Putting a Ruger sp101 through its paces

[Cump]

I have a new Ruger sp101 with a factory cosmetic defect that I will be sending back to Ruger to clean up. Before I do, I want to do what I can to make sure there are no other issues to report for service. I'm relatively new to revolvers: do you have any suggestions for what I should put her through to test function. I'm planning on the obvious: double and single action fire, rapid fire, a variety of bullet weights. Anything else?

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Revolvers are pretty simple to use, so if it shoots point of aim at the distance you desire you are probably fine. I guess you could check the barrel cylinder gap to make sure it's in spec.

When you have the trigger pulled, check that the gun is in full lockup, though a tiny bit of cylinder shake from side to side is normal in these guns. The cylinder should NOT move up and back though hardly at all. I mean barely noticible.

Honestly the SP101 is a pretty stout little gun. Though I understand your concern given the obvious problem you have shown in your other thread.

When you get it back, Mother's Mag Polish can do wonders on the finish if you like shine on your guns.

 

[REB]

If its the one with the frame beveled on one side my guess is your not getting the same one back so it doesn't matter. They will just replace that one.

 

[Cump]

My understanding from the customer service rep was that they would not replace the firearm for a cosmetic defect, though I might be offered some form of compensation. Maybe I got the wrong idea. I'd be sending it in to have the factory smooth out the defect, rather than take the risk of doing it myself.

Before I do, I want to make sure there's nothing else going on before I send it in.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Some minimum wage monkey will knock down the other side of the frame with a file in about 30 seconds and send it back.

 

[19-3Ben]

Some minimum wage monkey will knock down the other side of the frame with a file in about 30 seconds and send it back.

Based on the customer service i've received from Ruger, the "monkeys" they have are actually darn good, well trained monkeys. I'd bet they can ride bicycles and everything. They do good work there. No need to knock their techs.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

No need to knock their techs.

I didn't say it would be an incompetent monkey....Of course one could argue that there is at least two incompetent monkeys there:

1.) The one that mess up the OP's gun.
2.) The one that inspected it.

It seems like Rugers QC is slipping at least on the SP line. I believe there is a recent thread on poor rifling in a recently purchased SP.

 

[tomrkba]

Tell them to double check function because you "think there is a problem and it does not work correctly." Do not say it is because you cannot shoot the gun well!

 

[REB]

I think all the manufactures quality is suffering a little during the panic.

If its as bad as it appears in your second picture I think they should replace it but it is hard to really tell from your picture.

Run lots of ammo through it both single action and double action to make sure there are no functional problems. Check the barrel cylinder gap, I have seen several that were to tight. I like the BC gap around .006", anything less than .004" is too tight IMHO. They are really tough little revolvers and not much goes wrong with them.

 

[Waveski]

If I were in your shoes I would not shoot the Ruger at all until you have resolved the defect issue. Not for concern of safety , but it is a matter of acceptance.

Analogy : you buy a pricey bottle of wine , pull the cork and taste the contents , and decide that the wine is off. If , before returning the defective product to the retailer you consume half of it , the seller will be reluctant to give you credit - after all , it was good enough that you partook of it , right?

Decide on your course of action with Ruger ; take something else to the range. 'Ski

 

[Cump]

Ruger suggested I check it for function, and I don't think it was a trick to get out of replacing the pistol. In terms of the defect, essentially we are talking about a rounded edge that should be square. They seemed unlikely to replace the gun for that alone, and I'm not sure I want them to: the rifling looks good, look-up and timing seem good, etc. But, if I were to find another issue, it would help determine my course of action, and perhaps the multiple issues would make them compliant.

 

[REB]

I have sent a couple of Rugers back to the factory over the years after running quite a few rounds through them. I have never had an issue. While their QC may be lacking at times they have never given me any problems with making it right.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Tell them to double check function because you "think there is a problem and it does not work correctly." Do not say it is because you cannot shoot the gun well!

