Vaquero is jamming

[igotta40]

At the range today my Ruger 44 mag started acting up, so I guess I’ll call them and get it fixed. A little detail- it’s from 1994, and I’ve never had an issue before. After a couple rounds fired, the hammer won’t cock and the cylinder won’t rotate. I opened the gate and ejected the spent & live rounds. I tried to duplicate the failure with 6 spent casings but it seems to function normally. Is this a known or common issue with the original Vaquero? Any helpful comments are appreciated.

 

[edwardware]

. . . and the cylinder won’t rotate.

Your description isn't detailed enough to be sure . . but a proud primer will lock up an SA by rubbing on the recoil shield. Might look for one sticking up; it doesn't take much.

And no, Ruger SAs are generally considered highly reliable tanks.

 

[MikeJackmin]

I agree, either a high primer or just a bit of crud keeping the round from seating all the way.

 

[willb]

The cylinder locked up. But, you were able to rotate the cylinder to eject the empty and live rounds? What changed?

And, are you using factory ammo or reloads?

 

[ontarget]

Did you try it again with 6 live rounds after the spent ones?
Is it possible that a bullet jumped it's crimp and hung up on the forcing cone impeding rotation?

 

[J-Bar]

Base pin may be slipping forward, which allows the tranfer bar to hit the back of the firing pin during cocking, blocking further rotation. Make sure the base pin is locked back in the proper position. Sometimes a stronger base pin locking spring is needed, which is normally part of a Vaquero/Blackhawk spring package.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

No, not a common issue.

Agree with the above, possible primer/ammo issue or the base pin jumped some.

 

[igotta40]

The cylinder locked up. But, you were able to rotate the cylinder to eject the empty and live rounds? What changed?

And, are you using factory ammo or reloads?

Yes, when the hammer refused to cock back (it would move about 1/4” or so) , I was able to let it back down, then the gate would open normally and the cylinder would rotate. Factory ammunition, I only hand load for rifle.

 

[igotta40]

Thanks for your responses, I’ll return to the range and have another go at it. I don’t see anything that looks obviously broken.

 

[.455_Hunter]

On my father's .44-40 stainless Old Vaquero, a sharp machined edge on back of the frame window would catch a rim of a case if indexed with the barrel held muzzle high. A few minutes with a ignition file solved the problem.

 

[Frulk]

I seem to remember having this same problem with two factory new Single Sevens and one new model Vaquero in .45 Colt. Was the base pins. Make sure you’re not limp wristing the gun and check them for jump. Ruger sent me new pins and all has been good since.

 

[1KPerDay]

Check the barrel/cylinder gap also.

 

[Gordon]

Base pin may be slipping forward, which allows the tranfer bar to hit the back of the firing pin during cocking, blocking further rotation. Make sure the base pin is locked back in the proper position. Sometimes a stronger base pin locking spring is needed, which is normally part of a Vaquero/Blackhawk spring package.

Especially common with the .44 Mag ! A belt Mountain or other custom base pin will fix it permenantly . A stronger base pin spring also works mostly.

 

[Paul7]

Am interested in this thread also, having the same issue with my Colt SAA, and no it isn't a high primer or crud under the rim.

 

[Pat Riot]

Also, check the ratchets on the back of the cylinder for burs as well as the pawl.
I had a new .45 ACP cylinder made for my New Vaquero and I had the same exact symptoms of a loose base pin. It turned out to be burs on the ratchets of the new cylinder.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

I seem to remember having this same problem with two factory new Single Sevens and one new model Vaquero in .45 Colt. Was the base pins. Make sure you’re not limp wristing the gun and check them for jump. Ruger sent me new pins and all has been good since.

"limp writing" a revolver ? I would say impossible, but first ask how/why ?

 

[igotta40]

Base pin may be slipping forward, which allows the tranfer bar to hit the back of the firing pin during cocking, blocking further rotation. Make sure the base pin is locked back in the proper position. Sometimes a stronger base pin locking spring is needed, which is normally part of a Vaquero/Blackhawk spring package.

It looks like we found my issue! Yep, my base pin moved forward while firing. I’ll replace the spring and try again. Thanks for all the responses, THR rocks!

 

[Pat Riot]

It looks like we found my issue! Yep, my base pin moved forward while firing. I’ll replace the spring and try again. Thanks for all the responses, THR rocks!

Try a Wolff “extra power” base pin latch spring. That’s what I have used in all my Vaqueros and New Vaqueros and they haven’t let me down. Glad you figured it out.

 

[Zygodactyl]

Glad you figured it out. My New Model Vaquero had the hammer lock back and froze the gun up during a match. Took me awhile to get the hammer let down to clear the cylinder. Turned out to be the hammer plunger cross pin sheared and in turn bent the hammer plunger. Simply part replacement, the hard part was trying to get all the springs aligned when reassembly the grip to the frame. That took a while. Putting the trigger guard in a vice provided the third hand you need. It still took multiple attempts to get it right.

 

[Pat Riot]

Glad you figured it out. My New Model Vaquero had the hammer lock back and froze the gun up during a match. Took me awhile to get the hammer let down to clear the cylinder. Turned out to be the hammer plunger cross pin sheared and in turn bent the hammer plunger. Simply part replacement, the hard part was trying to get all the springs aligned when reassembly the grip to the frame. That took a while. Putting the trigger guard in a vice provided the third hand you need. It still took multiple attempts to get it right.

Since @igotta40 figured his issue out I think it’s okay to address yours…assembly issue, I mean.
This little clamp is a good little tool to have for that 3 handed job of compressing the loading gate spring while inserting the trigger pivot pin.

https://pacifictoolandgauge.com/rug...-clamp-for-ruger-single-action-revolvers.html