Has anyone ever stretched a Ruger Single-Action pawl?
I've stretched parts before, and specifically the pawl on a couple replica C&B revolvers and other lock and trigger parts on MLs, but not an investment cast part. This is in a NM made in '09.
Some parts worked well cold and others had to be annealed and re-heat-treated, but I don't know which way is acceptable on an investment cast part.
Mr. Kuhnhausen only mentions that the part should be spot annealed if it is over a certain hardness (40Rc, I think) and I don't have a way to test the part.
I am not interested in returning it to Ruger and would be gambling by ordering a new pawl in hopes it would be a tad longer. The pawl has not been "messed with" and the hammer/trigger received very light polishing work, which left the carry-up exactly where it is now. Everything else works well and stretching should take care of whatever combination of extreme tolerances have caused it. I have not done the math to see how much I would have to stretch it, but if someone knows it can be done and not end up with a brittle or weak part, I'll work it out. The pawl window/pawl clearance is about .060" and closing that gap may or may not help, so rather than soldering something onto the side of the pawl and hoping it stays put, simply making it longer seems the better choice.