What in the HAY-ull ??!

[Will Farr]

I thought I had seen it all, but my new Ruger did something weird this morning. A few days ago I posted about a new 44 Spl. Blackhawk just picked up. While waiting for a chance to load some test rounds, I had dry-fired it a few dozen times, hauling back the hammer and giving the trigger a good mash. The hammer seemed a little stiff to cock but I figgered just needed breaking in. This morning I got thangs set up behind the house to test some lead SWCs. Out of the first cylinder full only one round went off. Light firing pin hits. Gave them a second try. No noise. But that ain't the weird part...forging right on ahead, I found that about half the time, giving a slow squeeze, the trigger would reach its stopping point but the hammer stayed back. Giving the hammer spur a good nudge would cause it to go forward and sometimes fire. (my chronograph almost paid the price for that little experiment). On close inspection, I found that the main frame and the gripframe, though mated well on the sides, were slightly offset inside the hammer slot, which had the hammer in a bind front left and right rear. I took the thang apart and filed the offending areas some and put it back together. Same problem, but not near as bad. In a flash of genius, I loosened screws one at a time until I found a combination that would allow the hammer to fall normally, and re-tightened in a sequence that kept it working right. One of these days I will do some more filing in the hammer slot, but today I just didn't feel like taking that s.o.b. apart again.

 

[nn]

Strange

 

[Snake45]

Congrats on diagnosing the problem and taking steps to fix it yourself. :wink:

 

[Base Pin Maker]

I found a used one this week, and the hammer fall feels just a little sluggish, I hope it smooths up, and maybe a stronger mainspring can be found for it. Kelye @ Belt Mtn

 

[flatgate]

I've encountered the same condition many times after doing "parts swapping".

But, on a brand new gun? Oh, my, that's sad. It's great that you figured it out and I sure do hope you tear it down one more time and "fit" the hammer once and forever!



flatgate

 

[Aggie01]

I had one like that after parts swapping - I filed it close, then stuffed it full of valve grinding compound and cycled the hammer, slowly tightening the screws. NO side to side play, and works smoothly.

 

[maxpress]

boy that would be in the mail fast, right back to ruger.

 

[Will Farr]

Yes, it is sad, Flatgate. I had heard or maybe read here on this forum that Ruger seemed to be taking extra care with the new 44 Spls. to get them right. So much fer that. The thought that I should send it back to Ruger did cross my mind, but I just didn't want to fool with all that, and then wait to git it sent back. The cure was pretty obvious, and only took a few minutes (except for the reassembly of that New Model action--enough to make a preacher cuss). As I said, next time I have that thang apart I will file on the slot a little more, but I shot more than 100 rounds of test loads through it today and had no more problems of any kind.

 

[maxpress]

or at least alert them to the problem with there quality control i guess.

 

[Dave T]

I'd never owned a NM until they came out with the 44 Special BH. Bought one of those but sold it before I even fired it so I don't know if it had any problems. Looked OK.

That being said, I've been hearing anecdotal stories about Ruger having numerous quality control problems in recent years. This thread seems to re-enforce that. I've heard most of this started after the passing of Bill Ruger. Wonder if there's any connection?

Dave

 

[Will Farr]

By the way, in the plastic box with the new pistol was a fired hull in a little brown envelope. The whole face of the head, primer and all, was painted red. I don't know if this was a proof load or just a test round to show that the gun would fire. Either way, I would think the Ruger employee who test-fired it must have fired hundreds, or thousands, of new guns. I wonder why he did not notice that the hammer was abnormally hard to cock. And I wonder how he was able to get it to shoot at all, considering the problem it had. You don't reckon he just reached in a box of fired hulls and put one in the envelope, do you??

 

[flatgate]

Red is usually a proof load.

flatgate

 

[maxpress]

that proof case goes to state records in some states i have been told. just for crime id. again this is second hand news.

 

[bisleyfan41]

You are correct to a degree. The case does indeed go to the state authorities for supposed "crime solving" purposes. However, I have been told by more than a few of our state troopers that they are just piling up in a warehouse; not even being filed orderly. Just piled up.

Maryland has had this law in effect for several years now (we were among, if not, the first to have it) and a fired shell casing has NEVER been used as evidence either way in ANY case. One more hoop to jump through for nothing. Typical gun control law.

 

[maxpress]

well most of them are "lookie what i did" laws for reelection. and feel good laws for the hippies.