Help Redhawk

[birdhead]

I have a 7.5'' s.s. 44 mag. redhawk that was in a house fire and is all charred up. Is there anyone who knows the best way to remove this stuff??I have it apart and I am a my witts end on this. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I just hate to see this one go to the heap. I will send pictures when my son can send them. Thanks....

 

[hittman]

Put it in the dishwasher.

Have you sprayed it down with WD40 or LCP or another similar product and let it soak a few days?

Might even deserve a trip to Ruger for a professional re-finish once you're sure there's no metal fatigue or damage that would make it dangerous to shoot.

 

[frank n texas]

I would not fire that gun until it is checked out by Ruger......

It may be warped in some fashion....

Ka-boom in your hand.eyes, and face

 

[birdhead]

Hitman, Frank n Texas, I have not done the wd-40 thanks for that tip, I will have to see what it looks like before it goes back to ruger. Do you think fine grit sand paper is ok to use???. I will not fire the gun until ruger says so. Thank you both for the tip...

 

[hittman]

No, I would not use sandpaper or any other abrasive material on that gun.

If it were mine, I'd let it soak a couple of days in CLP and/or run it through the dishwasher. Patience is your friend on this one and making sure it's safe.

Obviously, you have no way of knowing how hot it got. However, did it burn the grips or melt the sites? Or, is it just blackened by soot? If there were no parts that melted, that may be good news for you.

 

[bnewberry]

If the wood is charred the heat was over 350 and that means temper would be impacted. Check the trigger spring and see if it is no longer much of a spring to confirm.

I'm guessing that this gun is a goner.

 

[birdhead]

I did notice that the main spring has no tension on it, the grips were burnt off, but were the rubber ones (hogue). The rear site is partly burnt as is the front. Dose not sound good does it? Oh well, I still want to clean it up. I don't know if I send it off to ruger, will I ever get it back. And the money for shipping?. Thank you for your input.

 

[Corbi]

Oven cleaner?

Corbi

 

[hittman]

No, that doesn't sound good at all. However, I'd maybe try a phone call to Ruger. Be prepared that they can't give you an answer without seeing it in person on it's ability to be "saved" but ..... surely they can line out the procedure for it's return or possible destruction there. Wonder if its worth anything to them as scrap towards the purchase of a new gun?

 

[pisgah]

I have rehabbed a few housefire guns, but never one subjected to enough heat to burn away grips, rubber or otherwise. I would be willing to bet Ruger will say junk it, and they may well be right -- affected springs are a bad sign. Soot makes them ugly but doesn't affect temper; heat does.

 

[Chuck 100 yd]

If I were Ruger, I would not touch it with a 10 ' pole. Product liability, don`t you know?? Sending it to them would be a waste of money in shipping charges.

 

[birdhead]

Is there any way that I test fire this gun safely, lite loads, blanks, any comments would be greatly helpful. I had someone suggest I put in a vise tie a string and get behind a big tree and pull. Does that sound dumb???? Or should I just leave it alone......curiosity just has me wondering, it is hard to leave it alone..

 

[hittman]

it is hard to leave it alone..

What have you done so far?
Called Ruger?
Cleaned it?
Replaced springs?
Had a gunsmith look at it?

You couldn't PAY me to shoot that gun ...... yet.

 

[birdhead]

I have taken it apart, cleaned up about 60% of the charred surfaces (very hard to do). The main spring was replaced, cleaned out the bore. The gun does cycle, trigger pull is about 13 lb..The gun is back together. Maybe I should just make it a wall display.....I have not had any advice to shoot it from anybody so far, that should tell me something. Thanks for everyones input, I will leave it alone.Time to move on I guess.

 

[98Redline]

You couldn't PAY me to shoot that gun ...... yet.

...ever

With that much heat the metallurgy on the frame and cylinder has been changed, probably way more than just a surface treatment.
Talk to Ruger about sending it back. Likely they will tell you the gun is trashed beyond repair and probably not send it back to you due to the liability, however they will probably offer a discount on a replacement.

That is about the best you can hope for unless you want to make the gun a "wallhanger"

I would NEVER.....EVER shoot a gun that had been subjected to that kind of heat...especially in a caliber as powerful as a .44Mag. Just asking for trouble. Even if it works fine for a few rounds, you never know when the next round will cause a catastrophic failure.

 

[birdhead]

The gun now has the mainspring pulled and hammer out so there is no temptation. I want to keep it for a show piece of what a fire can do to things.

 

[pisgah]

Does that sound dumb????

Sir, you asked the question, so I will respectfully give you an answer. Yes, it does sound dumb.

Seriously, you have no clue at this point how badly this gun is damaged. It is very possible that it is a grenade just waiting for someone to set it off. And frankly, put it in a vise, behind a shield, and pull the trigger with a 50' string, and you still don't know a darned thing except it didn't blow that time.

Sure, it may be okay, but no one here is qualified to, sight unseen, make a judgment yea or nay. The gun at least needs to be closely scrutinized by a truly professional gunsmith who is capable of doing hardness testing and other appropriate diagnostics before any attempt to fire it is made.

 

[hittman]

Talk to Ruger about sending it back. Likely they will tell you the gun is trashed beyond repair and probably not send it back to you due to the liability, however they will probably offer a discount on a replacement..

I like this advice. I too would at least call Ruger. Nothing to lose, everything to gain.

 

[wildcatter]

I personally would not even keep it around, to easy for someone to make it functional, if it stays the frame cylinder and barrel need to all be made incapable of ever being used in a functioning firearm again. This can be done without being seen on the outside if you really want a wall hanger. I would hate to see it stolen and someone here end up with a new barrel, or cylinder as an inexpensive project component!! Safety first!

I would first do as recommended call Ruger, see about a discount if not,,,let them destroy it or you do as I recommended and make it unusable.

You might even talk to someone like Clements, or another custom parts manufacturer to see if it is possible to temper and harden it to safely use it again if you want to shoot it. I don't know if that is feasible or not, but can assure you he does, and there are others experienced in the industry that will. Good luck whatever you do,,,,but keep safety first!

 

[birdhead]

Just got off the phone with ruger. They told me ANY ruger gun that has been in a fire will and should be destroyed, the metal will someday fail and could cause severe damage. They told me I could send the gun in, they will look at it and destroy it. They will give me a discount on a new gun, but I do not know how much of a discount, that will be determined by ruger. I told ruger that I have to think about it. Not clear if I have to pay the freight to ruger. Details we be on the next call. At least I know my option. Thank you all for the input on this........