Santa works Ruger Customer Service

[Stonecrusher]

My Dad passed away not too very long ago and I was fortunate enough to inherit a few of his guns. One of these happened to be a NIB Ruger Security Six 6" blue. I have lusted after this gun every since he purchased it. I gave it a thorough cleaning and took it to the range to try it out. It shot really well and showed no tendency to lead with my standard .357 reloads, Lyman 358477 and 5.2grns of Universal. I fired about 100 rounds and took it home to clean. Much to my surprise there was a crack in the barrel right above the ejector rod that was about 5/8" long!
See pics below:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_6324500592342741f.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=5932)http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_63245005923441612.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=5933)

It was definitely not there before shooting. I called Ruger and explained the situation, and that the crack didn't appear to go through the frame. I was informed that barrels for this model are no longer available and advised me to send in revolver and they would see what they would do. Less than a week later I get a call offering me a new GP-100 as a replacement for my 25+ year old gun! While I would have liked to have kept my Dad's gun, I was excited to have a GP-100. This is what they sent me.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_6324500592345eebe.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=5934)

I must say that Ruger's customer service is second to none and they really stand behind their products. They truly sold me on themselves and it didn't hurt that the gun is great! Trigger is much better out of the box than the Security Six was and the grip angle feels much better to me as well. I love this revolver! :bigsmyl2: Ruger can count on me as a repeat customer and for a little free advertising as well.


The second part of the story.....

One other revolver was a Smith & Wesson Model 12-3 Airweight 1 7/8" nickel. I was excited about this as well. Might be a great gun for pocket carry. Well... When I was cleaning it before shooting I discovered the dreaded frame crack!

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_63245005925d4d6c8.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=5935)

I crossed my fingers and gave S&W a call to see what they might do. To make a long story short they told me that sure was bad luck and the gun couldn't be repaired with it being 30 years old they wouldn't do anything else. Apparently their "Warranty" is only good for 1989 and newer products.
This gun is practically new but I don't have the box. I doubt it has had more than one cylinderful fired through it in its lifetime.

I really didn't expect a free replacement, two is too much to expect but they should have done a little something to account for their workmanship, like maybe a discount coupon or something.

Amazing how two companies can have such different takes on making their customers happy. But Ruger definitely has it going on when it comes to taking care of their customers!

[mongo]

Ruger replaced a 30 year old mini-14 that had a small crack in the reciever and a MarkII pistol that I had worn out. I contacted them and wanted to pay for the repairs. Told them I was 100%at falt and was informed that it was their option and they are going to replace them FREE. Still cant believe it, LOL The last three handguns I had purchased were Rugers. Thats how they get a loyal customer...

[smoked turkey]

I too have had exceptional customer service from Ruger. They are on the customer's wave length. I have no problem giving them my repeat business. Very interesting about S&W's response on a similar problem. S&W should see this and other threads about how a competitor treats their customers.

[GP100man]

Have`nt had a firearm replaced ,but Ruger has always done rite by me !!

& if there gonna support there products that way I see no reason not to support them every chance I get !!!

& I`m not biased ,I like all Rugers !!!!

Stonecrusher , sorry for the circumstances in which ya came to ownership of these iconic revolvers , but congrats on the new GP !!

Intresting ,it has the panel grips , HHhhmmm!!!

[Stonecrusher]

GP100, I had to put the older style grips on myself. Gun came with the Hogue grips. The Hogues don't ft me at all but the older Ruger grips are great. I bought this set from Brownell's for $18 with all the hardware for mounting.

[jcameron996]

Ruger has always had a good reputation for standing behind their products. A couple of years ago a friend of mine bought a used 20ga red label off gunbroker. I told him at the time if he didn't like it I would probably have a home for it. He got it and discovered that the bottom barrel didn't always fire and the ejector had become an extractor. The gun is probably over twenty years old. To make a long story short they fixed it for free and paid the return shipping. He found a Browning A5 that he liked better and the red label now lives in my safe and my wife shoots it very well.

[big dale]

I can't say that I have ever had a need to use Ruger's customer service. I bought my first Ruger around 1965 and have owned a couple of dozen Rugers since thenat one time or another and none have ever needed to be repaired.

I am just one very happy Ruger customer.

Have fun with this stuff.

Big Dale

[375RUGER]

Too bad about the Security Six, those were sweet revolvers. But so is the GP100.
Safety seems to be the number 1 concern at Ruger.