SP-101: barrel throat erosion.

[Cool Hand Luke 22:36]

My SP-101 is showing a fair amount of erosion around the throat of the barrel / forcing cone area.

I would describe it as looking like someone dragged a coarse file across the area (sorry no pic).

I bought the gun about 2 years ago and it has about 1500 rounds through it, about 2/3rds .357 magnum cal.

Anyone else have this experience?

 

[BluesBear]

Can you come up with a way to post photos?

Are you sure it's really erosion?

There is no way that a Ruger should be showing such wear after such little use.

 

[GoRon]

Are you sure its not lead build up?

 

[Old Fuff]

Exactly what .357 loads are you using? Throat erosion at 1500 rounds would seem unlikely, but in other revolvers I 've noticed a beginning at a little over 1000 rounds.

 

[Cool Hand Luke 22:36]

It's definitely erosion and not lead buildup. I can lightly scrape a fine blade across the surface of the area and see very clearly that it's a depressed, eroded area.

As far as ammo goes, its been about:
40% Winchester 125 Gr. .357
25% Winchester 158 Gr. .357
10% Federal Hydroshock 158 Gr. .357
20% Winchester 158 Gr. .38 Special
5% Sellier & Belloit 158 Gr. .357

No hot handloads or Buffalo-Bore stuff.

The gun has only spit lead at me one time that I know of, a small bit hit me in the face (glad I had protective eyewear that day). That was with really crappy S&B ammo that had pretty much fouled the gun.

 

[Old Fuff]

Well your list of ammunition helps. Look at the revolver again and see if there is any evidence of gas-cutting on the bottom of the topstrap just behind the barrel and in front of the cylinder. Also, if you have a set of feeler gauges check the barrel/cylinder gap.

 

[Cool Hand Luke 22:36]

Well your list of ammunition helps. Look at the revolver again and see if there is any evidence of gas-cutting on the bottom of the topstrap just behind the barrel and in front of the cylinder.

No evidence at all of gas-cutting on the top strap, and the gap is within specs for Ruger so far as I can tell.

 

[Old Fuff]

Then I would suspect the 125 grain Winchester .357 Magnum loads. But it doesn't seem that you've shot enough to cause the condition you describe. Perhaps you should return the revolver to Ruger and see what their opinion is. If something is or was wrong with the barrel from git-go they would probably replace it.

 

[dhoomonyou]

Is it ? can it? be covered under warranty?

 

[sgt127]

This seems almost silly...But, do you remember what the throat looked like when new? I wonder if it was just cut badly from the factory. I had a new 696 that, I swear, the forcing cone looked like it had been cut with a dull hacksaw. I didn't notice it for a few weeks, simply ASSumed it was OK...That seems to be alot of wear, especially if there is no flame cutting. I have guns that showed signs of flame cutting after a few hundred 125 GR .357's, but the forcing cones looked fine..Either way, if you're not happy, send it back and let the people that made it, make you happy.

 

[Cool Hand Luke 22:36]

This seems almost silly...But, do you remember what the throat looked like when new? I wonder if it was just cut badly from the factory.

To be truthfull, no I don't recall what it looked like.

I think sending it back to ruger at this point is a good idea, the cylinder doesn't seem to lock up as tightly as it did new either.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

Give ruger a call. They'll make it right.

 

[JohnKSa]

Is it affecting the accuracy?

If not, then keep an eye on it to see if it progresses.

If it doesn't progress and the accuracy doesn't degrade then it was probably there from the beginning.