Ruger Single Action Frame Defects?

[IrvJr]

Hi Folks,

I recently discovered that my new, recent-production Ruger Super Blackhawk has a hole in its cast frame near where the loading gate is installed. I posted pictures and details about the hole in a previous thread,

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=193580&highlight=hole+ruger+frame

Last night, I disassembled my Ruger Single Six (also a recent production gun) and discovered a similar hole in my Single Six's frame, except this hole was actually bigger/longer than the hole in my Super Blackhawk! I haven't disassembled my Blackhawk yet (it's an older production gun) but I wouldn't be surprised to find a hole in it as well.

I'm curious to see how common these holes are in Ruger guns. A fellow over on RugerForum.com reported that he has a Vaquero (old style, larger frame) with this hole. Another fellow over on sixgunner.com reports holes on his Blackhawk .45 Colt and his Single Six. I'm guessing it's a fairly common issue with these cast frames.

Has anyone else disassembled their gun and noticed this defect in their Ruger single action revolver? If so, have you had any long term problems with your guns due to these holes (i.e., have these holes gotten any bigger)? Is yours a recent or older production gun?

 

[dfariswheel]

These holes are not that uncommon on ANY single action frame.

I've seen similar holes in Italian made single actions, and even in the Colt Single Actions.

These holes don't have any effect on durability or reliability, and the average owner never even sees them.

The area where these appear is extremely thin, and it's not unusual for the casting or even a forged and milled frame to break through.

Other than the cosmetic aspect, it's a non-issue.

 

[JohnKSa]

I'm not sure that it's really a flaw. It may very well be that it's supposed to be like that.

I have owned several pistols that show similar cut-throughs that are intentional. I don't mean "intentional" in the sense that they design their guns with cut-throughs, I mean "intentional" in the sense that the factory realizes it's there and either WANTS it to be there or ACCEPTS it's existence as a required (or likely) consequence of some other necessary feature.

Anyway, given that you have to remove the loading gate before this particular "flaw" is even visible, it's possible you're being a bit too critical here...

All of you guys who answered "no" to this poll need to go back and read the referenced thread a bit more carefully and look at the picture very carefully as well. I think a lot of people answered "no" without realizing that it is necessary to disassemble the gun before the cut-through is visible.

 

[whiskey]

I have seen it on 3 of the Ruger single actions I own/owned. I didn't worry about it.

 

[ewb45acp]

I examined my 3...

A Super Blackhawk, and Vaquero. Both less than 1 year old. And a 25 year old single six. No holes that don't belong.

 

[defender48]

Never saw it before, very interesting.
What year and model is it?

 

[IrvJr]

Hi Folks,

Thanks for the responses - now that our big family Easter dinner is over (and everything is cleaned up) I can follow up on this thread...

I believe my Super Blackhawk was made in 2004 (the fired casing that was included with the gun was dated from 2004). I think my Single Six is also a recent production gun (2004? 2005?) because it also came with a fired casing in a sealed envelope. I haven't checked the date on the Single Six's envelope, but these "ballistic fingerprinting" laws which require the fired casing have only been in effect for a couple of years in places like NY and MD.

I first noticed the hole because the loading gate on my SBH was stuck and I could not easily open it or close it. I disassembled the gun and noticed the hole and thought that the hole was causing the sticking problem. I thought the loading gate might be rubbing against a burr on the hole.

I posted over on the Ruger Forum about my problem and included a picture of the hole. Someone at Ruger Forum said he had an identical problem (sticky loading gate) and also discovered the hole in his Vaquero. He told me that the hole was probably NOT causing the sticking gate but that I should check the gate spring. It turns out that he was right - the tip of the loading gate spring, which was improperly fit on my gun, was popping off the cam on the gate and causing the sticking problem.

This fellow over on the Ruger forum was concerned about the hole in his frame and he asked me in an e-mail if I had spoken to Ruger about it.

I did call Ruger and inquired abou the hole. I described the hole and asked the service rep if this would be a problem for my gun. She politely said that she could not answer my question, but that I could send it in for inspection by the factory team.

I then posted over on Sixgunner.com and got some good feedback. Apparently this is not an uncommon problem on Ruger SA guns or other SA guns that use cast frames (or as DFaris pointed out, even on forged or milled frames). One of the posters over on that forum used to work for United Sporting Arms, a company that made "Seville" single action revolvers using cast frames. He said that sometimes on the casting the area near the loading gate would be a few thousandths of an inch off (too deep) and when the cutter came by to remove excess material it would sometimes cut through the thin area near where the loading gate sits. This fellow over on Sixgunner.com thought that if the hole was small, it probably would not be a problem. He also thought that Ruger would probably replace the frame if I sent it to them for inspection.

Please note that I'm not trying to bash Ruger or any other company by posting this poll or my other post on THR. I love Rugers and own 5 of their guns (including 3 single action revolvers). They are well designed, great guns and I love the fact that I can easily disassemble and reassemble their guns and see how they work. I even love my recent production mini 14 (even though many people including gun shop owners told me to buy an AR or an AK). I'm just curious to see how many other owners have noticed these holes on their own guns.

Anyway, thanks for the responses and thanks for bearing with me and my long-winded posts!

Happy Easter!