[Angelo]

After reading the "revolver check out" post above, I noticed that the cylinder doesn't match up exactly with the barrel. It's less than a millimeter too far to the right. I have yet to fire this gun so I'm not sure if it will be a problem. The gun in question is a Ruger GP100 bought new from a trusted local dealer.

I'm supposed to go shooting this weekend but I'm not sure it is completely safe.

Here are some pictures for visual aid. In the first three the gun is held upright, like it would be fired. The last one is on it's right side (cylinder release facing towards the ceiling).

http://www.fototime.com/51555BE3D45C6BD/orig.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/BCEBEBBF704443B/orig.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/176CD9FBB4D7DA5/orig.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/7B2BE3D199A6D32/orig.jpg

Any help would be great!

Angelo

[Jim March]

First, I assume these pics were taken with the gun at "full lockup", with your finger still holding the trigger all the way back?

If so, this isn't great, but it's not necessarily disastrous. With the gun still in full lockup, give the cylinder a bit of wiggle, see if it has some "play" in the rotational direction. Then work out if the available play (if present) will allow that alignment to come out right.

A lot of revolvers do the final alignment of the barrel to the cylinder at firing, "shaken into position" by the bullet itself. This isn't a bad thing, but it's not going to produce the very best possible accuracy either.

When you compare to a Colt Python, the Colt action locks the cylinder HARD at "full lockup" and hence the timing had better be spot-on or you're going to shave lead/copper.

Now, don't panic yet, because the "line up the slop on firing" technique can still work out well. What I'd do, assuming there IS some "rotational slop" that will let the gun be fired safely, is to shoot some jacketed 38spl through it first, and check your accuracy. If the group size is down somewhere reasonable, say 4" at 15 yards with El Cheapo jacketed range reloads, then you know the alignment issue isn't all that serious. Shoot at least 18 rounds or so and throw out a flyer or two, cheap ammo will do that regardless of the gun. You then try some better quality loads, some 357s that are known for decent accuracy, and you see what the gun is really capable of group-wise (which you will NOT know for sure with typical cheap practice fodder).

BUT, if accuracy is total moose-doots with the 38 stuff, esp. if there's signs of keyholing (bullets flying sideways make a distinctive mark on paper!) then...you need to have a gunsmith look at it. Ditto if there's no "rotational slop" at all that will allow the alignment to sort itself out in the wash.

[Standing Wolf]

Cylinder slop is normal in both Rugers and Smith & Wessons, and I've looked at a Python or two with slop, too.

If a gun seems to shave lots of lead on one side, I'd have it looked at by a competent gunsmith. There's often some lead around the outside of the forcing cone. Is it all on one side? Is it more or less evenly distributed? Is there a lot of lead and powder residue, or only about as much as other revolvers exhibit?

One of the reasons I like Pythons, is that they lock up tightly just before the trigger falls—but realistically speaking, that doesn't make a large difference in accuracy.

[Angelo]

Thanks!

Yes, the pictures were taken at full lock-up. There is a very small amount of play but it goes in the wrong direction to fix the alignment. Actually, it doesn't really change much at all. I took it to a local gun shop (one I didn't buy it from go to no and then) today and they said it looks fine. He said, in a polite way, that he's seen worse alignment work out just fine and as long as it's not shaving lead I'm good to go. He also said that I'm probably reading too many magazines :) I guess I'll find out tomorrow because I'm going to the range with a couple of friends.

I'll be honest, I'm sure it will be in the back of my mind while I go through the first cylinder.

Thanks again for the help Jim!

Angelo

[Jim K]

Hi, Colt guys,

Don't go on too much about how Colts lock up tight. Just because a cylinder locks up tight doesn't mean it is in proper alignment. Colts with the double step hand can actually force the cylinder too far around and OUT of alignment if the cylinder bolt or the bolt window in the frame is worn.

Jim

[M58]

1. Shoot it.
2. bet it is fine.
3. worry after if it spits or shaves...