Where did you get that the OP can't shoot the gun well? That isn't the issue here at all. It a discussion of checking a gun thoroughly, prior to sending it in to fix a cosmetic defect that came from the factory to ensure there are no other problems with the gun.

If I were in your shoes I would not shoot the Ruger at all until you have resolved the defect issue. Not for concern of safety , but it is a matter of acceptance.

Analogy : you buy a pricey bottle of wine , pull the cork and taste the contents , and decide that the wine is off. If , before returning the defective product to the retailer you consume half of it , the seller will be reluctant to give you credit - after all , it was good enough that you partook of it , right?

This is nonsense. Guns are durable goods, not a consumable product like food or drink. Ammunition on the other hand is a consumable. If there is a cosmetic defect on a car you buy new off the lot, and you want the car maker or dealership to fix that defect, do you think they are going to say "Well I'm sorry sir, even though the metal was not finished properly, which could only be the mistake of the manufacturer, you've been driving this car. We just won't fix it now or offer you compensation." Of course not. That's silly.

And if a manufacturer of any durable good said something like that to me, that product would be sold off, and I would never buy another product from that company.

 

[Waveski]

Kodiak , I respectfully disagree with your assertion that my position is nonsense. Elective use of the product implies acceptance. I get the impression that the owner of the SP in question is unwilling accept the flaw. (If it were me , I would not accept it.) Therefore , it is in his interest to refrain from putting the flawed product into use until the issue is resolved with the manufacturer.

That said , it is my impression that this thread has run its' course. I will be interested to know what Ruger has to say about this matter.

'Ski

 

[Zaydok Allen]

If the flaw was pointed out to the purchaser at the time of purchase, and sold as a factory blemished gun, perhaps at a discount, I'd agree with you.

If the seller recieved the gun from the factory/distributor as a factory blemished gun, and then knowingly sold it to the purchaser at the normal markup, it would be the sellers fault. Ruger's records should indicate under which category it left the factory. If this is the case, it is up to the purchaser to seek compensation from the seller.

Since the purchaser/OP has notified Ruger of the problem, and expressed non-acceptance of the flaw, use of the item, especially since it is a cosmetic defect only, would not imply acceptance, since the OP informed Ruger of the problem.

It is still up to Ruger to either make it right, or not. They certainly have the right to say "Sorry, you bought it." I doubt very much Ruger will do that though as they have an excellent rep for customer service." That's why I made the statement

And if a manufacturer of any durable good said something like that to me, that product would be sold off, and I would never buy another product from that company.

your assertion that my position is nonsense

Sorry if I sounded like a jerk. Didn't mean to. Too much coffee this morning.

 

[beag_nut]

I think all the manufactures quality is suffering a little during the panic.

If its as bad as it appears in your second picture I think they should replace it but it is hard to really tell from your picture.

Run lots of ammo through it both single action and double action to make sure there are no functional problems. Check the barrel cylinder gap, I have seen several that were to tight. I like the BC gap around .006", anything less than .004" is too tight IMHO. They are really tough little revolvers and not much goes wrong with them.

What picture?

 

[REB]

its in a different thread.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=747160

 

[tomrkba]

[QUOTE
Tell them to double check function because you "think there is a problem and it does not work correctly." Do not say it is because you cannot shoot the gun well!
][/QUOTE]

There are these things called jokes...

 

[Tony_the_tiger]

Mine had an issue where the cylinder stop lug on the frame would prevent total ejection of a cartridge if the cylinder was angled so that the cartridge was adjacent to the lug on the frame.

Which is to say: put some brass in there, cylinder open, point the muzzle down, and make sure your cylinder retention stop on the frame is not catching the cartridge rim in any way when you try to eject.

You can also check the clock angle of your barrel by checking the front sight and making sure it aligns with the rear sight...

Have a peak at the forcing cone and make sure it is finished symmetrically...

Maybe shoot it and see what sort of primer hits you are getting.

otherwise, go to revolver check out thread.