Ruger MKIII Stuck

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rhtwist

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Hello,
Don't know how I did it, but I did it. First disassembly for cleaning and reassembly......... The pistol is now assembled, but you can't retract the bolt more than an inch or so, can't get the disassemble lever once unlocked to come out more than 3/4".
Can close it and use the lock lever. But it is stuck in that condition. Obviously I messed up. Since I can't take the locking lever out, I can't drive the pin out.
Had a lot of trouble getting the pin in.
Please help!
Thanks for any advice or instructions on how get the pistol apart!
rhtwist
 
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The same thing happened to me the second time putting my MKIII back together. I took it back to my LGS and the Smith found I had some how managed to break the firing pin. It ended up going back to Ruger who repaired and sent it back. From what I was told by Ruger, it happens so often they allow all owners one free trip back to be repaired. Hopefully your issue is not the same.
 
It sounds like you missed getting the hammer strut in the mainspring guide in the blackstrap.
So now there is no way to cock the hammer to allow the bolt to open.

Try putting an empty mag in it to deactivate the mag safety.
(Oops! You said MkII and it doesn't have a mag safety!)

Then point the barrel straight down, pull the trigger, and try to get the hammer to fall all the way foreword.
Then, you should be able to open the take-down latch and take it apart.

rc
 
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Howdy skt239,
I sure hope it is not that bad. Sorry to hear of your problem. Glad Ruger resolved it for you.
A definite pain, thanks for your response!
rhtwist
 
Hello rc and thanks for the response! BTW it is a MKIII, just fixed the title. It is not immediately effective. But I will continue trying. Seems stuck still in the exact place.
Oh and the bolt won't retract much more like 3/4 of an inch.......
Best,
rhtwist
 
RC is right, the hammer strut is stuck. Try wrapping the barrel with a towel and then while holding the trigger depressed, bang the barrel on a hard surface like the floor or a table. Keep trying to pull the mainspring housing out after each couple of blows. Don't worry, this is doable and does not have to involve a gunsmith.

Good luck!
 
Hammer strut.
I can picture exactly what is wrong in there. (because I've done it myself)

You'll need a padded but firm surface to bonk the muzzle off of.
A mousepad on a sturdy desk, a phonebook, a couple layers of terrycloth on a 4x4 ... you get the idea.
You're going to feel really wierd banging your nice gun on something - that's normal.


Make 100000% sure the chamber is clear
Stuff in an EMPTY magazine (stupid magazine interlock)
Take the safety lever to "less safe"
Pull the trigger firmly to unlock the hammer/sear, but the hammer will not fall because the hammer strut is not in the mainspring housing
Keep pulling the trigger, all the way back
Bonk the muzzle firmly against your padded workbench (or similar)

If that doesn't work, repeat with a helper that trusts you whacking the muzzle with a rubber mallet or plastic dead-blow hammer. That feels even more strange, by the way.

===

Once you have it apart again, check for broken/bent pins.
(don't panic if the hammer strut looks a bit dinged up, so long as it's straight)
(if you managed to crack the sear pin, you may get interesting malfunctions, PM me if that one is damaged, and/or get in contact with Ruger on the phone)

CLP spray the heck out of the little bitty pivot pin the hammer strut dangles on, then spray most of that lube out with air. It should dangle freely.

Re-assemble per the instructions, paying particular attention to the last moment of mainspring housing latching. If it doesn't feel springy at the last bit, you've got the hammer strut somewhere other than the MSH again.

===

You CAN do it, and once you inderstand how all the little fiddly bits in there interact, this will seem simple. The learning curve on these Ruger rimfire pistols is steep.
 
If you haven't already 86'd the mag disconnect "safety", then I'd recommend doing so as soon as you get this resolved.
 
Take a lookhere.
The MK-III is a wonderful pistol and will probably outlive you, it's just a little quirky in the re-assembly. Once you get the hang of it, it's not too bad.
 
It sounds like you missed getting the hammer strut in the mainspring guide in the blackstrap.
So now there is no way to cock the hammer to allow the bolt to open.
Click to expand...

This. I think we've all done it before. Just take it apart and make sure it is pointing up during that part of assembly to get the hammer strut down and in the backstrap.
 
The MK III makes it a little harder do over the MK II due to the mag disconnect, as you have to remove, then re-insert the mag. There are ways to remove the mag disconnect, and I would recommend that for any MK III, and also replacing the LCI with a blank. It really isn't difficult if you follow the manual, or watch a youtube vid.
 
Hello and thank you to all that have responded. I sincerely went about it!!!
First I noted that the trigger would not pull all the way. I tried it with and without the magazine in it. The only thing that allows the trigger it's full travel rearward is if I pull the bolt out as far as it goes. It will then depress fully.
This occurs with or without the magazine in.
Secondly I have done it until my hands are scratched and bleeding. The locking lever seems to be much more free when it is in and latched than it was before.
But it will still not come undone............
Maybe these symptoms will allow the informed members to suggest something else or more of the same!
Thanks again,
rhtwist
 
AFter you get the trigger pulled, you have to remove the magazine to continue.
 
Can you post a PIC/ I am confused as to your exact problem. Believe me we all who own Ruger MK pistols have done and fixed your exact problem, we just need a bettr definition and a pic would help.
 
Yes Sir, I can open the locking lever latch and pull the lever out about 1/2 an inch and no more. So I can not open the locking lever enough to pull the pin out.
Thanks for your reply!
rhtwist
 
340PD said:
Can you post a PIC/ I am confused as to your exact problem. Believe me we all who own Ruger MK pistols have done and fixed your exact problem, we just need a bettr definition and a pic would help.
Click to expand...
Will try to get a picture up. Ruger service advised the phone book and my hand is bleeding much worse now........ They suggest it may be stuck enough to need factory repair!
Darn...
rhtwist
 
Pique

Thanks for all the suggestions and ideas but nothing worked. So I pulled the sear and hammer pivot pins and this freed up whatever was binding. The locking lever easily came out and I disassembled the pistol. Of course now I am left with a lot more parts than I planned on.
Since the pistol is apart are there any recommendations for things like replacement parts or polishing to smooth out the trigger pull?
Going to be fun getting it all back together if it is even possible for me!!

Best,
rhtwist
 
I believe Volquartsen is pretty much the go-to company when it comes to Ruger Mark parts. They make all sorts of cool stuff - you'll want the drop in accurizing kit with the Mark II hammer bushing, which will remove the magazine disconnect safety and improve the trigger pull.

I also bought the competition bolt, because I haaaaated the ears on the standard Mark III bolt. There are other ways to solve the problem that aren't quite as expensive, but I like the end result.
 
Howdy UpperAtmosphere,
Thanks and I will take a look at the site. Maybe find something I can't live without :evil:

Regards,
rhtwist
 
I can tell you EXACTLY what is wrong.

You are letting the hammer strut get caught behind the frame pin when you reassemble it. The symptom of this is that you can only retract the bolt half-way.

Follow the instructions, including pointing the pistol up when you swing the MSH back in.

If you can't get the MSH back out, use a punch and a mallet to drive it on its path to swing out of the grip.
 
Howdy,
Well as noted, I did get it apart. But assembly is going to be more intense because of the method I employed.
Thanks for the response.
rhtwist
 
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