Just got a new Ruger NM Blackhawk 357 and immediately cleaned it and went to the range. Could not be happier with how it handles and shoots. Two questions arose when shooting, and cleaning.
1. It is a 4.62" barrel and the base pin does not come completely out of the frame as it is blocked by the ejector rod tip that protrudes from the frame. I have owned several other Blackhawks and Super Blackhawks and a Hunter but the barrels were longer. So I did not encounter this. However, I also own a New Model Vaquero with a similarly short barrel and on it I can remove the base pin entirely. Is this normal for the short barrel NM Blackhawk?
2. I needed to adjust the sights to zero it and the elevation screw moved normally. However, I could not get the windage screw to budge. I have a jeweler's set of screw drivers and to find a blade thin enough for the slot I had to use one not as long as ideal so I did not try to force it, but I did use considerable force without any movement. I put some Kroll's oil on it and will let it sit tonight but is that screw normally very hard to move?
1. It is a 4.62" barrel and the base pin does not come completely out of the frame as it is blocked by the ejector rod tip that protrudes from the frame. I have owned several other Blackhawks and Super Blackhawks and a Hunter but the barrels were longer. So I did not encounter this. However, I also own a New Model Vaquero with a similarly short barrel and on it I can remove the base pin entirely. Is this normal for the short barrel NM Blackhawk?
2. I needed to adjust the sights to zero it and the elevation screw moved normally. However, I could not get the windage screw to budge. I have a jeweler's set of screw drivers and to find a blade thin enough for the slot I had to use one not as long as ideal so I did not try to force it, but I did use considerable force without any movement. I put some Kroll's oil on it and will let it sit tonight but is that screw normally very hard to move?