New SP101 - SA trigger drops into DA - normal break in?

[zarrinvz24]

So I just picked up my first ruger revolver, a 2.25" 357 SP101. I love the display model but mine had to come in from the warehouse, and I had the reqd 10 day wait (CA). Once I got the revolver home I started to take a look at it, and I think my gun may have a problem with the SA trigger. After cocking the hammer and when pulling the trigger slowly there is a click but the hammer does not drop, instead it seems to drop into double action. Once it clicks the trigger continues to move rearward but the hammer begins moving as well - if I let it click and take pressure off the trigger it will move forward and the hammer will move to its resting point as if you stopped a trigger pull halfway through a double-action pull. Has anyone experienced a problem similar to this or know what I can do to fix it?? Should I just contact Ruger and ask to send it in or will this fix itself after a couple thousand dry fires? This gun is NIB - factory test fire only.

 

[Sal1950]

Humm, Something's very not right in the trigger sear to hammer SA hook.
I'd just call Ruger and tell them what's wrong and you want a call tag to have it picked up and returned for repairs.
That's a real bummer, sorry to hear your having this issue.
Sal

 

[Pal Val]

I would call Ruger right away. That gun could be unsafe to shoot. If any of that wrong function causes the gun to fire while the cylinder to off alignment, you could have a serious accident.

 

[mattsbox99]

All my GP100s do this. No big deal. You have to pull the trigger really slow to make it happen.

 

[Sal1950]

All my GP100s do this. No big deal. You have to pull the trigger really slow to make it happen.

What? Maybe you better re-read his post.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Welcome to the forum zarrinvz24. Sorry your first post is unhappy one. But thanks for asking our advice.

Mattsbox99, how many GPs do you have?

All my GP100s do this. No big deal. You have to pull the trigger really slow to make it happen.

I suggest that all of them are defective. I have owned several double action revolvers (mostly Rugers-SP, GP Security Sixes-, but also one Colt, a couple of Smiths, a Taurus and some double action semi-autos as well); not one has behaved like this, nor any of my friends'.

If it were my purchase, when I inspected the revolver at the gun store (which I would have insisted on before finalizing the paperwork, if not the CA and Federal licensing, the payment) and seen this, I would have insisted on another gun.

If the store refused, my credit card company would be holding payment and there is no way they would have been able to make me take that gun off of their property.

But those last two paragraphs are water under the bridge now. Keep the phrase "Customer Approval" in mind next time you buy anything, car vacuum cleaner, gun, whatever.

What to do now?

Take it back to the store and ask what they are willing to do for you. Give them the chance to make it right. It is only fair to them.

For the gun store to ignore a malfunctioning gun like this is unconscionable. I hope they will be cooperative, but would suggest you be prepared if they are not.

(I realize the debate over whether this is a malfunction or not has not been resolved, but I know this is not right, I have 5 SPs to prove it with)

Check with the Better Business Bureau and see what you can find of this store's reputation, complain history, etc and the names of all the higher executives in their chain of authority. Memorize them and be prepared to drop them on the store manager if necessary,

Take it back to the store and if they have a gunsmith around, have him tell the general manager that the store needs to step up and do right by you.

What little I know of the gun laws in California, I suppose the store might not be able to take the gun back in exchange for another, but I would ask, insist, insist again and accept a compromise if necessary.

A satisfactory compromise would be for the gun store to send the gun back to Ruger on their dime. But in such a manner that Ruger will recognize emails and phone calls from you.

That, and a substantial discount on a holster for the SP by way of apology would be nice. Or at least a packet of free targets.

Good luck.

Lost Sheep

 

[darkwater67]

If the dealer will replace the gun for you, I'm pretty sure that'll be another 10-day wait since a new DROS needs to be filled out. Best to check the gun out before leaving the shop, if you can, so you only have one 10-day wait. Isn't our state just ducky?

 

[Hugh]

Welcome to the Ruger Forum.

Sounds like you have a defective and unsafe revolver. I suggest you call Ruger right away.

 

[flaman]

As others have stated,,, Call Ruger; they'll make it right. Even after reading this, I really want one of these!

 

[frontstuffers]

zarrinvz24, my new 4" does the same thing. The interesting thing is it only does it with the solid hammer that I switched out for the new MIM hammer. The pistol functions perfectly, but like you, when I pull the trigger very slowly it will slip into the D/A mode and function like a D/A. I just figured it was the hammer requiring break in.

 

[Sal1950]

zarrinvz24, my new 4" does the same thing. The interesting thing is it only does it with the solid hammer that I switched out for the new MIM hammer. The pistol functions perfectly, but like you, when I pull the trigger very slowly it will slip into the D/A mode and function like a D/A. I just figured it was the hammer requiring break in.

This is the reason Ruger doesn't sell hammers or triggers separately, they need to be hand fitted as a pair to each other. I imagine they have a jig they drop the pair into to do the fitment. In this case it appears the hammer dog protrudes too far and catches the DA sear as the hammer falls. I have no idea where on the components Ruger adjusts for this clearance and I don't care to offer up a guess. I'd keep the original MIM hammer in it for safety.
Sal

 

[Triggernosis]

Personally, I'd rather call Ruger directly rather than deal with the local gunshop. They're probably going to call Ruger anyway, so you'd just be adding a middleman to the equation. The dealer can't give you your money back or give you a new gun, so they're either going to have their 'smith work on it or send it back to Ruger.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Personally, I'd rather call Ruger directly rather than deal with the local gunshop. They're probably going to call Ruger anyway, so you'd just be adding a middleman to the equation. The dealer can't give you your money back or give you a new gun, so they're either going to have their 'smith work on it or send it back to Ruger.

I just would like to see the store made aware that there was a problem and see how they react. It would at the very least inform my next purchase decision.

You have a point. Cutting out the middleman, especially if the gun store has proved to be less than optimally cooperative or competent, is probably a good idea. But I don't know the gun store in question. Ruger CERTAINLY needs to know that there is a problem on their production line.

Your suggestion is possibly the best course of action for the O.P., especially since Ruger is likely to do a better fitting in their repair shop than on the production line, resulting in a better-tuned revolver (after the wait for the transportation).

Lost Sheep

 

[Lost Sheep]

The OP still has only one post on his count. I am very curious what Ruger has to say.

Lost Sheep

 

[louiethelump]

zarrinvz24:

Have you had the gun apart? If you pull the trigger group and put it back and don't get it seated properly, it CAN cause this. It can also be a sear problem. The trigger engages the hammer directly for single action, and if the DA sear is let out too far when the gun is fitted, the DA sear will catch the trigger and carry it forward. That requires a new sear.

Just a thought.

 

[larry8]

My local gun shop has a lifetime warranty on all guns they sell. If you have a problem with a gun purchased from them they will fix it or send it back to the manufacturer with no cost to you, even if the manufacturers warranty is expired.
In case you are interested it's B&T Shooting Supplies (Cleveland area - 4 stores).

 

[wwb]

After having checked one SP, one GP, and one Super Redhawk, none of them behave as the OP described. There is something wrong with that SP - no question.

 

[zarrinvz24]

As you guys recommended I contacted Ruger customer service. They sent me a shipping label and I sent it in. Literally 10 days later it was back at my house. That is no small feat as I live in San Diego - it literally went accross the country and back in that time. It is absolutely perfect now. I could not be happier with the revolver, the trigger on it is very nice now. Actually I've already added a GP100 6" to keep it company haha! I've got a 4" GP on layaway and am now actively searching for a 357 redhawk. Ruger Customer service made me a customer for life - it could not have gone any smoother. Thanks for all your help guys!!