SO...to continue the story. i shipped the gun via UPS but had to go to one of the rare shipping centers where the trucks go in and out (an hour drive each way for me). I had to ship overnight, signature required, for about $48. Ruger had the gun about five weeks. (Remeber this is a BRAND NEW gun)
I called them for status a few times and they could never tell me anymore than to read the note I had included with the gun. Yesterday I got a call (I had requested one day notice) that the gun would be arriving. It was delivered, my wife had to sign for it.
The invoice (no charge) inside said, "Repaired" and then listed the crane, the barrel, basically everything, so that was no real indication of what had been wrong. It also said they had replaced the hammer, which was obvious when you look at it since it's ground down a little where it strikes the firing pin.
Something must have happened to that gun. It came from Bud's Gun Shop in Paris Kentucky. Good prices, but by the time they ship to my local dealer and then I get the NJ treatment, I saved exactly $20 over if I had just had the local guy order it and paid sales tax etc. AND I couldn't bitch at the local guy either.
So anyway the gun is back and the action feels and sounds typically Ruger, which it didn't do before. When you cock the hammer it has that typical clicking and ringing, and the action feels consistent so I have high hopes that it will function correctly now. Can't wait to get out to try it, but it's under 30, windy, rainy, and snowy. Not good testing weather.
The MOST important thing is now that my honey's Christmas gun is back, now I can get a new gun too!