Ruger Forum

Waveform · August 13th, 2012, 12:48 PM

I would like to get some feedback and opinions from the rest on the barrel alignment I have on this new-to-me SP101 with 3" barrel. I have mentioned this in other threads but I now have a few photos that may help explain what I have.

I followed Iowegan's written instructions on checking barrel alignment using a vise and a torpedo level. First photo is the level frame.

Now here is the level when moved to the barrel's rib.

The barrel is under rotated by a few degrees. Therefore the front sight would be canted slightly to the right (looking down the barrel when shooting).

Here is a typical result on the range from a session a few days ago. The string off around 8 o'clock was made with a POA on the center of the target. The string closer to center of the target was made using a POA of the barcode located in the upper right corner.

I keep vacillating beween blaming my technique and blaming the gun. Probably a combination of the two. Or the perhaps the characteristics of this particular revolver exacerbates my poor technique. Anyway, should I send it off to Ruger? What do I offer them as an explanation of why I'm sending the gun back? I don't want to sound like a whiney owner who shoots poorly and blames the gun. (My father taught me a poor craftsman blames his tools.) But there's some things I want to do to this revolver (spring, trigger job, new front sight, etc.) and I don't want to invest time and money in a "flawed" gun.

Any thoughts and suggestions greatly appreciated!

grandpabear · August 13th, 2012, 01:10 PM

Don't know a lot about wheel guns but if it were mine I'd thread the barrel out, clean everything real good and reassemble. Seeing the first pic, that would bug the crap out of me.

Waveform · August 14th, 2012, 01:52 AM

It bugs me too and if the gun shot well (or if I could shoot it well perhaps) then it would just be a cosmetic thing and maybe I could just live with it. But this isn't something I would attempt to correct myself. As I understand it there are proper tools involved (vise & wrench) and the barrel face would likely have to be cut back and the forcing cone chamfered. Seems like the factory would need to be involved in this. I'm hoping someone else on the forum has been down this path before and can shed some light.

polaris754 · August 14th, 2012, 02:27 AM

Man , if u just bought that pistol, it be goin right back , somethin wrong there fer sure, good luc!

NY Ruger · August 14th, 2012, 07:59 AM

Ruger basically acts with the attitude of "life time guarantee" on the gun, not the owner.
Call Ruger.

If you mess with it, than all bets are off the Ruger will do something for you. If you mess with it, more than likely they'll charge ya.

If the gun wasn't in production, parts could a problem, what I ran into with a pair of Ruger SS"s...

Waveform · August 14th, 2012, 01:22 PM

Thanks all - I have been educated that this is not a new issue with the SP101 and there was quite a lengthy thread (12 pages) over a two year period on this site about this problem, back in 2008 - 2010. Sorry to rehash an old topic and I realize I should have searched the threads before posting. Interestingly (to me anyway) it seemed that many of the SP101 owners who reported having barrels that were not indexed properly (I think that is the correct terminology) in that thread did not seem to correlate that with their POI being off from their POA. In other words, some were bothered by the appearance of this but did not feel it affected their ability to accurately shoot their revolver. This is my concern. I think I will call Ruger tomorrow and see if I can send in my SP101 for evaluation and repair. When I get it back we'll see if there's any difference in how it looks and how it shoots. Maybe it's just me afterall.........

Waveform · August 20th, 2012, 04:06 PM

Just posting an update - Talked to Ruger and they said to send it back. Just received the pre-paid UPS label in today's mail so tomorrow it will be heading home to New Hampshire. I'm hoping they will re-index the barrel, return it, and I will then go the range where I will astound the other shooters with my incredibly tight groupings centered on the bullseye and made from amazing distances........

Or not.

Waveform · August 29th, 2012, 01:13 PM

Just got an email notice from UPS to expect a package from "NCS ORG NEWPORT" on Friday. Package requires adult signature, etc. so I can only assume my SP-101 is on its way back! That would be a turn around of 10 days including shipping. More impressive is the fact that Ruger kept it only 5 business days on their end before getting it shipped out the door. That's great customer service!

zebraranger · August 29th, 2012, 03:38 PM

Thats great and great service, let us know how it looks.

KJS · August 31st, 2012, 02:24 AM

Disappointing to see that got past quality control.

It's so far off in the first pic even a novice like me can tell it's not right before having a level confirm the obvious. Hope it's all better now.

Benemorte · August 31st, 2012, 03:04 AM

I certainly did not even need a level to see the misalignment in those first pictures. I am glad you sent this in, and that the turnaround time seems to be in your favor. Keep us updated.

Waveform · August 31st, 2012, 03:55 AM

Today's the day! We'll see how it looks when it arrives and how it shoots in a few days when I get the chance to go back to the range. I'm a bit embarassed to have not noticed the alignment when I got it but it was a used gun (2012 serial number with little signs of use) that I picked up for $80 plus the trade-in of a Taurus revolver I didn't much care for. So it felt like I was getting a better gun for only $80 and I didn't examine it closely enough at the time. Lesson learned, although assuming it all has a happy ending I would do it again. It has cost me nothing but some time to send it in to Ruger.

Photos and range report coming soon.

Benemorte · August 31st, 2012, 04:34 AM

You did get a better gun, it just needs a bit of love is all!

Waveform · August 31st, 2012, 01:14 PM

It's here and it looks great! Packing slip states "ADJUSTED BARREL, HAMMER DOG, CRANE REPLACED PAWL REPAIR, SAFETY FUNCTION CHECK AND TEST FIRING HAVE BEEN COMPLETED."

Enclosed was a photo of a target with this written on the top "@ 7 yards off rest 158 gr Black Hills .357"

Proof is in the pictures - compare with the photos at the beginning of this thread. (sorry for poor picture quality.)

Level on frame

Level on barrel

Target from test firing

Next stop will be my turn on the range. I'm eager to see how I do with it. Can't say enough good things about Ruger customer service on this. To re-index a barrel, check through the gun and make other repairs, test fire and ship it back in a week is amazing.