The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Handguns => Topic started by: jaybet on January 07, 2008, 06:18:49 PM
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I got my wife a Ruger GP161 8" Blued for Christmas. She always wanted one, so she got it. We cleaned it and took it out, and the action would hang up every once-in-a-while. We brought it home and she took it all the way down to frame and barrel and scrubbed it, then oiled it, etc.
Now it shoots ok with only minor friction but no real hangups. It still seems like a really rough trigger and action, though.
I've read they need a real good breaking in, and lot's of folks get trigger jobs....how bad is this action?
Does anyone know a few polishing tricks that might clean it up?
Oh...photo included, of course....just of the gun. I have a great picture of her in her jammies displaying the gun in front of the Christmas tree, but I could never endure what she threatened if the photo ever sees the light of day. So...just the gun.
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JB, I've had great results, just polishing everything, and rounding the trigger to take off the sharp edges, I'm a Smithy who's favorite revolvers are S&W, but have had very good results with just polishing everything on a Ruger, I use cratex cylinders, and a buffing wheel to do this. You can use a dremel and felt wheels with buffing compound to accomplish the same thing with patience. Stay away from the single action sear unless your willing to fail, and carry through, with either more research or sending it to somebody for correction. I don't mess with coil spring ignition systems, that means I don't use spring kits, or shorten springs for a lighter pull, you either can't cut enough off for reliable ignition, and still feel a difference, or the spring kits, show a big difference, and won't reliably give good double action ignition.
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OOPS! Where did I start this? I'm so confused...maybe they SHOULD send me to Iraq.
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While sitting in front of the telivisor dry fire the gun. A couple thousand cycles should help. Ruger SA guns always need trigger jobs (possible exception being the New Vaquero). I have found that to not be true of the SP101s I own.
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I've had good luck with my DA Rugers...they do tend to be a bit rough. Unfortunately, the best Ruger mechanic in the world — Grant Cunningham (http://www.grantcunningham.com/) — has closed his waiting lists until he catches up. SIGH...this is what happens when we all start talking about a great gunsmith!
One other world class option would be Jim Stroh at Alpha Precision (http://www.alphaprecisioninc.com/); he does my S&W action work for me and charges around $160 for a Ruger action job.
Michael B
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OK so Saturday we took the Ruger out to shoot. Had some hangups but it basically fired. The hangups consist of having trouble cocking the hammer or not being able to pull trigger DA. After awhile we put it away having fired only about 100 rounds that day.
Left it dirty and took it out the next morning. Could NOT cock the hammer or fire DA- no way to get it working without disassembly. Broke it all the way down and cleaned it all out last night and the action is working fine.
I guess if (or when) it screws up again we'll leave it dirty and send it back to Ruger. I dont' know if the bar is breaking loose or the pawl is screwing up or what.
Very disappointing.
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Jaybeth,
Send it back NOW. Having a firearm that you can't trust is not good. I am a Ruger fan but ALL companies hit a clinker now and again.
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Jaybeth,
Send it back NOW. Having a firearm that you can't trust is not good. I am a Ruger fan but ALL companies hit a clinker now and again.
I agree, except my problem is I live in New Jerksey... I can't ship the gun myself- illegal. My local dealer tells me I may need to get another pistol purchase permit to get my own friggin' gun back after repair. I'm going to talk to another dealer, but that's what we're facing.
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Never heard of a GP doing this. I have owned a couple and they have been 100% reliable. If you can not trace the problem to the ammo, I would for sure send it back!
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I agree, except my problem is I live in New Jerksey... I can't ship the gun myself- illegal. My local dealer tells me I may need to get another pistol purchase permit to get my own friggin' gun back after repair. I'm going to talk to another dealer, but that's what we're facing.
What is the possibility of slipping into MD and doing it from there, even if it is from a gun shop?
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Hazcat, you shouldn't tell anyone (in print) to do something like that, it might be against the law. and so is finding a shooting buddy from MD to help him out. So as the judge says to the jury in court..."You are instructed to disregard that statement".
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Hazcat, you shouldn't tell anyone (in print) to do something like that, it might be against the law. and so is finding a shooting buddy from MD to help him out. So as the judge says to the jury in court..."You are instructed to disregard that statement".
