Defective safety switch on new RPR?

[southernfarmer1021]

Howdy y'all! Picked up a new Ruger Precision Rifle in .308 from a Gander Mountain a few days ago. Shot it this evening and after only a few shots the safety selector switch became extremely difficult to move between 'safe' and 'fire.' Another shot of so and it is absolutely plum stuck on 'fire.' Obviously, I discontinued shooting until this can be resolved. Anything I should try before contacting Ruger?

 

[TBear77]

Let's start with the obvious...take it down and clean it, Ruger sends them out the door with a preservative coating that can gum up real quick.

When reassembling, watch for binding. If it works with the action out of the stock, then binds when assembled, there is something interfering with the safety selector.

Wish I could offer more, but I'm a M77 guru.

Ted

 

[DGW1949]

What we're talking about here is a NIB $1200 rifle, and with a defective safety-system no less.
Me personally, I'd have spent the time it took to post the question by getting my new gun ready to ship back to Ruger instead.

But that's just me. I figure that they built it and sent it to market, so they can dern-well fix it. Otherwise, I'd be letting their problems become my problem...and that dog aint gonna hunt.

DGW

 

[gtxmonte]

While I agree it SHOULD work.........it doesn't. Sure sending it back is an option, but the safety on those rifles is a fairly simple. OP can likely fix it himself and not have to send it back.

Personally, my long range bolt guns, I single load them all anyway, so the faulty safety sure wouldn't have stopped my range session

 

[DGW1949]

Oh yes, I agree that "some" gun owners may also be gun mechanically inclined enough to preform what to them may be a simple fix, so to that particular group,"sending it back is an option".
Either way though, making Ruger fix their defective guns themselves is the ONLY option I know of which stands any chance of eventually costing them enough time, trouble and money that maybe someday, someone in management might wake up to the fact that they've got a QC problem.

But hey, I'm just a dumb ole country boy....so what do I know?

DGW

 

[gtxmonte]

Well, the "send it back" route hasn't worked with them in years. They are still sending out stuff at a frightening pace that shouldn't leave the factory.

About the only option for them to improve is to CARE, which apparently they don't. People are buying 2 million Rugers a years with their poor QC............why they gonna change?

For two years in a row at the NRA shows, I heard every 3rd, maybe about every other person while I was listening, ask about the ongoing QC issues. They all got the standard response. "We know that is a problem and are looking into it". Sure enough, Ruger has great customer service and EVERYONE knows it, because it has to be talked about so often

Personally, I think it does WAY more good to bring it to light in threads like this, because you know they read these boards

 

[Captain America]

Let's start with the obvious...take it down and clean it, Ruger sends them out the door with a preservative coating that can gum up real quick...

Ted

I'm with you on this, my wife's 10/22 and my Mini-14 were dripping with that coating and I'm not sure either gun would have functioned at all without a good cleaning and lubing. The trigger lock/safety on the Mini-14 was almost impossible to move before removing that thick, sticky coating of cosmoline, or whatever that substance Ruger is using as a preservative.

 

[southernfarmer1021]

I reckoned that I may have gotten the obvious opinion to take it down vs send it back but the thoughts are appreciated. I called Ruger and they said that I can attempt to take it down and clean it and if it doesn't fix it or it can't go back together that they would still service it. Thanks y'all

 

[southernfarmer1021]

Removed the lower- found no excessive grease. Oiled the mechanism. Replaced lower- safety jammed solid.
Removed lower again- pulled out safety selector switch from the lower and placed it in its appropriate channel- it operates the cam/safety mechanism without a problem. It's like the switch does not nestle up high enough into that channel when its in the lower.
I found that loosening the two bolts from the lower a bit allows the safety to operate some of the time but not always.

I reckon it's a matter of adjustment somewhere but don't know precisely where/what. Will have to send back to Ruger, I guess.

 

[snapcrackpop]

I just picked up mine today & it has the same problem.

Any updates?

 

[Whisky Tahoe Foxtrot]

I know this is an old thread but the problem is still present. I have two Precision Rifles in rimfire, 17HMR and 22Mag. The safety likes to be in "fire" mode but doesn't want to switch to safe. After searching several forums, I learned this is a common situation. Some mitigate the problem with lubrication. Others make it better by working the safety enough to get some improvement.

On mine, I can move from safe to fire with just a thumb but to go back to safe, I need two "thumbs" worth of force.

When you pull the action out of the stock, you can see the linkage that "binds" the lever. I made sure all the parts were lubricated and continue to work the safety which gets slightly easier over time. People have returned their guns and Ruger has replaced the trigger assembly as a fix.