Ruger's customer service. It was good.
I have only had one experience with S&W's customer service. They did not correct the problem. I figured out a way to correct it on my on. I might buy another S&W one day. I guess time will tell.

 

[Star43]

So they (S&W) didn't fix the problem.....?? And you had to figure it out yourself ? Well, congrats on that. Maybe the next time you but a gun, maybe just stick with Ruger ?? Just my opinion.

 

[hittman]

Just a reminder, from Ruger’s owners manuals ……

“Sturm Ruger & Co has elected not to provide any written warranty, either “limited” or “full”, rather than to attempt to comply with the provisions of the Magnuson-Moss Act and the regulations issued there under.”

That being said ( and largely lawyer-talk I suppose ) Ruger is still one of the best in the industry in taking care of customers, whether you bought their product new or used.

 

[Star43]

I guess that's another reason to stick with Ruger. Yes I agree with Hittman about the "lawyer talk" but I have faith in them to help us as much as they possibly can.....

 

[magnum0710]

As others have said, it sounds like an extractor or ejector issue. My money is on the extractor, had the same exact issue with my Diamondback DB380 (which was complete junk). They replaced the ejector and it did the same thing. I told them from the beginning I was 99% sure it was the extractor and they didn't listen to a word I said.

As for the EC9s I'm sure Ruger will correct the issue, I know that sucks since you just sent it to them and had to wait on it but if you send it in a second time I'm willing to bet they take good care of you.

I actually just got my EC9s back from Prescott a few weeks ago. I had mine for 3 years and all of a sudden it started having issues. Turns out the slide lock had a tiny bit of rust on it where it meets the frame. I'm going to be honest, while I have a bit of a soft spot for the EC9s I'm ready to get away from it. The issues I was having made the decision easier but I don't like the manual safety or the mag disconnect. Sometime in the next few months it's going to get traded towards something better.

I love Ruger don't get me wrong but it seems like their revolvers and their newer semi autos are worlds apart. I know the old P series and the SRs have a great reputation like their revolvers but the newer semi autos just aren't the tough indestructible guns Ruger built its reputation on. That reputation is why I went with the EC9s in the first place. I'll be keeping my LCP since it can be carried when anything bigger can't be concealed but I'm looking at other options for that role too. I'm not trying to bash Ruger, I just got a Speed Six to be my new ccw once I'm done cleaning it up, I just feel that revolvers are more their strong suit.

Honestly, I never used to be a gun snob but I'm kind of starting to be, especially when it comes to semi autos. I can't lie, my Taurus G3C has been absolutely dependable but it's pretty much designed like a Glock so that could be why. Otherwise all of my lower end semi autos have malfunctioned in one way or another.
The DB380 was complete junk, to be fair I knew it's reputation but I thought after 12 or 13 years they'd have the bugs worked out. Sadly that wasn't the case so we won't count that one.
My EC9s was 100% dependable, not one issue for 3 years up until a few months ago. My LCP did have one stovepipe, however it was badly fouled at the end of a range session and it happened with target ammo. I switched to my carry ammo to make sure and it ran 100%. It hasn't done it since then but I'm keeping an eye on the situation and cleaning it weekly to be safe. Even my Glock 42 didn't like certain brands of ammo but was dependable for the most part.

My revolvers on the other hand have been great except for a few ammo related issues. A couple 22lr duds and a few issues when I first started reloading. With factory centerfire ammo and my current reloads (now that I know what I'm doing) I've had no issues. Even my cheap Rock Island 206 and EAA Windicator always went bang.

I guess what I'm trying to say is even if you have to save up a while or buy used its worth it to go for the higher end stuff. And if you absolutely must go for a cheaper gun then go for a revolver. Just make sure you check the lock up and timing but I've been much more successful with cheap revolvers than I have been with cheap semi autos. I just wish I would have realized that sooner, it would've saved me alot of money instead of replacing the junk ones. Within the next year I plan on trading and replacing all of my lower end guns. It's just not worth the risk of having a malfunction when you need it most.