Hey, thanks guys! I dont' think it's a crime to suggest that a crime is the only expedient option- it would still be up to me to actually COMMIT the crime.
Someone suggested I do that with a friend in PA. NO WAY, it's something that's just way too stupid to go to jail over.
I haven't spoken to Ruger yet either. It's probably not the first one that was ever sent to them from Jersey and they probaly know the drill. I've also got an email in to one range I go to a lot who is a big time dealer (sells to PD's and bids federal contracts) They should know.
I'm just disappointed- there are a lot of things a GP is not, but reliable and functional were always a given.
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Hey guys, I was NOT suggesting you break the law. I don't know how NJ law reads. Are you allowed to take your firearm out of state? If so then why could you not send it to be fixed if it malfuctions while out of state?
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Hey guys, I was NOT suggesting you break the law. I don't know how NJ law reads. Are you allowed to take your firearm out of state? If so then why could you not send it to be fixed if it malfuctions while out of state?
You can take them out of state or send them out of state, but you can't get them back. The only way to recieve a handgun in NJ is through a dealer. I think if you OWN it and can prove it with previous pistol permit you're ok (I think IF it was sent from the dealer where you pick it up). If they replace the gun instead of repairing it, I would have to get a new pistol purchase permit to pick up the replacement gun because it has a different serial number.
...and you guys from other states bitch about your gun laws....
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You can take them out of state or send them out of state, but you can't get them back. The only way to recieve a handgun in NJ is through a dealer. I think if you OWN it and can prove it with previous pistol permit you're ok (I think IF it was sent from the dealer where you pick it up). If they replace the gun instead of repairing it, I would have to get a new pistol purchase permit to pick up the replacement gun because it has a different serial number.
...and you guys from other states bitch about your gun laws....
So if I am from NJ and I go hunting in WV and I take my hand gun to either hunt with or as a back up side arm I have to go through the whole permit thing again??
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I'm not sure if you've decided on what to do about your trigger on this Ruger revolver. I have a suggestion. I can't say I'd ever do this myself. But in watching one of the gun programs, it was during a SASS competition and one of the shooters they hi-lighted in the show was talking about how he smooths and loosens up the action of his new revolvers by injecting them with toothpaste and running the action over and over. I think he said he does this like a couple hundred times or more. Then he thoroughly cleans them up and lubricates them as normal. Also, as mentioned, it may just require proper break in time. I would suggest getting a very good lubricant during this time to help that along. Might I also suggest Gun Butter? But yea, the toothpaste thing sounded crazy to me but after I thought about it, I figured that the slight grittiness of toothpaste must finely sand and polish the action? Kind of like a lapping compound?
Anyhow, I hope you get that issue resolved.
G-Meister
I'd rather be tried by 12 then carried by 6!
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So if I am from NJ and I go hunting in WV and I take my hand gun to either hunt with or as a back up side arm I have to go through the whole permit thing again??
Na, na, na. You can bring your own licensed gun home with you, but you can't ride around with it. You have to be enroute from a dealer or a licensed range, or from hunting. Also the rules are a little different for handguns, but honestly, I don't know all the rules. I'm working on it.
I did call Ruger and they said, "SEND IT!" and that I can send it to them, and they can send it back as long as there's a 21 year old there to sign for it. Sounds good.
I also found this on the web:
http://deadbangguns.com/ShippingAlert.html
Sound legitimate.
Uh...and no toothpaste. SOUNDS good- the polishing aspect, but...nope.
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Uh...and no toothpaste. SOUNDS good- the polishing aspect, but...nope.
Um, I don't blame you. I told you I thought it was crazy also. Even though after thinking about it that the grit in it might smooth and polish the action, didn't say I'd do it either. lol I don't blame you. I'm glad you're going to get it resolved. Just to bad you have to be without it, or rather your wife does, in order to get it done. Bummer. But at least they are taking care of it.
G-Meister
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Actualy the toothpaste isn't that dumb an idea, its about the same as jewelers rouge, you want to clean it real well afterward though. Can you imagine getting cought in the rain and haveing your Ruger foaming?
