Ruger .357 question

[No Face]

I recently recived a gift from my father in the form of a Ruger .357 "new model" blackhawk. He picked it up from a local pawnshop for 175 dollars. The thing is old, I was blued at one point but it's been reduced to a dull gun metal sheen. The small rod which secures the cartiage to the gun is only pushed about a third of the way in. When I compared it to pictures I found online, it struck me as odd. All the weapons pictured show this rod pushed all the way into the gun. I'm able to extend the rod out when the cartiage is ejected, but I can only push it in about an inch. I have no expierence with revolvers, and my father is in the same boat. We don't want to force it in for fear we'll break something. Does anyone have advice?

 

[Jim March]

What do you mean by "cartiage"? That's...well, it's not even a word...

Are you talking about the base pin? The "axle" on which the cylinder turns?

 

[Bill_G]

you absolutely need to take it to a gunsmith to check over the ENTIRE pistol.

lord knows if the thing is safe to shoot.

 

[No Face]

After looking at this
http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/PDF/PartsBooklets/D3.pdf It's part number MR02900D.

I believe the part in question is the base pin, which seems to get stuck about an inch down. Sorry for my vauge terms.

 

[Jim March]

Try this: open the loading gate, and while jiggling/wiggling/rotating the cylinder try pushing the base pin in deeper. Be gentle, don't force anything.

 

[Tom C.]

What I find is that if the base pin won't go back in, it usually means there is crud, like a bristle from a cleaning brush, in the hole preventing the pin from going in. Take the base pin out, pull the cylinder and run a .22 cal brush through the cylinder base pin hole, then reinsert it in the frame and try again to seat the base pin.

 

[Majic]

The head of the base pin has a cutout that fits the contour of the barrel. Look and see if the base pin has been spun around and this cutout no longer rests against the barrel.

 

[cdrt]

I had a Blackhawk with some issues a few years ago. I sent it to Ruger and not only did they fix all the problems for free, they reblued the revolver to boot.

If you continue to have problems, I would recommend sending it to them.

 

[No Face]

Majic is correct, the cut out is at a weird angle, But I cannot get it to budge. I'm thinking about using a pair of pliers to get it loose, but that exactly what the problem is. Thanks so much for your help everyone.

 

[No Face]

Ah Ha! Problem solved, thanks again everybody.