Ruger quality control?

[6mmsl]

Just bought a new Hawkeye M77 wood/black matte in .243. This is my 8th Ruger rifle.

I have a question - Why on the Ruger bolts do some seem to cast perfectly with clean edges and lines others then have imperfections, granted these are cosmetic but can't Ruger control visible polishing/grinding errors on the finished product?

My disappointment is right at the top of the dogleg where the firing pin assembly enters the solid bolt assembly. Clearly,this area was missed on this rifle. This is my second M77 with this problem the first time I did not catch it -this time I did and bought it anyway(last one in stock) figuring,I well get over it.

Why must I stand at the gun counter and inspect every rifle they have on hand looking for a good one?

Don't get me wrong I am Ruger fan and have been-but I am a cautious consumer especially when this rifle will more than likely be with me for sometime as with all my Ruger's. How do we as consumers have confidence buying on-line as well? I have been fortunate I guess with all my rifles they all have shot well and I have confidence this one will too-but I weigh the odds in my favor when selecting -looking at the stock fit,crown,trigger pull, and lastly cosmetic imperfections but it just seems to me that more and more I have to weed through a few before finding an acceptable one.

I know buyer beware but, can't Ruger step it up a notch on QA?-I shouldn't have to do this for them-this should be an service provided by any reputable company and Ruger should take a second look.

I notified Ruger and they will fix it but why not the first time?

Thanx for listening-

Good shooting -Steve

 

[wwb]

The general concensus is that the QC at Ruger ain't what it used to be.

Hard for me to say.... my newest Ruger is 15 years old, and most of 'em are well over 30 years old.

 

[6mmsl]

Ok, I was a bit harsh with my first post about my new Hawkeye. Although not perfect it is cleaning up nicely.

I have not bought a walnut stocked rifle for years but the feel and look of this rifle brings back to me why I shoot and hunt. Something about a walnut stock and steel barrel that make me reflect on hunting days of old with my Dad. The checkering on this rifle is flawless and so is the steel. The wood has great color and grain and polished up to a brilliant glow.

The bore from my inspection is perfect and this rifle just feels like it will shoot.

The trigger is clean and crisp no light weight but acceptable. The bolt already is smooth and closes with authority.

The rifle comes up fast and comfortable and just feels right.

I will mount my scope and head to the range soon.


Ruger makes a fine product at a price most can afford. I stand by them and expect a lot. Why not they have delivered and I hope they can maintain the standard of which I have become accustomed.

Good shooting -Steve

 

[6mmsl]

Here is a couple of pics of my bolt problem-anyone else having issues with initial quality or am I just lucky?

Pic one is the chunk missing from the top of the bolt also this area should be buffed smooth like the face of the dog leg.

Pic two is the inside edge of the bolt where it was ground down and does not have the sharp distinctive edge.

This one will be going back to Ruger to clean up.

Good shooting -Steve

 

[chet15]

Yes, as said...QC at Ruger is not what it used to be. At least your issue is in polishing. I worry about the report recently about a .480 barrel getting assembled to a Super Redhawk with .454 cylinder (can you imagine if it occurred the other way around???). Owner said the bystanders couldn't get over how much "flame" exited that barrel!!! Later on that night the owner realized what Ruger had done.

:oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:

Chet15

 

[6mmsl]

Boom!

Good shooting -Steve

 

[mcknight77]

That's a casting flaw on that bolt. I'd be sending the pics to Ruger and asking for them to replace the bolt. Give their customer service a call.

 

[208packinheat]

+1 on the "give Ruger a call", that is plain not right for an American Made Gun, at least we ought to demand better. Good luck.

 

[6mmsl]

Packed up and on it's way to Ruger tomorrow- First rifle I've ever sent back.

Good shooting-Steve

 

[208packinheat]

From my personal experience, I think Ruger will take care of it. I have had nothing but great service out of Ruger...as infrequent as that has need to be.

 

[Pinecone]

It never ceases to amaze me why people pay good money for guns that the factory says need 200 to 500 firings to smooth out functioning! Why doesn't the "factory" do the 200 to 500 firings??? Or better yet, build/engineer it "right" to begin with. People will pay anywhere from $400 to $1000 for a "new" gun that doesn't work right out of the box! My question to them is: Would you pay $25000.00 for a new vehicle if the "factory" told you the car will start running "right" as soon as you put 20,000 miles on it???........................Dick :!:

 

[bracer]

Over the years I have purchased new and used brands of firearms . Got my first rifle in 1949. You never know what a firearm will do untill after fireing it off a bench rest. Some may need the trigger adjusted, the action glass bedded, the barrel free floated, the bolt locking luggs lapped, the muzzle recrowned and lapped,and the magazine box filed down a bit so that it does not bind between the action and floor plate. Overall I have had good luck with the Ruger rifles with reloads developed for a rifle.

 

[JimHnSTL]

i wonder if some brain stormed bean counter figured that with the bead blast look/finish they could get by not having to inspect as close. i myself do not like the new finishes, either in SS or mat blue, i hope i'm wrong but i would not be surprised if over the next couple years as these guns get more use that finish issues, specificly rust, gets associated with the ruger rifles. Ruger worked hard to bring their reputaion back up from the stigma they got back 20 some years ago and then when they sure seemed to have turned thigs around, some knucklehead flushes the toilet again. i love my Rugers and i do hope i'm proven wrong but i am skeptical about these new finishes.

 

[fighterpilot]

I bought a Ruger MkII about 4 years ago in 270WSM. It had a composite stock with stainless receiver and barrel. It was not the sand blasted finish but the smooth satin stainless that is very nice looking.
When I worked the bolt and chambered a round, it looked as though I had drawn the cartridge through razorblades. I literally had to spend about 2 hrs with a medium and fine emery cloth to smooth out all the sharp edges inside the receiver and polish the rails in the receiver. You could literally cut your finger if you ran it inside of the receiver. The rifle operates smoothly now; but, I was dissappointed in the finish and polishing and really didn't think I should have had to do it myself. I could have sent it back, but there was no guarantee that the work would have been done properly. I knew that I could do the job effectively and not have to hope for the best if I had sent it back.
I agree that for the cost, a little polishing and smoothing of the finished product is called for. Used to be Ruger's quality out of the box was equal to most of the other brands like Remington 700s, Browning, Weatherby. I doubt that true anymore.

 

[Silent Sam]

My perception is that Ruger quality has slipped in recent years. Remington is also suffering from the same malady, probably more so than Ruger. Ruger's service is still good by my experience but that is only needed if initial quality isn't where it should be. I'd have to be hard pressed to buy on order nowadays and it would get a hard inspection before it left the shop.

 

[fighterpilot]

The above being said, my Ruger ,270wsm is one of my favorite rifles, in the way it handles, it's feel and looks. Would I buy another one....I'd have to examine it closely.
I have a tang safety Ruger International in .243 win. that is flawless. I bought it too many years ago to remember but the quality back then was excellent.