Mark 3, cannot remove receiver from frame.

[oilcangary]

I have wached a dozen videos on how to disassemble the Mark 3 but I can't get the receiver and barrel off the frame. I have beaten it with a mallet until I'm scared I'm going to screw something up but it hasn't moved at all. How can I get this thing apart?

 

[rugerguy]

First off, make sure the magazine is out of the gun ...................

Instead of trying to beat on the back of it with a mallet or such, try holding the gun by the grip, with the barrel pointed upward, kinda like a hammer, and smack the back end of the barrel downward onto a piece of carpet remnant on a wooden work bench ( or even on a carpetted floor) and a good, solid rap and the upper receiver tube & barrel will pop off of the grip frame........reverse and smack the front ( muzzle) to reseat it when you want to put it back on the grip frame,,,real quick, simple and easy.............

step 1.........

and its' off....................

 

[oilcangary]

Thanks I'll give that a try. I'm waiting on some parts to get here and wanted to get familiar with the disassembly process before they got here, also I'm home sick today and just got bored.

 

[oilcangary]

No luck. This thing won't buldge. I'm not new to guns I have built several rifles and I can disassemble every gun I own except this one. It acts as if it's welded but I know it's not. I'm thinking about using a press but I'm scared I'll damage the frame.

 

[GasGuzzler]

I was a little shocked how much force it took to pop mine the first time but I was prepared. Took a SHARP whack with the special hammer I bought for the occasion. Had to use the hammer the next four times maybe. I forgot where I put that hammer. I'll remember the next time I need it. Since I rid myself of the mag safety the best way (with a Volquartsen accurizing kit and hammer bushing for a MKII), I don't have to consider if the mag is in or not on the take down.

 

[rugerguy]

yes, it does take a pretty good "rap" for the first time...better than pounding and beating on the gun with qa hammer or mallet, and you will damage something, OR "miss" and knock the sight off or such ( we see this happen to folks all the time)...................the problem is if the lower ( grip frame) is NOT secured TIGHTLY in a well padded vise or such, the impact of any hand tool will be deminished and the movement of the whole gun, will not allow the impact to do its job "properly".......same hold true for trying to "move" sights in a dovetail...........

 

[oilcangary]

rugerguy thats exactly how I tried except I used an old pair heavy duty work paints laid on the floor. Do you think a dead-blow hammer will work?

 

[rugerguy]

I've NEVER seen one that could or would NOT come off the way we show it, as it was explained to us, you cannot tighten in the vise tight or solid (firm ) enough to absorb the impact that can be effected with the way I pictured it....you will mar or damage the grip frame the other way in the vise,,,,,,,,, instead of the pair of pants, use a block of wood on the bench or the floor..............the carpet piece has always worked for us, and its always there, on the work bench besides, no need to reach for any tools.................

 

[oilcangary]

I laid a 1X6 on the floor and laid the Car-hart paints over it. I hammered so hard I cut holes in the paints and left deep indentations in the board and it still hasn't moved.
SUCCESS AT LAST!!! I got mad and just kept hammering the heck out of it and it finally flew apart. Thanks for all the help. I guess I just got one that was extremely tight.
Now it won't go back together lol.

 

[GasGuzzler]

That's another problem that is solved with practice.

 

[rugerguy]

same board ( or carpet remnant) hold the gun on the back end, if needed use both hands, to keep it steady and the upper "in place",,,,, we have the touch, and can use just one hand and wrap our fingers around the top and smack down hard on the muzzle....you do this on and off a few times and it will loosen up, yes, we've seen some that have rusted "in place" darn near like a weld,,,but if we see anything like that ,always soak things up a bit first..........we get a clunker , we put it in kerosene overnoght anyway, cleans things up NICELY at the same time.........

 

[Sam Summey]

The Mk III must be dry fired before disassembly. Have you done this step too?

 

[oilcangary]

This is a like new gun and yes I did dry fire it. I'm a pretty strong guy, 6 ft 200 lbs and in very good shape. I had to beat the crap out of this gun on the floor to get it apart. Probably more than 30 had hits on the floor, thats after beating it with a mallet 50 to a 100 times. I beat holes in a pair tough work pants. There is no way this gun should be this hard to disassemble. Is there something I can do to loosen it up? If not I may send it to Ruger. It is impossible to take this gun apart or put it back together using a mallet.
edit-I have beaten this gun on the floor so hard things on tables started to move and it still won't go back together. My hands are hurting from beating this thing on the floor. I think I am going to send it back to Ruger.

 

[GasGuzzler]

Put it back together then take it apart again.

Repeat a dozen times.

You'll then need no tools.

 

[oilcangary]

I can't put it back together. Read my last post.

 

[GasGuzzler]

What is the specific issue? Where does the reassembly come to a stop?

 

[Sam Summey]

ocg where are you in NC? I'm in WNC, if you are close I can look at it (no charge) to see if there is something obvious that you have over looked.

 

[oilcangary]

I put the receiver on the frame and tap it with a mallet to get it started. I then pound the muzzle on the floor but it will not lock up. The receiver will come to about even with the rear of the frame but will not go any further. I have gotten it this far and started over several times but it will not go any further.
Thanks for the offer Sam but I'm in northern central NC.

 

[oilcangary]

Got it. I marked all the wear spots with a marker and assembled the gun as far as I could then disassembled it. I then sanded the frame where it matched up to the wear spots on the receiver. I can now assemble it with a few whacks with a mallet. It's still thght but I will let it wear in. The main problem seems to have been the U shape portion at the front of the frame where the receiver sat in.
Thanks for all the help.

 

[rugerguy]

good for you, yes, some of them can be very tight at first, and not cooperate at all, glad you LOOKED at the 'problem'; and got 'er done......

 

[Sam Summey]

ocg glad you found the problem looks like you got caught with a max tolerance lug and a minimum tolerance slot. It happens sometime. I recall my MK III 22/45 was kinda tight too, but not as tight as yours.

 

[oilcangary]

ocg glad you found the problem looks like you got caught with a max tolerance lug and a minimum tolerance slot. It happens sometime. I recall my MK III 22/45 was kinda tight too, but not as tight as yours.

Sam S, I wish I could've had time to have brought it to you, I really like the country up there.