[Waywatcher]

I just acquired a Ruger GP100 4" 357 Magnum. It's fairly new and in very good shape.

If I slowly and deliberately pull the trigger the cylinder sometimes spins too fast and far, either 1 1/2 shots or even skipping a chamber altogether. If I pull at a regular pace or fast pace, it doesnt happen. It never happens is SA at all. It seems as if when you pull the trigger, it reaches a certain point and the gun unlocks the cylinder and spins it at the same time. It's about half the trigger pull, and the cylinder spins freely. But if you pull it just a hair farther the little thing that locks the cylinder pops up.

Is this typical or a timing issue?

[kmrcstintn]

I can achieve the same result when pulling the hammer back to a certain point before cocking it...

there are 2 things that 'lock' the cylinder into the proper firing position; you have the thing that sticks throught the bottom of the frame opening (where the cylinder goes into) that sits above the trigger and you have the thing that sticks out of the back of the frame (where the cylinder goes into); the thing in the bottom 'locks' the cylinder and the thing in the back 'spins' and 'locks' the cylinder;

when the hammer is pulled back part way or the trigger is pulled part way these two things disengage from the 'lock' position and the cylinder can be spun 'freely' (I can rotate the cylinder with my hand over and over without the cylinder 'locking' into position)

seems normal to me; I can achieve this with Smith & Wesson, Taurus, and Rossi double action revolvers also;

***BTW: I do not do this on a regular basis; I sometimes accidentally do it when I ease the hammer down from cocked position when I am evaluating the lockup on a used revolver before a purchase***

[Waywatcher]

Im glad that it's normal and happens on other revolvers. I bet the extra weight of cartridges in it helps to prevent it from happening.

I just took it apart into it's assemblies and cleaned it's internals and put it back together. Wow was that easy! The trigger is noticeably smoother now too! :)

Thanks for the help!

[kmrcstintn]

the ease of disassembly and doing detail cleaning of the Rugers is another great attribute; there is a way to check the timing when reassembling that should put your mind at ease or determine if you truly have a problem...

the first subassembly to be put back into the frame is the cylinder (insert and lock into the frame); the second assembly to be put back is the trigger subassembly (insert and lock into the frame)...

now before replacing the hammer and mainspring subassemblies, pull the trigger several times (this will spin the cylinder through its cycle and the transfer bar will go up when the trigger is pulled and lower when the trigger is released); I did this on a GP-100 I used to own to make sure that the trigger subassembly was properly installed and nothing was binding before completely reassembling the gun