Howdy
I have installed a bunch of Belt Mountain pins in my Vaqueros and Colts. I only used one of the pins with a set screw once. Yes, to remove the pin you need to loosen the set screw. Which can be a pain in the neck because you need to keep the tiny allen wrench handy. I used the method where I tightened the screw to make a dimple, then I enlarged the dimple slightly. Don't remember whether I used a drill or a metal punch, it was quite a while ago.
The reason I don't use the set screw models anymore is
1. you need to keep the teeny allen wrench handy, and
2. if you over tighten the nut just a teeny bit too much, it bends the pin, which causes the cylinder to bind.
I have never installed a stronger spring.
If you find the base pin of your Ruger backing out under heavy loads, chances are the latch does not fit properly. These things are mass produced, they are not custom fit, and it is not unusual that they do not fit properly. Installing a stronger spring will address the symptoms of a poorly fit latch, but it will not address the root cause: a poor fit.
Belt mountain pins have the slot that engages the latch cut horizontally across the pin. Some Ruger pins have the slot cut this way, some have the slot cut around the circumference of the pin. A slot cut across like the Belt Mountain arrangement is better because it gives more surface area for the latch to engage. A slot cut around the pin affords less surface area for the pin to engage. I have that direct from Kelye at Belt Mountain, which is why he cuts them that way. Cutting the groove around the pin is cheaper.
If you have a pin with the groove cut across the pin, try this:
Remove the pin and observe how far the latch travels to the rest position. Then reinsert the pin and see how far the latch travels to the engagement position. Try pulling it out and letting it fly. Does it snap all the way home? If not, the groove needs a little bit of careful enlargement. You can do this with a small rat tailed needle file. Apply some ink with a sharpie onto the groove, and snap the latch to home. The ink will be smudged where the latch engages the groove. Remove a tiny amount of metal in the groove only where the ink is smudged. Try again. Repeat this until the latch snaps smartly all the way home. It has now been properly fitted and there will be more surface area engaging the latch. Your pin jumping problems will go away.
I have done this with regular Ruger pins as well as Belt Mountain pins. Unfortunately, this does not work so well with a Ruger pin with the slot cut around the pin, only with the slot cut across the pin. If you have a Ruger pin with the slot cut around the pin, I suggest replacing it with a Belt Mountain pin, and then see if any further fitting is needed.
The Belt Mountain pins I have done this way all hold tight even with heavy recoiling full Black Powder loads with 250 grain bullets.
