So much for the promise Ruger will fix their firearms

[Redbeard55]

Been shooting a Ruger GP100 at the local gun club for Steel matches. Have owned Rugers since 1976. Ran maybe 25K TO 50k ammo through the GP100 - with 95% or better being 38 Specials. I don't consider this an excessive number of rounds. The revolver would lock up when the trigger was pulled. The only work I did was replace a couple of springs with lighter springs. Revolver was still essentially stock. The GP100 also had an increased cyclinder gap and essentially out of time. Sent the revolver into Ruger. UPS charged $78 for shipping. Got email today from Ruger. They don't want to fix it. They offered me a brand new GP101 for $389. Full retail is $699. Anyone else experience failure of Ruger to fix a firearm? I currently own 10 Rugers. Wanted a couple more, but it appears I will never purchase other Ruger. I never expected they won't keep their promise to fix anything sent to them. Seems the quality has been going down for years. My 10-22 Target is a jam-o-matic, Sent the GP100 backbefore I even fired it. Also had to send back a P95. Since Smith has a warranty, I expect my next purchases will be Smith or anything else than Ruger.

 

[BCRider]

All the other stories about them are good stories. Based on that they may be doing you a favour. They may have found so many things wrong with it from that amount of use that they feel that fixing it would cost almost as much and that the risk of it busting again would be high enough that they feel a new gun for you is a better option.

Or it may be that some major areas of the frame and cylinder are worn beyond the ability to repair or replace except at a high cost. Which again would imply that a new gun is a better option.

Did they say anything else in the letter or email?

 

[EddieNFL]

A friend returned a Contender frame to Thompson Center when it would no longer lock up. He had used it for silhouette matches for about a decade firing ? rounds of rather warm ammo. TC sent him a new frame free of charge; said the old one was stretched. That's a warranty.

 

[igousigloo]

fired the gp100 25k to 50k in matches. Sent the gp100 back before I had even fired it. I am not sure I would have fixed it either. Sounds like one at cost might be a good deal!

 

[BSA1]

Guns are tools. Tools wear out. The fact you returned the gun back to the factory for repair means something was wearing out. You can always ask Ruger to send your gun back and have a gunsmith of your choosing fix it.

 

[hAkron]

I think the point is that the cost difference between a GP100 and a standard S&W 686 is (best case) under $200. Some people buy the Ruger because they feel Smith quality is down and that they are paying a premium for the name. They feel that even though Ruger doesn't have a published warranty or a spotless track record for reliability, they are the good guys, uncorrupted by their one success and at the end of the day you can trust them to make it right. Stories like this are disheartening. Especially when S&W has a lifetime published warranty.

 

[mgmorden]

I think the point is that the cost difference between a GP100 and a standard S&W 686 is (best case) under $200. Some people buy the Ruger because they feel Smith quality is down and that they are paying a premium for the name. They feel that even though Ruger doesnt hav a published warranty or a spotless track record for reliability, they are the good guys, uncorrupted by their one success and at the end ofth day you can trust them to msk it right. Stories like this are disheartening.

How is failing to replace a weapon that has essentially been worn out through extended normal use failing to "make it right"?

You might as well go up to the counter at McDonalds and ask them to "make it right" because all your burger is gone and you're still hungry.

 

[trex1310]

Sounds like to me you got your money's worth out of the GP100.

 

[Fishslayer]

Especially when S&W has a lifetime published warranty.

Ummm.... my experience with S&W customer service has been less than stellar so far.

Same with SIG.

 

[Redbeard55]

My 357 Blackhawk was purchased in 1976, It probably has 100,000 rounds through it. Somewhat loose, but certainly in better shape than the GP100 Ruger claims I wore out. Based on my experience with the Blackhawk, I expected at least 100,000 round before the GP100 was worn out. If I had been firing mostly 357 Magnums, then I would the Ruger offer was pretty decent. But wearing out a GP100 shooting 38 Specials, 4.1 grains lof W231 with a 158 grain cast bullet????? Every gunstore salesman or shooter Ia've talked with in the past has always told me Ruger would fix whatever you sent in. I expected better from Ruger. To my mind this puts them in the case cagegory as some second rate gun company:banghead:

 

[fatcat4620]

Dude you shot 4-10 THOUSAND dollars min (if you reload) in ammo. Buy the gun they offered you and be happy.

 

[Deaf Smith]

I say Ruger offered you a ok deal. Not great but ok.

Yes guns do wear out and time comes with fixing them back to spec would cost more than the gun was was worth.

Deaf

 

[skidder]

My Redhawk came defective out of the box, and I was upset I had to fix it myself, but what your asking for is charity.

 

[Doc Rizzi]

Ruger Customer Service

Maybe it depends on the draw of customer service rep. I have a Ruger Security six 38/357that I purchased new in 1973. It was the first weapon I carried on duty. As time progressed I retired that revolver to the safe and switched to a semi-auto....point being that the revolver was in the safe for over 30 years. I had a guest over one evening and he was looking at the guns in the safe. He dropped the Ruger onto the cement in the garage floor, bent the front site, and broke the sear in the trigger mechanism. He offered to pay the repair bill. I contacted Ruger, got a ticket number, removed the custom grips I had made and sent it Fed EX off to Ruger with the 50.00 fee. Two months went by. I had pretty much forgotten about it when the Fed-Ex truck pulled up and delivered my revolver. It had a brand new front sight, a new trigger mechanism and they had put stock walnut grips on it. Total Charge for parts and labor was $0.00.
That is the only time I have ever dealt with Ruger, so I don't know if that was unusual or not. But I was very impressed.

