First bad experience with a new Ruger in a long long time...

[BloodyThumb]

I've been buying and shooting for about 50 years. My very first revolver was a Ruger and I have had many since.

I ordered an SP101 22lr through my local dealer last week and it arrived yesterday. I picked this up for one (at a time) of my herd of grandkids to shoot since it is a better fit for small hands than the K, L, or N sized guns I already had in 22. So, I drove there to pick it up and shoot it before the weekend when some of them will be with me.

Looked fine on first glance until I tried to open it. It would take a pretty good smack to get it to unlock and open and the cylinder release button just did not feel right to me. On closer inspection is appears that the crane latch spring plunger is completely against the one side of the hole in the frame where it protrudes and never completly retracts into the frame when open. It does not move out when the button is pushed. Appears to be jammed in position just on the brink of release of the crane. Not good.

I always do a fair inspection before I start any paper work so needless to say I pointed it out and refused it. The dealer agreed that it should be marked with a STAR as in "SH%T THAT AIN'T RIGHT". He called his distributor (RSR) and they shipped a replacement out today so hopefully I will have it before the weekend. I'm glad they were willing to ship quickly.

Based on the cylinder it seems that the gun was never fired even once before shipping which I don't recall seeing before. The last Ruger revolver I bought was a Blackhawk about 2 years ago and it had 3 or 6 with slight burn rings as expected.

QC slipping at Ruger it seems. Too bad.

 

[Bullthrower338]

Don’t feel like the Lone Ranger! I’ve had some problems also. Glad the guys at RSR took care of you. When I had my FFL they were great to deal with!

 

[planetcat]

Good on you to catch it before taking it home and then having to ship it back to Ruger, long wait times, etc. Sounds like the LGS and distributor did good with your problem. Hopefully you get the new one in good working order and it arrives quickly.

 

[44RED]

My favorite 22 is a Ruger that had to be sent back many years ago.... after Ruger fixing it, a good spring kit, and a few 1000 rounds its an absolute joy to shoot.

Never know what good can come from a not so good start....

 

[s4s4u]

QC is slipping everywhere....

 

[Joe Chartreuse]

I gave up on a Mark1 and sold it back to the dealer years ago. Soured me on the whole series. Of course since then I have fallen in love with LCPs....

 

[rugerguy]

alas, things made by people, for people, and yes things do happen, they can break, but todays workers are NOT the "finish gunsmiths" of the old days where they had to hand fit the parts, final fitting, and make things work, they were artisans, today the unions will not let that happen, mainly BECAUSE SOME FOLKS ARE BETTER AT IT THAN OTHERS.... and Mr Ruger and the "casting" business did things so good, that many could about just "drop in" little and no fitting,,,,,S&W, Colt hated that, now days there are CNC machines, and it goes on and on,,,but there is still the start of the work week, Monday, and then along comes Friday, and lets get out of here,,,, go party........:cool::rolleyes:

"....and so it goes...Wil Terry" may he rest in peace;)

 

[contender]

Well said Dan!

 

[BloodyThumb]

Just got off the phone with my dealer. The replacement showed up today with exactly the same issue. He said this one will only open with a smack on the cylinder with the palm of your hand, but even worse… it does the same WITHOUT pressing the release button.

That’s it. I’m done. I had him order me a Smith.

 

[Hvymax]

Remlins rule the roost!!!

 

[gunzo]

Threads like this could/should push Ruger to tighten things up, or not.

 

[AJGUNNER]

If you have the time, contact your FFL and get the serial numbers off of both. Then go to the Tell the President page on the ruger website. Give him a link to this thread but also the pair of serial numbers. Then ask for some sort of follow up from him directly. Would love to hear the story/excuses given and what might be done so that it does not happen to the next guy to buy one.

 

[BloodyThumb]

If you have the time, contact your FFL and get the serial numbers off of both. Then go to the Tell the President page on the ruger website. Give him a link to this thread but also the pair of serial numbers. Then ask for some sort of follow up from him directly. Would love to hear the story/excuses given and what might be done so that it does not happen to the next guy to buy one.

I’d do that, but I think that link you speak of may be gone. If you can find it, point us to it, and I will make the contact with pleasure.

 

[CAJUNCHEF]

I’d do that, but I think that link you speak of may be gone. If you can find it, point us to it, and I will make the contact with pleasure.

Well, I'll be damned, but that link is gone.

Ruger QC is slipping; from things I have been reading lately.

We have simultaneous price inflation and quality deflation, a double hit.

