Ruger single six safety upgrade

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Rolland

Bearcat
Joined
May 8, 2014
Messages
7
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Camp Verde, Arizona
Had an interesting problem with Ruger. I sent my single six in for the safety upgrade as I want to pass it on to my grandson. I bought the gun new has a 838xx serial number. They called back and said the gun was unserviceable and that they would send me a replacement gun for this one. After a number of emails and calls I finally got them to say the base pin is a different size so they can't install the upgrade, and the lady I talked with was very interested in me trading in the gun for a new one. Might note here that the gun is 90% condition with holster wear.
Now I thought that was what the upgrade was for, the older pistol. I am curious if anyone has encountered the same results.
They did return the gun to me but was really reluctant to do so.
 
What do they mean by "different size"? Are they saying it's not one of their parts? Why don't they just put in a new base pin?

Sounds kind of fishy to me. Maybe someone wanted the gun for his collection.

I think your grandson would probably be happier with an original three screw. All you have to do is teach him how to correctly load it with 5.

If you think he can't handle an original three screw safely then maybe he shouldn't have a gun at all. Not being a smarta$$ here, I'm serious.
 
Rolland,

More than fishy, closer to very bad information!

Related?? http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=200266

SATCOM
 
He can handle a gun but I thought it would be nice to have the upgrade and get the original parts back to keep in the collection no offense taken. I am a retired LEO, was firearms training officer and armorer for many of those years so they were not talking to a noob but I have not had any dealings with Ruger and looking at their web site find it hard to contact anyone without going through customer service, who I had to deal with when I sent the gun.
Its all very discouraging guess it will go back in the safe.
 
Roland,

Saw your updated post and that you got your gun back. Good!

I bet we (RF) can find the parts that Ruger would use to "up date" your Single Six and you could do it yourself. I have a Single Six that I will be returning to original soon and would send you the take out parts.

Let me know.

SATCOM
 
Maybe Mike would like to hear about this.

https://www.ruger.com/dataProcess/tellTheCEO.html

It's worth an email, at least. Good luck.
 
I did contact Ruger as Poco Oso suggested and they responded to my email this morning by phone call.
1. the safety upgrade will not fit the older single six such as mine 1957 vintage the base pin is different
2. When they get a unserviceable gun they destroy it
3. If I return my gun for trade in they will destroy it cause it will not accept the safety upgrade. Bear in mind that my gun is 90%. said it makes no difference.
These comments were made by Ruger in response to my contacting the CEO by email.
I thought I would post this as I had started it and thought it needed their response added incase this comes up again.
They will not get my gun
 
really wonder just what they are doing "different" now (other parts??) I KNOW way back there were some issues with the base pin and latch assemblies that hold it in as the holes in the cylinder frame were somehow just a bit different and yes it was around 1957, in the PAST, they modified, took the time to "make it work", so seems like they are NOT even willing to "try"???? shame, as the 'history and desire' to KEEP an "old model" is now being forsaken , and screw it, scrap it, give 'em a NEW model ????? wow...............sad situation
Wonder if this was the same thing with 'Ale-8s' friends OM 357 flattop, quietly slip the OMs out of circulation,how about other folks who do NOT "relate", pass on , or talk about any of this on a Forum. The VAST majority of Ruger gun owners do NOT partake of the Forums....I had heard of such at the gun shows, in conversation with folks who sent guns back,,,,how many just are willing to get a NEW gun, for little or NO "extra" money?? if they only wanted a "shooter" in the first place.......and YES, I can relate to some of this as I went round and round with them over 2 "old" Mini -14 ( 180 series) and the Security Six I recently sent back and had to fight to get it back, as it was "unserviceable/no parts".........bottom line ,is I will NOT buy one of the "out of production" guns, to use, or shoot , unless it is ONLY for "spare parts"....caveat emptor baby :roll:
 
Rolland said:
I did contact Ruger as Poco Oso suggested and they responded to my email this morning by phone call.
1. the safety upgrade will not fit the older single six such as mine 1957 vintage the base pin is different
Click to expand...


Personally, I think that's total BS.

There were minor changes made to the base pin latch arrangement, but they should be able to accommodate that.

I'm not aware that we have EVER heard about this alleged problem before when related to the infamous "safety conversion".

Stinks, sez me.