 

[dogtown tom]

Redbeard55 ....Ran maybe 25K TO 50k ammo through the GP100 - with 95% or better being 38 Specials. I don't consider this an excessive number of rounds.

Good lord. 25-50,000 rounds is certainly excessive compared to the average shooter. 99.9% of shooters will never shoot half that many rounds in a lifetime.

The revolver would lock up when the trigger was pulled. The only work I did was replace a couple of springs with lighter springs. Revolver was still essentially stock. The GP100 also had an increased cyclinder gap and essentially out of time.

After that many rounds I would expect such issues.

Sent the revolver into Ruger. UPS charged $78 for shipping. Got email today from Ruger. They don't want to fix it. They offered me a brand new GP101 for $389. Full retail is $699.

Thats pretty gracious of them. Name one auto maker that would fix your car for free or offer you a new car for 60% retail....when your trade in has a million miles on it.

Anyone else experience failure of Ruger to fix a firearm? I currently own 10 Rugers. Wanted a couple more, but it appears I will never purchase other Ruger. I never expected they won't keep their promise to fix anything sent to them.

Get real. Do you seriously expect them to fix a gun that you wore out? And where does Ruger promise this? For years Ruger has not warranteed their firearms:

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.

I expect my next purchases will be Smith or anything else than Ruger.

I've never owned a Ruger revolver....but don't expect a S&W to do any better on a gun with nearly 50,000 rounds through it.





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[buck460XVR]

I have heard of Ruger, S&W and other manufacturers not only refusing to repair firearms, but also refusing to return said firearms to the owner because of safety reasons. This is a liability issue and I would assume because of frame stretching or other major issue with your frame, and because your gun cannot be repaired without changing the serial number, Ruger has graciously offered you a replacement for wholesale cost. I assume this is because they have deemed that the failure was caused by normal use and wear and not a defect. Sounds like a fair deal(outside of the $78 for shipping) on a product that is not in warranty and has been used a lot.....but only if you want another GP100. Your call. Me, with nuttin' to lose, I'd risk a few more phone calls asking to talk to another rep or technician expressing my displeasure with the hopes they might replace the gun for free.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Anyone else experience failure of Ruger to fix a firearm? I currently own 10 Rugers. Wanted a couple more, but it appears I will never purchase other Ruger. I never expected they won't keep their promise to fix anything sent to them.

Ruger didn't refuse to repair a manufacturers defect. I'm sure if something was defective or a part broke they would fix it and send your gun back to you. No company will replace a product you use until it's no longer serviceable. You wore out the revolver and they offered you a new replacement at a deeply discounted price. I would call that good, not disappointing...

 

[shiftyer1]

Thats alot of rounds in my book, I would ask for my revolver back and buy a new one just like it. IF I liked the 1st one, which by your round count you did

I can't say i've ever been able to put that many rounds thru any of my guns so I can't speak for how well one should hold up being shot that much.

 

[JRH6856]

I never expected they won't keep their promise to fix anything sent to them.

Ruger never made that promise. Someone at a gunshop told you Ruger would do that but if they don't work for Ruger, they can't speak for Ruger. Ruger offers no warranties and there was no promise. You wore out the gun and you want it replaced for free. It really doesn't work that way. If you don't want the replacement they offered, can I have it? I'll send you the $389 and your $78.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

Not only do guns wear out, but the machines to make guns wear out. You might have been the unlucky guy who got the gun that was made be the press, die, or lathe that was at the end of its life. Good on Ruger to recognize that a new gun for you would be a better product than the one they originally sold you. I'd buy another 10 from a company that did that.

 

[jhco50]

The GP100 also had an increased cyclinder gap and essentially out of time. Sent the revolver into Ruger. UPS charged $78 for shipping. Got email today from Ruger. They don't want to fix it. They offered me a brand new GP101 for $389. Full retail is $699. Anyone else experience failure of Ruger to fix a firearm? I currently own 10 Rugers. Wanted a couple more, but it appears

This seems to be common for Ruger now. Many other companies are picking up this type of service and they are essentially selling you another gun. Don't expect them to send your old gun back.

 

[dogtown tom]

buck460XVR ...because your gun cannot be repaired without changing the serial number...

If you send a firearm to a manufacturer for repair, Federal law allows the manufacturer to repair OR REPLACE the firearm and return it directly to your door. (no FFL needed)

 

[Pilot]

Take the deal they offered. You are still way ahead.

 

[almherdfan]

Ruger's offer seems reasonable to me. If you like the product, take it. I would.

 

[redbullitt]

Agreed. I have a gp100. It is a fine gun. 50 000 anything will just about wear anything out. It is a shame to see something you have gotten to use so much get retired, but it happens. Think about all the poor guys eating up their WSM or 22-250 match grade barrels with every other shot AND losing accuracy/consistency. Your revolver and my 308 or 260 barrels are both just as disposable as the brass you reload... Just with a slightly different wear cycle.