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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!
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Some times buying sight unseen will bite you. ;)
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Some times buying sight unseen will bite you. ;)
Yeah, no kidding. I figured I was safe with what is basically a Ruger GP101. Just goes to show you!
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I have done many Ruger Revolvers in the GP100 series and have all you need to know and do on a format that I can email to you . I guarantee that you will be pleased.
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jaybethel,
I have had to return 2 Ruger Vaquero's and a Red Label. I have more Ruger's than any other single brand but their QC does not seem consistent. One of the Vaquero's had the action lock up and you couldn't cock the hammer. IIRC, Ruger replaced about all the innards on that gun.
I had an Interarms Walther PPK that I had to return twice before it was fixed. At least all three of my Ruger's came back repaired!
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Well, we took the GP161 out today and it operated flawlessly. The sights were way out of whack, but the action was smooth as butter. It is now a very happy gun!
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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.
Jaybethel, if possible, always buy local. Everything mechanical is man made, and sometimes they just don't work like they're supposed to. When you do have a problem, your local dealer is there for you. When you buy local, you keep that local company in business. Your supporting someone in your neighborhood that likes the same things you do.
Most times that guy in the far away town, that is almost always cheaper, you purchased from is after one thing, your money. They figure if they can make a buck off you they will never see you again. I'd be willing to bet that if you bought local and had a problem right off the bat, when you took it back to the dealer, he would have taken care of the problem for you as long as he wasn't the southern end of a north bound horse.
Just my two cents.
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Well, here we go again. The gun was working great. After about 300 rounds now it's started hanging up again where the cylinder won't turn or you can rotate it by assisting it with your hand while you cock the hammer. It started when we were firing some wadcutter factory reloads- there were some steel casings in there and a couple of times it was obviously the particular round that was causing the problem.
Trouble is, we had some hangups as well with regular factory Federal .38 SP. I'm thinking maybe whatever they did at Ruger to fix it is deteriorating as we fire more rounds through it.
It looks like a headroom problem, or maybe a problem with the crane? Granted, the wadcutter ammo sucked- but with factory Federal there shouldn't be a problem- the blackhawk and the S&W 686 worked fine with the same box of Federal, but not the GP161. It's frustrating.
So I actually muttered the phrase, "Maybe we should trade it in and get another one", but wifey wants THAT GP and wants to try to get it fixed or have them replace it.
We're calling Ruger again today.
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Timing problem??
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Timing problem??
Huh?
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Timing problems occur when the sear (?) is not properly engaging the cylinder to advance it. (Saw this on a Midway USA commercial!)
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Could it be crap building up in the ejector star preventing the cases from seating fully, that would act like tight head space.
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If you go to rugerforum.com and go into the gunsmithing or revolver section and find a fellow by the name of Iowagan he has a wonder full book called the IBOK that deals with the GP100 series and it talks about everything from springs and trigger jobs to the barrel throat. He has sent me a copy Via email and also one for the Mk II. I did the work on my Super Redhawk and was just amazed how good the action turned out.
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All good points, although the crap under the ejector I doubt as the thing is always clean as a whistle every time we start shooting and this was after no more than 30 rounds (this session)
I've heard of the IBOK too, and will be looking into that.
The bigthing is this is a BRAND NEW GUN- put about 150 rounds through it and sent it to Ruger. Got it back after they worked it over and put another 150-200 rounds through it and it's screwing up again. I've fired other GP 161 and they would fire all day long with no problems. Very disappointing.
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I only mentioned that because I had JUST been reading an article in this monthes Shooting Times about headspace on revolvers. Really stinks that you are having so much trouble with this gun, the records would probably show that it was built the day before a long weekend or by a new employee :(
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I read the same article..."Hey- that's whats wrong with that gun!"
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I read the same article..."Hey- that's whats wrong with that gun!"
;D
At least you won a shirt .
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I'd rather have a seamless action
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I'd rather have a seamless action
Too EASY but...
Lube helps!(http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/teufel/devil-smiley-024.gif)
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I tried that but then I can't hang on.
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Trade it. Trade it for something else. You don't need the aggravation.