Cylinder endshake?

[Teredge]

My SRH Alaskan (.44 mag) has .005" of cylinder end shake, front to back. Measured in a vice with a test indicator.

Would you add a .002" shim? Seems like a lot of work for something that calls for a spec of <.004" I've read.

I did send my Alaskan back to Ruger when I first got it, the muzzle crown was machined really off-center.

 

[SAJohn]

Teredge, Welcome to our forum. Revolver end shake is generally considered to be acceptable between .002" and .005". Most of my Rugers are closer to the .005". I had one old model Blackhawk single action with excessive end shake. It was easy to make and install a front mounted shim made from a feeler gauge.

John

 

[woodsy]

Perhaps it depends on one's shooting. If one wanted to carry the BH for hunting, and seldom shot more than 50 rounds at a time, very little end shake would be fine. But if one always fired many rounds at a range, and/or wasn't too critical about cleaning, a little more end shake could help prevent binding of the cylinder when rotating. So, Ruger must make some compromise, 'cause they can't predict how the handgun would be used.
The binding would really show up if one was shooting a black powder SA replica (happened to me, at the range).

 

[Teredge]

I just thought it was a marginal number, the revolver functions great. It may have been that much since new, I didn't pay much attention to that when I got it. It doesn't bother me.

I did have it sent back to Ruger when I got it because of an off-center muzzle crown that I've seen on this forum before I purchased one, and a few others at shops.

Hopefully it doesn't shoot it's way anymore loose than that.

 

[DA_TriggR4Ruger]

Not sure what's with the slop allowed in production guns these days..
Its not fun to receive a newly ordered gun and have it come in with issues. Working in a gun store I'm beginning to see this happen way too often...

 

[David Bradshaw]

Woodsy.... permit me to disagree on a need for endshake to facilitate free cylinder rotation----talking smokeless powder.

Things which cause powder and bullet particles to hunt for the cylinder axle include:
* horrible chamber/bore misalignment.
* bad timing, incomplete carry-up.
* rough chamber exits.
* oversize chamber exits.
* rough forcing cone.
* eccentric or tilted forcing cone.
* pressure too high for the bullet.
* combination of oversize chamber exits with tight bore.

Loose tolerances don't end with endshake. For free rotation a revolver with .005" endshake needs .006" (or greater) cylinder/barrel gap.

Dan Wesson revolvers of brilliant accuracy were plagued by endshake, obviating tight cylinder gap, which in the DW is adjustable. Gas pressure leaking at the gap bleeds velocity. Endshake allows the cylinder to act as a slide-hammer; the greater the recoil, the greater the effect. A Ruger .44 mag with .005" endshake still will have a long service life.

Revolvers by Freedom Arms and good custom smiths have zero endshake and work perfectly well.

If the gun groups 2-inches at 25 yards, you might want to leave it alone, unless there is a relatively painless gunsmith remedy.
David Bradshaw