How much forcing cone erosion is too much?

[Shak3s1977]

I got my dad's 6 inch GP100 a few years back. This gun has seen a lot of use. The forcing cone is showing some serious cracks. Is it time to have it sent off and fixed? Gun is super accurate but I'm worried it may let loose and possibly injure someone.

Thoughts? Also any idea on cost of a new barrel? It's not really a warranty issue, just well used and worn out gun. I would like to get it fixed and continue shooting it.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

In my opinion that revolver needs to be re-barreled.

If it were mine, I would, in this order:
Send the pics to Ruger. They may agree to re-barrel it for a nominal fee. I don't know what the chances of retaining the accuracy would be.

Or purchase a used barrel. What or one of the gun cutter-uppers will have one.
Then contact a local smith to get it mounted. Better chance of having good accuracy.

Or, send the revolver and a replacement barrel to a custom maker. In several months, or years, you have the revolver you always wanted.

 

[ontarget]

That one is way past time to replace the barrel. It looks like like it's already started to bell out from the cracks, making barrel removal much more difficult.
There is no way I'd put another round through it until it was repaired.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I agree with the others.

I can say with mine, when I called Ruger all they would say was we will put a new barrel on it for $250.00. They will also take any spring modifications back out of your gun that you may have put in it and send it back to you so you have to start all over again with the trigger. I don't know how much their price has gone up, that was a few years ago.

Numrich's only has a 3" stainless barrel for a GP100. They're used and you don't know what your getting for sure.

Mine is getting the same way, but it's not as bad as yours is.

Yours should have been changed out before it got that bad.

 

[Anchorite]

I agree with what the others have said and offered. Out of curiosity do you know what the load was that your dad favored that might have led to this? Or just years of shooting?

 

[stonebuster]

I wouldn't shoot that gun in the condition it's in. I would have Ruger do the rebarreling. Contact customer service and provide them with the pictures. They're very easy to deal with. It also would be a good opportunity, if you favor a different barrel length, to have them put on the barrel you want.

 

[5-SHOTS]

I don't know if a good gunsmith can re-cut the forcing cone, re-machine the throat and lathe the outside of the barrel to recover the section cut in the forcing cone and ensure that the barrel screws correctly back and aligned into the frame and that the cylinder gap is back to factory specifications. But ultimately, I don't know how cost-effective it is compared to shipping the revolver directly to Ruger and having them do everything.

 

[eddiememphis]

I'll be less concerned about erosion than with the giant crack about 1 o'clock it looks like it goes completely through the barrel and continues around the outside.

As others have said, that barrel is junk.

 

[buck460XVR]

I would like to get it fixed and continue shooting it.

Then get it fixed and continue shooting it. But don't continue shooting it the way it is. If your dad bought that gun new, he definitely got his monies worth out of it. Contact Ruger and have them give you an estimate for the re-barrel. Then you can decide if it's worth it to you to still be able to shoot dad's gun.