Ruger Rimfire Autoloader (Mk II) "loose"

[Sixtigers]

Good to meet you all. I've been a member for a while, but have never posted, enjoying instead the revealed wisdoms of fellow enthusiasts.

I've a question some of you 'bullseye' guys might have an answer to:

I've recently picked up a Ruger slabside Target Mk II in stainless. Sweet gun, but unlike my other Mk IIs, the barrel assembly on this one moves slightly when pressure is applied. That is to day: If I hold the firearm in one hand and 'shake' the barrel assembly with the other, the barrel assembly moves, although only very slightly.

I have been told that this is from the pistol being repeatedly and completely field-stripped. Is this true? Is this something that can be fixed?

Normally when I clean my Mk IIs, I remove the bolt only. I don't take the barrel off of the frame.

Can the frame be "tightened" up? I love the gun, but the slight looseness bothers me. Is it as simple as a slight squeeze to the frame sides (braced in a vice), or is it more complicated then that?

Thanks in advance for any help y'all can give me.

 

[TimboKhan]

For gods sake, don't stick it in a vise. Thats a quick way to ruin your gun! I know plenty of people have done so successfully, but it's a bad idea, man.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I tightened mine in a vice OK, but I don't recommend anyone do it. It's easy to mess up.

A easy fix that you might try is to lay a couple strips of plastic electrical tape in the receiver. Easily done, out of sight, and easily replaced.
Sounds Mickey Mouse but it will probably remove that little bit of play.

 

[SGW42]

I don't know, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but when I strip/assemble my Ruger's, it doesn't seem to be the sides of the frame that are applying pressure. The receiver just seats in there and it's that square lug that is keeping it tight. If it's loose then maybe the contact points on the lug and the area in the receiver where it joins up are worn down. Don't know a simple solution to that, maybe call Ruger.

I sure hope striping and assembling the gun too often doesn't wear it out like that. I take mine down after every session!

 

[Brian Williams]

Are you talkling about the barrel to receiver fit or the receiver fit to the frame.
The barrel is press fit into the receiver it it is loose it could be a real problem but if you just have a problem between the receiver and the frame it could probably be adjusted. IMNSHO Call Ruger and have them fix it.

 

[lite-box]

Send it to Ruger, they will fix right for free.

Looseness is from the upper ( recvr-bbl assy ) being removed from lower ( grip frame ) too many times.

 

[lindermant]

take a look at this link, I've read where a few folks who've installed the blast shield had a much tighter upper/lower fit.

 

[RecoilRob]

I tightened mine with a few light taps with a centerpunch on the pad. Slightly raises a bit of metal on each punch to hold it tightly. Doesn't take much to make it snug and I have mine tight enough to need a tap with plastic mallet to seat properly. No wiggle at all.

 

[51Cards]

Gosh --- I had the opposite problem with a Mk III. It required a mallet to take the barreled action off the frame. I re-fitted it, but it took a lot of work to get it to "quite snug but easily removable."

There are a bunch of little parts in there that benefit from thorough cleaning, and are only really easy to reach taken down.