Ruger Redhawk Barrel Alignment/Sight Problem

[Billy Jack]

To get my bullet windage on target I had to move the rear sight all the way to the right. Then I noticed that the front sight was not perfectly vertical. The barrel is not fully twisted to line up with the frame of the revolver. By twisting the barrel very slightly (maybe 1-2 degrees) the front sight should vertically align with the frame and therefore the rear sight making a normal sight picture.
I can put the frame in a protected vice and carefully twist the barrel and get everything in alignment. However, before I do that I have a few questions:

1. Is the barrel right hand threaded or left? This will determine whether I will be slightly tightening or slightly loosening the barrel when I turn it in the direction required to align it with the frame.
2. Are the threads installed "dry" or is there some form of adhesive, such as loctite used to secure the barrel. In other words will I need to use some heat to free up the barrel before I turn it?
3. Is this a fairly common or rare situation with revolvers?
4. Unless there is something I am missing this should be fairly simple, just being careful not to scratch the revolver with the tools. I regularly do simple gun repairs and am pretty mechanically inclined. OR is this much more complicated and I should be using a gunsmith.

I thought about calling Ruger but assumed for liability reasons they wouldn't tell me much, just to go to a qualified gunsmith.

 

[rcmodel]

What you are missing is an action wrench that fits the Rugers frame, and a honking big barrel vice.

Ruger barrels are screwed on tighter then the south end of a north bound gnat.
(right hand thread - crush fit - BTW)

And you aren't going to turn the barrel without screwing something up or springing the frame without the proper equipment.

My advice would be to send it back to Ruger and let them fix it under warranty.

rc

 

[BBBBill]

Don't even think about doing that without the proper tooling! A proper frame wrench like the Brownell's or (my favorite) MGW is mandatory. I've seen more that a few frames twisted by trying to turn barrels using the wrong equipment. It only takes a tiny amount of twist to ruin a frame. Ad you cannot untwist it. The barrel is a crush fit and may already be as tight as it can be without distorting the frame and/or barrel threads. Without having done that kind of work, you would not know that you were doing damage until it was too late. Ruger is your best choice (probably free) followed by a qualified revolver smith.

 

[Billy Jack]

WOW...that is why I asked!!

Sounds like I need to either live with it. It does not affect accuracy as the barrel is still concentric to the frame, cylinder, etc. It just has a warped sight picture with the rear sight way to the right of center and no more adjustment left.

OR give Ruger a call and see what they will do.

Unfortunately the gun, although in NEW CONDITION, was manufactured in 2001 and sold to the first owner, I am the 3rd owner.

 

[rcmodel]

It doesn't matter what owner you are.

Call Ruger.

Why No Warranty Card Has Been Packed With Your New Ruger Firearm?
The Magnuson-Moss Act (Public Law 93-637) does not require any seller or manufacturer of a consumer product to give a written warranty. It does provide that if a written warranty is given, it must be designated as "limited" or as "full" and sets minimum standards for a "full" warranty. Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. has elected not to provide any written warranty, either "limited" or "full", rather than to attempt to comply with the provisions of the Magnuson-Moss Act and the regulations issued thereunder. There are certain implied warranties under state law with respect to sales of consumer goods. As the extent and interpretation of these implied warranties varies from state to state, you should refer to your state statutes. Sturm, Ruger & Company wishes to assure its customers of its continued interest in providing service to owners of Ruger firearms.

Notice it doesn't say a thing about "which" owner the owner is.
rc

 

[BBBBill]

^^^^^^ This! Ruger will gladly fix a manufacturer's problem, regardless of which owner.

 

[highlander 5]

I purchased a Redhawk in 45 Colt that the rear sight height adjustment hole was drill off center. Returned it to Ruger and they ended up sending a brand new revolver. ruger will fix almost anything for free short of deliberate abuse.

 

[Billy Jack]

I own six Rugers and now I remember why. They are just a darn good company with great products.
Since there is no hurry, I think I'll wait until fishing season before I give them a call. There are still a mess of hogs to be killed and this little Redhawk with a Green Kill Light seems to do the trick and it's a whole lot of fun.

Thanks to all for the great advice...."JUST CALL RUGER".

 

[BBBBill]

Back when I was in my 20's ( long ago and far away, in a land before time, when dinosaurs roamed the earth) and could not afford S&W or Colt, I bought Rugers. Liked 'em so much that I kept on buying them. So many that I was known as Rugerman far and wide. Still own every one of them.