Ruger 57 trigger malfunction

[twarr1]

On my second outing with the new Ruger 57, I experienced a trigger malfunction. Pulled the trigger, “click”, then nothing. I waited the requisite 30 seconds, ejected the cartridge; no firing pin indention.
The failure occurred repeatedly, I could pull the trigger, click, and nothing. More strangely, I could pull the trigger again, even though the gun hadn’t cycled. I put it away and later field disassembled the pistol. This is what I found;
Normally, the trigger bar pushes a tang on the sear forward to release the hammer. But in my case it was sliding under the tang.
The safety works by lowering the trigger bar so it can't contact the sear. Perhaps the spring is weak or broken? Since it's barely a month old, I don't want to disassemble it further than the field strip. It's on Ruger.
I also discovered the entire trigger group flexes, the trigger bar flexes to the outside of the frame, and the sear appears to twist on its pin.
To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. I’m sure the gun will go back to Ruger, and they’ll make it work, but I’m concerned about this design and the seemingly poor execution of manufacturing.

Ruger already has 1 open recall on the 57 because of possible unseen breakage of the safety lever/shaft. I checked my gun before I purchased it to make sure it wasn’t subject to the recall. Little did I know there may soon be a 2nd recall.

Video:https://www.ammoreference.com/docs/trigger.mp4

 

[AJC1]

If you actually found ammunition for that it must make you terribly sad.

 

[twarr1]

@AJC1 - I found several boxes for $52. A lot better than that first box at $71!

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

Sorry to hear about your Ruger 57 issue. My pistol is subject to the open recall however mine has been perfect from day 1 and it functions as it should so I am not planning to send it back.

I am not sure what your exact issue is BUT I am positive Ruger will repair it to be a safe reliable weapon and will give you years and years of service.

 

[Riomouse911]

That stinks. I love Ruger stuff, I really do, but with the variety of issues all across their product lines sometimes I’m wondering if a troupe of clowns has taken over the assembly lines and final inspection stations (I had to send a brand new stainless 10/22 International back to Ruger in March for a stock screw that wasn’t threaded correctly.)

Hopefully the issue with your 5 7 pistol is an easy fix that isn’t repeated. Your first post was full of happiness with the new gun and I would love to see it return 100% from the shop.

Good luck!

Stay safe.

 

[twarr1]

I’ve heard suggestions that Ruger cross train some of their customer service people in QA. May be a good idea.
Comparing my 357 Blackhawk revolver made in 1976 to the new 57, it seems like 2 totally different manufacturers. In reality I suppose it is.
Yes, they’re totally different guns, but the difference in quality is remarkable.

 

[JohnKSa]

Ruger, as a company, had a major philosophy shift once there was no longer a Ruger running it. The changes are not all bad, although my opinion is that overall it tends more toward bad than good. I haven't crossed them off my list; I just don't see them in the same light I did once.

 

[erazor55]

Ruger, as a company, had a major philosophy shift once there was no longer a Ruger running it. The changes are not all bad, although my opinion is that overall it tends more toward bad than good. I haven't crossed them off my list; I just don't see them in the same light I did once.

On my second outing with the new Ruger 57, I experienced a trigger malfunction. Pulled the trigger, “click”, then nothing. I waited the requisite 30 seconds, ejected the cartridge; no firing pin indention.
The failure occurred repeatedly, I could pull the trigger, click, and nothing. More strangely, I could pull the trigger again, even though the gun hadn’t cycled. I put it away and later field disassembled the pistol. This is what I found;
Normally, the trigger bar pushes a tang on the sear forward to release the hammer. But in my case it was sliding under the tang.
The safety works by lowering the trigger bar so it can't contact the sear. Perhaps the spring is weak or broken? Since it's barely a month old, I don't want to disassemble it further than the field strip. It's on Ruger.
I also discovered the entire trigger group flexes, the trigger bar flexes to the outside of the frame, and the sear appears to twist on its pin.
To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. I’m sure the gun will go back to Ruger, and they’ll make it work, but I’m concerned about this design and the seemingly poor execution of manufacturing.

Ruger already has 1 open recall on the 57 because of possible unseen breakage of the safety lever/shaft. I checked my gun before I purchased it to make sure it wasn’t subject to the recall. Little did I know there may soon be a 2nd recall.

Video:https://www.ammoreference.com/docs/trigger.mp4

View attachment 1023749

Incredible! I have the same issue with my 57. First time out, ~50-55 rounds it was fine, then exactly what you had happen. Already shipped it back, and has beenreceived by Ruger, I'll have to come back and post what they found. Great video by the way.

I found that when field stripped, if I pulled the hammer all the way back with my thumb, the trigger would then release it.

 

[twarr1]

It looks to me like the trigger bar/sear mechanism isn’t rigid enough to finish cocking the hammer. I’m very curious how Ruger is going to resolve the issue.
@erazor55 - Let us know what Ruger says. I’ll do the same

 

[edwardware]

I don't have one. . . but what you described sounds very much like it doubles as an out-of-battery disconnector, with a boss in the underside of the slide depressing the bar so it misses the sear, and a cutout letting the bar rise only at full battery.

Have another look, I'll bet you can figure it. Even if you send it, you should do your own diag first.

 

[erazor55]

They replaced the trigger bar on mine. I'll have to get back to the range and see how it goes.

 

[twarr1]

@erazor55 I’d be interested to know if the repair changes the trigger feel much, and your general thoughts on the repair.
I haven’t heard from Ruger since they said they had received it about a week ago.
I plan to really go over it when it arrives. It’ll take a lot of time and rounds to trust it. To be honest, I think maybe a new trigger bar is the cheap fix. But I’m not a gunsmith or firearms engineer. I wish it had been GTG and as reliable as my SR9.
I really don’t like badmouthing Ruger, but the 57 has only been out a little over 2 years and this is the 3rd problem with them;
Safety lever issue
Bad trigger pins
Trigger bar issue.

 

[erazor55]

@erazor55 I’d be interested to know if the repair changes the trigger feel much, and your general thoughts on the repair.
I haven’t heard from Ruger since they said they had received it about a week ago.
I plan to really go over it when it arrives. It’ll take a lot of time and rounds to trust it. To be honest, I think maybe a new trigger bar is the cheap fix. But I’m not a gunsmith or firearms engineer. I wish it had been GTG and as reliable as my SR9.
I really don’t like badmouthing Ruger, but the 57 has only been out a little over 2 years and this is the 3rd problem with them;
Safety lever issue
Bad trigger pins
Trigger bar issue.

@twarr1 Yes, I have to admit I was really shocked that my first outing with this pistol had a failure. More surprised when I saw a post here of the exact failure I had. I don't know if the trigger bar was out of spec or not. I'll be interested to see if they performed the same repair on yours. I've always heard such stellar reports of Ruger firearms in general, I'll have to watch and see if there is an official notice or recall from them regarding the trigger bar.

 

[twarr1]

My 57 was returned from Ruger today. The invoice says they replaced the trigger bar. I inspected it and the new trigger bar definitely looks to be a higher quality part. It doesn’t have rough tool marks like the old one.
The trigger feels the same. I fired 20 rounds through it without issues.
I’ll see how it performs over the long haul as ammunition (hopefully) become more available. I really want to like this gun! The accuracy is outstanding.

 

[twarr1]

. . but what you described sounds very much like it doubles as an out-of-battery disconnector, with a boss in the underside of the slide depressing the bar so it misses the sear, and a cutou

@edwardware - You’re right. I looked at the slide and it does have a boss that pushes the trigger bar down when out of battery.