Cylinder Wiggle Revisied

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  • Cold Steel

    Active Member
    Sep 26, 2006
    801
    Bethesda, MD
    I've previously posted that I have a Ruger Security-Six that has a bit of excess cylinder wriggle. I bought a new cylinder stop hoping it would fix the problem, but it didn't. Now I'm wondering what my next step should be. Excess cylinder play is something I just don't see in Rugers.



    I don't think a new pawl would work, as cocking the gun, then pulling the hammer further back did nothing to remedy the issue.

    I'm unsure what my next step should be.

    I wrote to Ruger tech support and got the following reply:


    We no longer offer parts and service for this model. You may send in your firearm to our NH facility and we will offer you a replacement model of your choice at a discounted price. Please contact our Customer Service Department for further information at 336-949-5200 and one of our representatives will be happy to assist you.

    For older parts you can check with Jack First at 605-343-9544, Moyer's Gun Repair at 208-587-6408 or Numrich Arms at 845-679-4867 or 845-679-3500.

    Ruger Customer Service


    I don't know what sort of replacement they would offer or what kind of discount they would offer. If someone has any recommendation/s, please let me know. I have a punch set, but I'm worried the cylinder stops might be a bit large.

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    Cold Steel

    Active Member
    Sep 26, 2006
    801
    Bethesda, MD
    Does it lock up when the hammer falls?
    Yes, but the wiggle is still there. The alignment seems to be okay, but not like my other Rugers.

    I know that when a .357 goes off, the primary push is back, and that the bullet goes forward. If there's serious misalignment, you'll get some spitting of lead. Still, people say wiggle affects accuracy. Taurus revolvers typically wiggle quite a bit, but most Rugers lock up with almost no play.
     

    Cold Steel

    Active Member
    Sep 26, 2006
    801
    Bethesda, MD
    Did you measure the width of the bolt and the width of the slot?
    No, but I shined a light against the recoil shield, cocked the gun a few times and the chambers lined up perfectly. My fear is the line up of chambers and barrel might worsen.

    I'm trying to find out if there's a way to tighten the lock up. If I can use a punch to hit just below the ratchet notches to move enough steel that the hand, or pawl, will engage the notch longer so as to do it. But I don't want to overdo it.

    Does anyone know what kind of discount Ruger gives on a trade-in? Or whether it's even worth it?

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    Silverlode

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 16, 2010
    4,797
    Frederick
    Unclear on what you mean by wiggle but if you are describing what is commonly known as end shake they sell what is more or less a washer that should alleviate that. Check Midway USA. In fact, they may have a video tutorial.
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,721
    Socialist State of Maryland
    Unclear on what you mean by wiggle but if you are describing what is commonly known as end shake they sell what is more or less a washer that should alleviate that. Check Midway USA. In fact, they may have a video tutorial.

    I think he is talking about side to side movement of the cylinder not forward and backward.
     

    Cold Steel

    Active Member
    Sep 26, 2006
    801
    Bethesda, MD
    YES, I don't tolerate endshake at all. The wiggle comes starboard and port. I bought a new cylinder stop, but the wiggle continues. The chambers line up perfectly with the barrel and I can't wiggle it out of alignment, so until I can order a better cylinder stop, I'm just stuck with it. I've seen Taurus revolvers with this amount of play, but not Rugers.

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    Cold Steel

    Active Member
    Sep 26, 2006
    801
    Bethesda, MD

    They’d likely offer you an SP or GP at distributor price.
    Yeah, that wouldn't be acceptable. My Security-Six has only been to the range once or twice. Even doing a straight across trade wouldn't be something is agree to. I've put Millett front and rear sights on the gun and the action is smooth, so I'd most likely look for a cylinder stop that's a bit thicker. Ruger recommended "for older parts you can check with Jack First at 605-343-9544, Moyer's Gun Repair at 208-587-6408 or Numrich Arms at 845-679-4867 or 845-679-3500."

    If none of them can help, I'll just leave the gun like it is, I think.
     

    Magnumite

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 17, 2007
    6,561
    Harford County, Maryland
    Power Custom makes those endshake washers.

    About the rotation play, can you measure the bolt width. I have one or two, mayhe one a little thicker. Is the window around the bolt peened?
     

    Bisleyfan44

    Ultimate Member
    Jan 11, 2008
    1,754
    Wicomico
    You are making a huge mountain out of a mole hill.

    This amount of lateral play is totally normal in most Ruger revolvers. If the rest of yours have no play you are extremely lucky, and you may end up with them having issues in the long run. Here's why.

    The slight amount of play is totally normal and actually a desired condition in revolvers that are not line bored. This play allows the bullet to self align in the forcing cone of the barrel as it passes from the throat of the chamber to the barrel.

    Line boring each chamber is something companies like Freedom Arms does in their guns that have absolutely no play. Each chamber is bored as it is locked in the frame of the actual gun it will reside in. It is a crazy expensive procedure only used in guns that sell for thousands of dollars.

    Ruger gang-chambers their cylinders and then fit them to a frame. Doing it this way will not guarantee that each chamber will align with the bore once it's rotated in place, but it is very cost efficient and has worked well in their guns for over half a century.

    The play you describe allows a gun with this "cheaper" way of cylinder chambering to still shoot accurately. If you were to take all the play out of a cylinder which does not have PERFECT chamber/barrel alignment, it would actually have poor accuracy and could result in a split barrel at the throat because the bullet would be hitting off center with no way to self align. So the bullet would be hitting one side of the forcing cone before the other.

    I hope some of that made sense. Bottom line, shoot the gun as it is. It will be more accurate than you can hold it. It will last forever as is. It will not shoot loose because of the play. It's cylinder play is totally normal, there is nothing to fix. You're gonna give yourself an ulcer worrying about something that isn't an issue.

    ETA: I now have or have had 37 different Blackhawks/Super Blackhawks and 16 different Ruger DAs (Secuity/Service Sixes, GPs, SPs, etc). All had some wiggle, none of them had no wiggle. None had accuracy issues or abnormal wear issues.
     

    Cold Steel

    Active Member
    Sep 26, 2006
    801
    Bethesda, MD
    About the rotation play, can you measure the bolt width. I have one or two, mayhe one a little thicker. Is the window around the bolt peened?
    Yes, end shake is not the problem. I'll measure the bolt width tomorrow and see if i can photograph it. And thank you for your assistance. I appreciate it.

    This amount of lateral play is totally normal in most Ruger revolvers. If the rest of yours have no play you are extremely lucky, and you may end up with them having issues in the long run. Here's why. The slight amount of play is totally normal and actually a desired condition in revolvers that are not line bored. This play allows the bullet to self align in the forcing cone of the barrel as it passes from the throat of the chamber to the barrel.

    ...It's cylinder play is totally normal, there is nothing to fix. You're gonna give yourself an ulcer worrying about something that isn't an issue.
    Thank you for your advice and explanations. I tend to think you're right and that I'm worrying over nothing. I do have small amounts of play in my other Rugers, but this one seems to be just a little excessive.

    When I touch the trigger and push just a little when the gun is uncocked, I get cylinder rotation, which I don't get with my other Rugers. I'm able to do this with my fingers. As I then pull the trigger, the cylinder locks up just fine except for the wiggle of course.

    This was my original concern.
     

    Cold Steel

    Active Member
    Sep 26, 2006
    801
    Bethesda, MD
    About the rotation play, can you measure the bolt width. I have one or two, mayhe one a little thicker. Is the window around the bolt peened?
    I just looked and no peening around the bolt window. The bolt width is 2.75mm. If you have something, let me know and we can work out something. You want a cat? :D

    ..
     

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