Ruger New Vaquero Transfer Bar Pinch

[Ugly Hombre]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sE54jvfz5Y

Well done vid explaining Ruger new Vaquero "transfer bar pinch". I have a NMV that I like a lot-it has this issue. I was looking for a good explanation of the problem- found this explanatory clip.

Posted FYI-

Also- any suggestions on good Ruger smiths in central California- appreciated.

Cheers & Thanks!

U/H

 

[ginzo]

Wonderful explanation! Thanks for the video. This will be very useful when I change to a bobbed hammer on my speed six.

 

[Rclark]

or in pictures :

http://www.cylindersmith.com/Transferbar.html

 

[Ugly Hombre]

That's a nice graphic- thanks!

 

[Mus408]

If you don't dry fire or only do so with spent cases,is this pinch problem still an issue?

 

[Carry_Up]

I'd like you all to use your head on "as seen on the internet" subjects like this one. The video is saying that your transfer bar is in danger of breaking if the top of the hammer does not come to rest on the frame. That might be true, but it misses the main point. Broken transfer bars are not an every day occurrence. In fact, the most common part in a Vaquero to break is the hammer plunger, not the t.b.

Other authors will insist that there is a certain type of hammer strike required for reliable ignition, and to adjust the hammer and t.b. in a certain way. In order for the t.b. safety system to work, the t.b. must be pulled downward by the trigger as the trigger is released after a hammer strike. If the t.b. does not descend below the firing pin, and is pinched between the hammer and the firing pin, the t.b. safety system cannot work to prevent an A.D.

Most revolvers I have seen come off the line with too little pressure on the t.b. and not the other way around. In any case there are a variety of things on a new gun that require attention and adjustment - no surprise there. Another factor to consider is that installing a lighter hammer spring and a lighter trigger spring absolutely changes the dynamics of how hard the hammer strike is, and whether the t.b. will pull away from the firing pin when the trigger is released. As usual, you can't just change one thing in a mechanical system without affecting something else.

Carry_Up

 

[Jimbo357mag]

If you don't dry fire or only do so with spent cases,is this pinch problem still an issue?

Yes. What the 'pinch' means is that the hammer is being stopped by hitting the transfer bar only instead of being stopped by the top of the hammer hitting the frame. If the hammer continues to slam the transfer bar it will likely break sometime in the future. The forward movement of the hammer should be stopped by the frame not the transfer bar.

 

[Chuck 100 yd]

My everyday CAS shooters have TB pinch and they are going to stay that way until they fail (if they do). I have never had a light primer strike FTF and I use just any primer I can find.
That said,I keep a couple spare transfer bars in my parts box just in case.
I don`t use reduced power springs in my CAS guns. I am not good enough that they would make me go fast enough to be a winner. LOL!!

 

[Hondo44]

Chuck,

I'm not saying this will happen to you of course. But for other readers, if the hammer is let down on a live round to unload during a DQ or whatever, the trigger hasn't returned all the way, which means the bar is pinched, and if dropped, a NM Ruger will discharge. The loading gate won't open of course with the bar in the up position, and as the shooter exerted force on the gate (not realizing the trigger hadn't returned), the gun was dropped.

 

[dakota1911]

Why have the transfer bar at all maybe?

 

[Rclark]

I happen to be one of those too that think the TB is a not necessary... But there is a class of shooters that like six up or can't remember to load 1, skip 1, load 4 more. A common sense thing.... But there are casual shooters out there that don't get 'familiar' with their revolver as they should... So the transfer bar is with us to stay .

I had one break. First one ever. After that, I made sure all mine have proper fitting TBs. One less thing that could go wrong at the worst possible time. This time it broke when I was testing some .357 loads off the bench. But could have been bad if I actually was using it for defense purposes at the time.

 

[Chuck 100 yd]

Hondo44 , The TB pinch on mine is real, as in if I hold pressure on the hammer and then let go of the trigger the TB will not drop and the trigger will remain unset but without added pressure on the hammer if the trigger is released the TB will lower on it`s own and the triggers reset every time. My CAS guns have the factory trigger return and hammer springs in them.
So far it has not caused any kind of operating issue I am aware of.