Ruger's Warranty Service

Started by Deadeye Dick, April 02, 2009, 10:41:03 AM

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Deadeye Dick


Just thought I'd share with you Pard's my experience regarding Ruger's excellent warranty service. In late November of 2008 I purchased a used, like new, Ruger Old Model Vaquero in 44-40. From reading other posts in this Forum I was aware of the concern of the cylinder throats being smaller than the barrel rifling grooves. This proved to be the case. The barrel slugged at .429 and the cylinder throats were .422. Also, I noticed the ejector rod housing was not tight to the barrel. Tightening the ejector rod housing screw did not inprove the fit. The case hardening finish had a few very small places on it that appeared to be rust. I didn't notice them until I had the gun out in the sun. 

I contacted Hooper Manufacturing in Calif. for an estimate to repair the cylinder throats. He gave me an estimate of $10 a hole, which I thought was fair. He recommended that I first contact Ruger about it to see if they would cover it with their warranty service. I called Ruger and they told me to document all of my concerns and send the revolver to them to review for warranty service. So, on Dec. 1, 2008 I wrote them a letter and sent the revolver to their warranty repair facility in Newport, NH.

They sent the revolver back to me on Jan 6, 2009. The repair order showed the following:
Refinished (case hardening)
Cylinder - replaced
Grips - replaced
Ejector rod - repaired
Ejector rod housing - replaced
Cylinder latch - replaced

They performed the following tests:
"safety function check, proof test and range test" They noted that "gun shot for POA/POI 2" low and 3/4" left.

I checked the cylinder throats and they appear to mic. at .431 making them larger than the .429 of the barrel rifling. I'm not sure why they  replaced the grips, and the cylinder latch. Also I didn't think the ejector rod needed repair as itl appeared okay to me, but I defer to their knowledge and experience. The old case hardening was ugly, the new is beautiful. I'm not sure why the difference as I understand that both are chemically applied. 

All of the above was done at no cost to me. Needless to say I am more than thrilled with their warranty repair and customer service. The gun shoots and looks great. So all of you Pard's out there who are wondering if Ruger stands by their product, you can take this testimonial as proof that they do.

Deadeye Dick 
NRA LIFE, NCOWS #3270, BLACK POWDER WARTHOG, STORM #254,
  DIRTY RATS #411, HENRY #139, PM KEIZER LODGE #219  AF&AM

Jamie

Years ago I had cause to contact Ruger for repairs, and as you note, they were exceptionally helpful, up to a point...
I had a lady in the church I served as minister who had an arboretum and fed birds.  There were also coons and possums in abundance due to the combination of trees and bird seed, so there were always live traps out and about to help "stem the flow."  She would call me over to dispatch the catch, and one day she asked me to take care of a huge possum.  I grabbed my Single six and headed right over.  It was a mistake.  In the first place, the barrel was big enough around that it wouldn't slide into the holes in the screening like the Chipmunk 22 I usually used.  Apprehensive about shooting up the trap, I decided that I could release the possum, let it exit the trap, and pop in in the punkin'.  Right.  He wasn't coming out.  So I figured to shake the varmint out, and then do my best Lee Van Cleaf (sp?) and shoot him as he ran away.  (remember the Western where Lee is a bounty hunter and allows the guy to get on his horse as he slowly and methodically lets down a roll of weapons from the pack horse, selects a long barreled single action, attaches a shoulder stock, and then calmly shoots the guy just before he gallops out of sight - I think it was "For a Few Dollars More" or some such...) at any rate, a vigorous shaking dislodged the frantic possum who then took off just about as fast as the wanted guy in the movie - faster than I've ever seen a possum travel before, and I cleared leather and thumbed back the trigger as I lined up the sights on white fur... at which point the cylinder fell out of the gun.  I grabbed it up, and reinserted it after finding the base pin in the grass - the spring loaded cross pin was gone and unfindable.  It wouldn't stay put, and as I held it all together, and lined up the sights again, the black marks on the sandbags I used to sight it in came to mind, and I realized that I really didn't want to kill that possum THAT bad...
By then the possum had rounded the turn out of town and was lost to sight.  I suspect that ole' Lee looked a lot less distressed after his shot than I did after attempting mine.  A call to Ruger that afternoon netted the missing part TWO days later.  As I said, this was helpful, up to a point.  The lady never forgave me for letting the possum go.
True story - Jamie 

Mustang Gregg

We have sent several "old model" Vaqueros & Blackhawks back to Southport for refinishing, minor repairs, "extra" cylinders fitted, etc. 
EVERY one has been returned quickly with ejector rod housings swapped, springs replaced, screws replaced, grips usually replaced & the required work done to our satisfaction.
Man, I love Ruger service.

BTW:  RGR stock is on it's way up!^$^$^$^$^  ;D

MG
"I have two guns.  {CLICK--CLICK}  One for each of ya."
  BACK FROM AFGHANISTAN!!
"Mustang Gregg" Clement-----NRA LIFER, since '72-----SASS Life & Territorial Governor-----GAF #64-----RATS #0 & Forum Moderator-----BP Warthog------Distinguished Pistol 2004------SAIROC & MMTC Instructor-----Owner of Wild West Arms, Inc. [gun shop] Table Rock, NE------CASTIN' & BLASTIN'!!!!
www.wildwestarms.net

Buffalow Red

so i was reading this as i have the same problem with my 44-40's
one of my omv has a .430 barrel with .428 cly's
the other omv has  a .427 barrel with .425 cly's
now im shooting a .429 boolit, shoots all over the place & one has a lot more recoil than the other one.
so i called ruger warrenty they said thats with in tollarence but if i wanted to send them in they would look at em
so if there in tollarence i dont know if i should bother with ruger . im more concerened about the 2 barrels being so far appart in size as i can ream cly's.
SO WHAT do you rats guys think
No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.
Thomas Jefferson
  SHOOT STRAIGHT & LETS BURN SOME POWDER
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SCORRS/ rugers/ 66 in 44-40  , trap door shooter
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SASS
BSA SM RETIRED

joec

I own one Ruger a Single Six 22 combination. Now mine was in the back of a car that was stolen. Well a year and a half later the police found my car in a canal in South Florida where about 10 miles from were I lived. At any rate a gun sitting in brackish water for about 18 months takes its toll. However the gun was a gift from my grandfather so I called Ruger and sent it to them. I was shocked that they replaced the whole gun. It seems mine was one of the old version before the safety features so they simply sent me a new gun. I still have it to this day and it shoots great though it is now well over 40 years old.
Joe
NCOWS 3384

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