I would take the trouble to write a letter, sent via FedEx, to the President, COO and CFO. They may ignore it, but I bet some Ruger shareholders might be interested.
Good luck getting some nice 22 revolvers for your grandchildren.
I like my older Ruger revolvers and rifles.

 

[BloodyThumb]

I sent a description if what happened and how disappointed the kids were, how disappointed I was to tell them about it, and how much they enjoyed the Smith and Wesson 63 that I got instead. I used a customer support form on the website contact page.

I told them that it was 2 in a row with the same issue from the same distributor and which distributor it was. I got a response back saying some form of ”so sorry, we will check into it”.

Who knows if they will, and they didn’t seem to give a ^$% about lost business or lost future customers.

I have to say, the 63 is doing very nicely. They bagged quite a few steel groundhogs and squirrels with it.

I’m sure it didn’t help that their dad’s 10/22 magazine suffered a broken spring the last time they were out. What a shame.

 

[bisleyfan41]

Threads like this could/should push Ruger to tighten things up, or not.

It really should but it won't. It's all about $$$ and cranking out as many "units" as possible to make those $$$. Quality is out, quantity is in.

Flame suit on for the inevitable incoming apologist attack.

 

[Ditmo64]

Good luck on the Smith. I had to send my latest 617 Mountain Gun back to them. Took 5 weeks to get it back. I've actually never had to send a Ruger back. I lost a few parts on my Redhawk, called Ruger and they sent me the parts for free. I was willing to buy them. That was a long time ago though.

I think every manufacturer is having QC "issues".

 

[BloodyThumb]

The little 63 is doing well. They have gotten it completely filthy a couple times already. I cleaned it up some and they are enjoying it, and the older ones are shooting it quite well out to bout 20 yards so far.

No issues.

 

[Elder User]

I think it's rampant throughout the industry. Went to LGS to buy a Smith and two of them were defective. Didn't try any more. Comments on the Smith forum showed that others were just living with the defects. Have heard similar comments about other makers.

 

[BloodyThumb]

100% - I have had to refuse a Ruger, return a Smith, and live with the limitations of a Taurus I bought in a weak moment.

But I do have to say the last 3 guns I have purchased for myself were all H&K. Zero issues it fit, finish, or function.

 

[Ctsigsd]

QC is slipping everywhere....

Your right! I stay huddled in my collection of older ones, fabulous,& better triggers

 

[Ctsigsd]

Good luck on the Smith. I had to send my latest 617 Mountain Gun back to them. Took 5 weeks to get it back. I've actually never had to send a Ruger back. I lost a few parts on my Redhawk, called Ruger and they sent me the parts for free. I was willing to buy them. That was a long time ago though.

I think every manufacturer is having QC "issues".

Yes..I have a bunch of smiths,all pinned barrel and back to 1880s..I occasionally ask my dealer to look at one of the newer Smith revolvers, just the trigger alone, double action,and especially single action,to be thier like bear traps! 1000$ model 29, and the Layers have REALLY gotten to the triggers! Same guns from 50-70s have HALF or less trigger pull weight,all have crisp breaks..I just stick with the older versions, my 1969 model 19, would today be considered a competition trigger, and its box stock, i shoot it, and have a 1967 one in orig box as the "safe queen" ,though i hate that term,i still occasionally shoot it..Yes today its about QUANTITY, not QUALITY

 

[BuckRimfire]

I think it's rampant throughout the industry. Went to LGS to buy a Smith and two of them were defective. Didn't try any more. Comments on the Smith forum showed that others were just living with the defects. Have heard similar comments about other makers.

You're lucky you could inspect it well enough to prove it was defective. Cabela's used to allow dry firing, but now all their display stock has trigger locks on it. I don't think they will remove before you buy, although I did not press that point. I don't see why they would even have the locks if they were going to remove them if asked nicely.

So, it looks like any QC problems with the fire control system would be your problem.

 

[jyo]

Having spent a couple of decades in the retail/wholesale firearms industry, I understand the fall in QC---I mean one used to avoid the cheaper brands (I'm not gonna mention names because some one will post how well there cheapie gun works) and pay more for a Colt, S&W or Ruger to get a "good" gun without all the drama of having to send the piece back to the mothership to get it fixed! These days, that's not to be taken for granted...
So, like so many here have pointed out, I'll just keep my OM Flattop revolvers and Security Sixes and keep 'em clean and free of rust for the next owner to treasure after I'm gone...