Ruger's rough chambers

[wenger]

I just bought a NIB Ruger Bisley Vaquero in .357 mag. It shoots good, except the chambers are as rough as a cob. The empties takes a very vigorous push to eject. One chamber hangs up the emptie every time and requires removal of the cylinder and a heavy rap with a wooden dowel. So now it's back to Ruger.

How the hell come Ruger seems to make double action cylinders with smooth chambers that will extract six at once, but their single action chambers look like crap!


John

 

[TallPine]

RU sure it's really NIB ???

Maybe it's just dirty?

 

[wenger]

It was new. It was new. It had one test round fired in the cylinder, because it only had one burn ring on the cylinder. I ran a patch down the chambers before I shot it.

I looked down the chambers and their are machine marks from the chamber reamer. It wouldn't kill Ruger to actually do a little finish work.

John

 

[J.M.]

I've gone through that with a few of my single actions.

You can run a hone through there, but be sure to just hit it lightly...you just want to remove the high spots, if you remove the marks you will have oversized chambers.

I really recommend shooting the gun for accuracy...if it's a keeper, send it in to Ruger...they'll make it right. - JM.

 

[Old Fuff]

Ruger single action chambers are indeed rougher then some of their higher-priced competitors. Usually the difference doesn’t matter in real world performance, but your gun may be an exception and I’d return it to the company for correction.

Brownells’ have special chamber hones that are cartridge specific. You will need an electric drill to use one, and the chambers will be much smother without being made oversized – unless they are oversized in the first place.

Some owners get very upset about this, while others don’t seem to care. Ruger could indeed hone the chambers, but this would have to be reflected in the price. Anyway they stand behind what they make and I’m sure they’re Customer Service and Repair Department will take care of it.

 

[BluesBear]

To my knowledge all US revolver manufacturers fire a proof round in every other chamber in each gun. To fire less could lead to problems later.

On a Ruger there should be three burn rings. Sometimes the manufacturer will polish after proofing so there won't be any showing.

If I saw a cylinder with only ONE ring I would be suspicious if it was supposed to be new in box.

 

[wenger]

Exactly my point.


John

 

[wenger]

Well I diagnosed and fixed the problem. It wasn't a rough chamber throat as I thought.

Upon closer examination, there was a knick on the edge of the chamber mouth caused by a machine tool. It raised enough of an edge that while it wouldn't interfere with loading, upon firing the case expanded enough above the web that it caused difficult extration.

So some careful sanding and polishing ond the chamber mouth and it's good to go. I just got back from firing 50 rounds of .357 mag and I had smooth extraction.

The gun is accurate and shoots to point of aim.

John