Dumb Question, maybe.

[Allist816]

It looks like I am going to buy a new Ruger Vaquero SS chambered in .357, but I have what some might think are a couple of goofy questions but I'm new to single action revolvers so bare with me. What I need to know is over time after the gun has been shot a lot, do the screws that hold the gun together start to become lose? Could the gun start to come apart over time do to somewhat heavy usage?

 

[rjrivero]

Not a dumb question. I have never shot the screws off of one of my revolvers. They're usually on pretty good and now a days usually have a dab of locktite to keep things where they should be.

However, if you take the screws out, you will need to make sure you put them back in place with a little locktite to be safe.

 

[dfariswheel]

It's not unusual for a screw to vibrate loose once in a while.

The answer for that is easy: Just buy a decent set of gunsmith screwdrivers so you can keep the screws snugged down.

I strongly recommend the Brownell's Magna-Tip sets.
These are the finest gunsmith drivers made and won't damage your gun like hardware store drivers.
They even make a small set specifically for the Ruger single actions:

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=25459/Product/RUGER_SINGLE_ACTION_SCREWDRIVER

 

[Philc]

Don't worry about a Ruger's screws coming loose. They're pretty solid.

 

[Lar1911]

The vaquero is a great gun, its a strong competition gun.

You will not have a problem with it, think about how many rounds a cowboy competitor runs through it, how many will you.

I own an old model (Birdshead, 3 5/8 barrel) in 45 colt and love it.

 

[owlhoot]

Vaqueros' moving parts are held together with pins. But, yes, any screw is liable to loosen. Tighten all the screws in a gun when you clean it. Buy a screwdriver or bit that fits the screw and has square sides (flat).

 

[zombie44]

On my Ruger gp100 and srh alaskan 44 I do have to watch for the rear site pin coming out after a few hundred rounds or so.

 

[Guillermo]

be sparing with thread locker

 

[Ratdog68]

I have an older 3 screw Super Blackhawk .44mag. A number of years ago, my father wanted it to pack while snowmobiling in the arctic. He complained that it wouldn't hit the broad side of a barn about a year later. Every screw holding the gun together was loose. I snugged 'em all up and everything's been just fine since then. Yes, it can happen.

 

[CraigC]

+1 on the Brownells magna-tip driver sets. You'll need one.

Do any amount of shooting and the grip frame screws as well as the ejector housing screw will invariably work themselves loose. Might even come loose in your first range session. Just put a dab of blue 242 Loctite on each one and let it set overnight.

The hammer, trigger and bolt screwpins on Old Models, Colt's and replicas are usually not a problem.

 

[rcmodel]

Very early Ruger three-screw guns were very bad about shooting the screws loose. Especially the .44 Mag version. I had an early .357 Blackhawk and a screwdriver was as necessary as the ammo when you shot it a lot.

Later on, Ruger started using screws with a palstic thread locker insert that pretty much cured the problem once & for all.

If you insist on taking them apart enough times, the factory thread locker should be replaced with Blue Lock-Tight.

rc

 

[1911Tuner]

The screw that cinches the ejector tube requires tightening on both my .45 caliber New Vaqueros about every 75-100 rounds. I suppose I could cure the problem with a little loc-tite...but it's not a major thing.

 

[BCRider]

Instead of Loctite I'd just check them before each session. Cowboy guns need to be broken down fully for cleaning on a regular enough basis that I've found that it's easier to just live with the need to check the screws after 8 to 10 cylinders worth of shooting. And I would not want to tighten them well enough to avoid them not coming loose by that time since it would mean really tightening the snot out of them to where you're risking the screwdriver kicking out of the slot if not careful or perhaps over time deforming the threads from the torque.

 

[goodtime]

I'm another advocate for the gunsmith screwdriver set. Don't be tempted to use whatever you have on hand already, those screws will bugger!! I've loused up gun screws more than once . . . then guys here advised me to get gunsmithing screwdrivers, now I don't have that problem any more.

My own screws come loose once in a while; I use the amber-colored loctite, and they feel snug again!

 

[Ratdog68]

I'm another advocate for the gunsmith screwdriver set. Don't be tempted to use whatever you have on hand already, those screws will bugger!! I've loused up gun screws more than once . . . then guys here advised me to get gunsmithing screwdrivers, now I don't have that problem any more.

My own screws come loose once in a while; I use the amber-colored loctite, and they feel snug again!

Yup... nuttin' replaces a good set of gunsmithing screw drivers.

What flavor or amber locktite? Bourbon, or Scotch?

 

[Dr.Rob]

Had the screws that mount the grip to the frame on my Vaquero loosen up, but I had been shooting some pretty stout 44 magnum at the time. Nothing came loose.