Ruger SP101 Issue

[GDownRange]

I got a sweet deal on a used SP101. After I bought the gun I gave it a basic cleaning and inspection, took it to the range and shot a box of .38's without issue. Then I took the gun completely apart cleaned and lightly lubed everything AND installed a wolf reduced power hammer spring (10lbs) and a reduced power trigger return spring (8lbs).

Went to the range and shot 100 .38s and 10 .357's. No issues. Up until this point I'd only fired the gun double action.

My third range trip a buddy started shooting the gun single action and we noticed that if you pulled the hammer back in single action, sometimes it would move about 1/4 of inch and lock up. If you release tension and try again the gun will cock correctly. We repeated this issue every 8-10 single action shots.

I got the gun home cleaned it and started dry firing. Maybe 1 in 8 single action cocks lock up. I then dry fired the heck out of it double action, and once every so often the same issue occurs. I pull the trigger back just a hair and the action locks up. If I release the trigger tension the gun works fine. In double action it's only happening maybe once in 50 pulls.

Any thoughts on what's wrong? It could have been an existing issue, hence the low price. But is there a chance that I reassemble the gun incorrectly? Could the reduced power trigger return spring be causing the issue?

I know that I can send the gun to Ruger, but I like to tinker with things and would like to trouble shoot this myself. This is just a range toy that I bought because I want it. It's not a carry or night stand gun. Heck I don't even own any defensive ammo for it.

 

[sequins]

Did you lube the trigger assembly after you swapped the springs? My SP101 had a similar issue with the hammer "freezing" that I noticed while dry firing and it was cured by lubricating the trigger components themselves which were bone dry.

 

[GDownRange]

Did you lube the trigger assembly after you swapped the springs? My SP101 had a similar issue with the hammer "freezing" that I noticed while dry firing and it was cured by lubricating the trigger components themselves which were bone dry.

I did lightly lube all components. I guess I could apply an extra drop or two on the trigger group and see if that helps.

 

[tkroenlein]

I cleaned up a 686 once that was working slick as a whistle when I took it apart. It also "froze" up like you're saying yours does. I re-lubed and it worked just fine. I used a carbon cutter type cleaner and I've since concluded that you can strip all the lube off and it's takes quite a bit to get it soaked up again.


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[sequins]

Well with mine the hammer was freezing even in DA, I'd dry fire rapidly in DA and my hammer would get stuck just barely out of battery. I wouldn't be able to pull it back any further without depressing the trigger and trying again. My diagnosis is that the friction heat from rapid DA on a new unlubed gun was causing just enough expansion for dry parts to start sticking, and the hammer/trigger are linked parts and a drop or two on the hammer pivot didn't help.

Your issue sounds somewhat different from mine, but we both dealt with stuck hammers and after my thorough trigger lubing and continued dryfire it simply stopped happening, so I figure worth a shot. I applied far more than a light coat though I lubed the heck out of it.

 

[hoghunting]

You might also try replacing the factory springs and see if the problem stops.

 

[243winxb]

installed a wolf reduced power hammer spring (10lbs) and a reduced power trigger return spring (8lbs).

Put factory springs back in the gun. Seen this many times. People take apart factory new guns and loose parts or Wolf it.

 

[GDownRange]

Heavy Oil Worked!

When the "lube everything heavily" responses came in I was skeptical, but I didn't have anything to lose so I doused all the moving parts in oil, and I'll be damned if that didn't work!

I've dry fired the SP101 hundreds of times both single and double action. Not a single instance of the action freezing. I won't be convinced that it's fixed until I get a few hundred rounds through it. I'll try and report back after a few range trips.

Thanks for the solid advice my fellow High Roaders.

 

[Tony_the_tiger]

This can happen when the sear is polished too much, causing early lock up (just a guess). It could also be the hammer dog, but I can't remember if that is right or if I just like saying hammer dog...