:evil:
 
Wonder if this was the same thing with 'Ale-8s' friends OM 357 flattop, quietly slip the OMs out of circulation,how about other folks who do NOT "relate", pass on , or talk about any of this on a Forum. The VAST majority of Ruger gun owners do NOT partake of the Forums....I had heard of such at the gun shows, in conversation with folks who sent guns back,,,,how many just are willing to get a NEW gun, for little or NO "extra" money?? if they only wanted a "shooter" in the first place.......and YES, I can relate to some of this as I went round and round with them over 2 "old" Mini -14 ( 180 series) and the Security Six I recently sent back and had to fight to get it back, as it was "unserviceable/no parts".........bottom line ,is I will NOT buy one of the "out of production" guns, to use, or shoot , unless it is ONLY for "spare parts"....caveat emptor baby :roll:

Well it took me by surprise as I have sent a couple of rifles back with broken stocks having gone through the UPS jaws of death and have never had any problems. they fixed them up and sent them back in a short amount of time.
Perhaps the lawyers have gotten more deeply involved :?:
I am keeping it in original condition and will continue to enjoy shooting it.
I would most likely never posted here either except the response was so different than what was expected and wanted to find out if this was a recurring problem.
 
Welcome to the forum Rolland,

The upgrade is for the older guns, that's not the issue.

IMHO, the cyl base pin hole was out of tolerance and the safety retrofit standard diameter replacement pin was a sloppy fit. So not meeting Ruger's current standards, they would not ship it out.

So why would your gun in such great condition have oversize pin holes in the frame??? Simple, back in the days of the old models when Ruger was just a fledgling company and every sale counted, they were pretty thrifty and product got shipped out the door occasionally that we'd roll our eyes at today. I can visualize your gun being assembled in the 'old red barn' by an assembler who discovered the holes in the frame were a little oversize. So he probably went thru his rejected cyl pins and cylinders part bin until he found parts just enough oversize to fit acceptably in your gun. Now he had a shippable single six and out the door it went.

Now I'm not bashing old model Rugers, they're my favorites! But I have seen some with similar issues. Like a screw hole that was exposed when the grinder/polisher had to go a little too deep with a contour, for example to grind out an extra deep casting pit, etc.

I would measure your cyl pin and the frame holes. Try another pin from another Ruger if you have one to see if it fits sloppy in your gun.

Anyway I'm glad to hear you insisted on your gun being returned. The good news is, retrofit parts are the most numerous and cheapest parts around. So many have been removed and replaced with original parts by collectors and die hard old model lovers like myself. Advertise on this forum and you'll probably have several offers to send you the parts just for the postage once they hear your plight.

If you are unfamiliar with the parts they are usually a 'drop in', the gun itself does not require any machining or modifications to replace the original parts with the safety retrofit parts. All you need is a good fotting screwdriver and a paperclip, nail or pin punch. If you're not comfortable doing the swap, any gunsmith can for a minimal charge. And if the new pin is too loose see below.

The retrofit pin can be "knurled", a common machinist technique to enlarge the diameter of a round part, so it fits snugly. Or the holes in frame and cyl can be reamed oversize for an oversize replacement new model pin from Belt Mtn, and others; an even better way to do it.

Here's the Ruger factory "Tech Tip" videos to 'walk you thru' disassembly and reassembly if you want to try it. Ruger doesn't have an OM single six video so choose the Old Army videos at the bottom of the list, which has the same lock work, here:
http://www.ruger.com/resources/videos.html?vidID=005039

Hope that helps,
 
If people that want a "safer" old model would just sell the unsafe one and buy a newer "safe" one the world would be a happier place.
 
Ethang said:
If people that want a "safer" old model would just sell the unsafe one and buy a newer "safe" one the world would be a happier place.
Click to expand...

I know what you mean but let's be clear here, neither one is unsafe. I hate to think of people screwing up and old model because they think it's unsafe.
 
Hondo44 said:
But we don't hear about the 10s of 1000s that they have retrofitted and returned to owners w/o issue, only the handful of exceptions that were deemed unsafe to repair or retrofit.
Click to expand...

Nevertheless, if you were one of those handful of exceptions, I think it would pi$$ you off no end. That's why I would never send one back.
 
Kevin said:
And the moral here? Do not return an OM to Ruger. This has come up before that they want to keep (and destroy I assume) OM Rugers.
Click to expand...
They do the same thing with the new models too. would you deal with a company that will ship an unsafe gun? I had a new Blackhawk, that the holes were all drilled off center, on the frame. They kept it and gave me a new gun. I'm very happy you got your's back. This was another issue that's been discussed here. It's your property and they have no right to keep it. There's been some good fixes recommended here. Best of luck with it.
 
So true, I've heard of a few cases with New Models too. But Ruger will not keep your gun w/o your permission. They will vigorously attempt to entice you to take a new gun in trade however. Which is usually a good deal, but not when trading an old model 3 screw for a new model (at least for us Ruger cultists).

S&W has kept guns that are involved in an official recall.
 
Besides a 2 lb trigger job, I have one chamber of my OM opened up to .22 WMR...Bet that would REALLY get Ruger's panties in a wad! :lol:

If it should ever need any further work done on it I most certainly won't be sending it to Ruger... :wink:
 
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