Ruger New Vaquero mini-advisory

[moewadle]

This apparently is not a common problem with this model but if it helps one person it will be worth this entry. I bought a brand new New Vaquero in mid-July in .45 Colt. Sometimes the system would work okay and shoot nicely, other times it would lock up with live rounds in it. Trying to make a longer story shorter I thought I was experiencing base pin "jump" from the recoil. I bought new custom base pin from Belt Mountain in Montana...it is slightly larger in diameter and has a set screw to hold it in place. It seemed to do the job at first but I still had the problem. Yesterday, took it to the range and started to load the cylinder and with four live ones in the cylinder would not turn. So, I thought I probably should clean it better. Had to remove the cylinder to get it unloaded. Cleaned it thoroughly. Today, same brand of ammo it happened again. So, I took it to a gunsmith. By this time I was starting to figure out that the facing, or recoil shield, whatever you call it, directly behind the cylinder had not been polished or machined down enough. It was close so some brands of ammo might work and others maybe not or maybe a mixed thing with any brand of ammo. So, the gunsmith checked it out and said he thought that was exactly what was going on, that Ruger had not polished it down enough. He tried to do some polishing so I would not have to send it off to Ruger but called me and said that it needs too much polishing to get the clearance correct and that I should send it off. So, that is what I will do. I am telling you this so you don't go through what I did. When I first had the problem with I was at the range and could not get the cylinder out and could not operate the mechanism at all and had 3 LIVE rounds in it. I took it to a gunsmith who took it apart and told me that he could not find anything wrong with the gun. I paid him $18, not a lot, and now paying this gunsmith, and now finally shipping it to Ruger. So, if you have this problem it is slightly possible that your frame needs some work also. Today's gunsmith told me that his shop has sold many of these Rugers like this and have never seen this problem before and have never seen any either, by the way, with problems involving base pin jump. For what it is worth.......that is it.

 

[Cosmoline]

Base pin jumps are common to the breed, which is why they make locking ones. As far as the tolerances, what kind of ammo were you having problems with?

 

[moewadle]

Yesterday and today

I was using American but I have used Ultramax and I also use a "remanufactured " one out of a company in Connecticutt. I cannot say that only one brand causes this but yesterday and today it was the American brand. I do not think I have ever had this problem with the reloaded stuff out of Connecticutt. I think possibly it happened with the Ultramax. By the way....has anyone else ever had this problem???

 

[BBBBill]

I've had all kinds of trouble out of the American ammo. I must say the only caliber in that brand that I've shot is 38 Special. I now avoid it like the plague.

 

[asknight]

I wouldn't get my Ruger frame hacked on for one specific load, especially for Amerc. Try some Remington, Winchester, Federal, PMC, or other well established and reputable brand before doing something as drastic as machining out a frame.

 

[Master Blaster]

You just named the two worst brands of ammo availible, in terms of the components used and the care taken in their assembly.

The American brand is known for high primers (dragging on the recoil sheild anyone?), and out of spec cases.

 

[moewadle]

I sent it off

to Ruger yesterday. The gunsmith also tried Winchester in the gun and same problem. In reference to a remark above I will have to say that the factory doing some more machining can hardly be called "hacking."

I will let you all know what Ruger does.

 

[ktd]

I am sure hacking was just meant in the colloquial sense. It's just that some gun problems might actually be ammo related. Sometimes it is even user related, I have fixed more than one gun by simply cleaning them. And besides, sometimes the factory fix is pretty much a hack job, (though Ruger has a pretty good rep) I have seen some pretty bad repairs from the factory.

As far as cylinder binding, I have usually seen them on DA revolvers, and the problem was usually in the crane bearing surface. S&W also had a cylinder bind recall on 686's a while back, I think that was the firing pin bushing.