So much for Ruger's top quality

[Hanzy4200]

I've been after a 5.5" Super Blackhawk for a few months. None of the online vendors or local shops have had any available. Found one last week my local Sportsman's Warehouse new for $729. After getting home, I noticed the laser etching under the barrel was terrible, and the grip medallion cavities were oversized. One medallion was also crooked. Whatever, its superficial. Took it out, and at 30 feet it was printing 10" off. Adjusted the rear sight until it was nearly falling out, and still 1-2" off. Went home. Decided to start fresh with a different load next day. Fired 8 rds, and on the 9th shot, the entire ejector assembly falls off! Spring goes flying, pins falling, ect. The retaining pin cavity looks stripped out, or was terribly machined. I wouldn't expect this from a Charter Arms revolver. So much for "Heirloom Quality".

My only decision now is if I return it to Sportsman's or directly back to Ruger. I know I don't want a repair, I want a new revolver.

[Conditor22]

I'd take the targets and gun to sportsmans and try trading first.

IF not, Ruger's customer service is EXCELLENT!!!! call them and they will email you a shipping label

[rintinglen]

Contact Ruger, explain the problem, request a shipping label. "Of course, you were firing factory ammunition, not handloads."

I went through a spell where literally half the Rugers I got were defective. One wouldn't even chamber the cartridge on the barrel, they replaced it under warranty and gave me a spare magazine for my trouble. They repaired my Single 7 and replaced the cylinder on my 45 colt. I have only bought two Rugers since, but they have both been excellent.

[BigAlofPa.]

My last new Ruger purchases had QC issues. Loose sights and Roll pins were the main issues.

[Hanzy4200]

I planned the emphasize factory loads. Its crazy, because I was shooting bunny fart loads when it disassembled itself. I would love to trade it, but they have no others in stock. I guess I'm calling Ruger. I have never returned a new firearm in my life. Will I get stuck paying for a second transfer/background fee?

[cwtebay]

Ruger is awesome with their customer service! And Sportsman's will definitely be easy to work with if you let them know who you purchased it from. I returned a rifle to Sportsman's that had a frozen firing pin (never even got to fire it!), they handled all costs associated with shipping and eventual return - and waived the 2nd transfer fee.

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[zarrinvz24]

I once had a GP100 4.2" that would not eject brass after it was fired from 1 chamber. I mean I really had to beat on the ejector rod in order for it to extract. I called and received a label. It went from San Diego, all the way to the New England factory, was repaired and I had the gun back in my possession in 6 days. I was bewildered. The receipt it came back with stated that they replaced the cylinder. Cost to me = $0.

[higgins]

If you send them an older .22 semiauto that has a serious problem keep all the magazines - don't even send them one. Obviously keep grips and remove parts like any aftermarket trigger components. Likely as not they won't repair it, and will offer a replacement instead. They will not return anything you send them with the defective gun. The mags and parts are worth something.

[TimD]

I had a an issue 2 years ago with a new SP-101 in 327 Federal Magnum locking the cylinder up and not ejecting from one chamber. I contacted Ruger and they sent me a shipping label. UPS picked it up at my house and returned it to me five days later. They reamed all the cylinders and replaced the hand. Did not cost me a penny.

It is disappointing quality assurance does not find these problems, but they stand behind their products.

[Drm50]

I quit Ruger SAs when New Model came out. A few months ago I picked up SBH like new on a trade and I didn’t shot it but it had very good fit and finish. I sold it to a member, just a few weeks ago. Maybe he will chime in. I’ve owned dozens of Ruger SAs taken on trade and never had any problem. I’m sure a lemon squeezes through once and a while but not the norm. I don’t like the transfer bar system or I would still be buying them. Attachment 280475

[sharps4590]

Two words.....Freedom Arms, no comparison. Yes they cost more but, there's very good reasons for that.

[Catshooter]

Rugers have never been "top quality". Good, sure. Even pretty good, but never as good as pre-1990 S&Ws. Especially fit & finish. Nowadays they both can (can, I said) suck, especially fit & finish. Like Drm50 says, a lemon can always squeeze through with any company.


Cat

[cwtebay]

I quit Ruger SAs when New Model came out. A few months ago I picked up SBH like new on a trade and I didn’t shot it but it had very good fit and finish. I sold it to a member, just a few weeks ago. Maybe he will chime in. I’ve owned dozens of Ruger SAs taken on trade and never had any problem. I’m sure a lemon squeezes through once and a while but not the norm. I don’t like the transfer bar system or I would still be buying them. Attachment 280475

I purchased that Ruger! I've owned / bought / sold traded dozens. This one was for my 2nd oldest son for his carry while hunting in grizzly country. It has been a great sidearm. One thing I have to say about Bill Ruger - he started his company by selling a quality revolver that a working man can afford for 1 week's pay (quote from an 80's Sports Afield interview). He delivered, and his company CONTINUES to deliver this same aspiration. Out of all of the RH, BH, SS that I have owned - I have never felt shorted. I sent back a Bisley in 480 that wouldn't shoot and they made it right, I inquired about end shake in a '70's era BH and they paid for the repair.
Colt? I challenge anyone to say they've owned as many as I have and can say the same. Smith and Wesson? Yeah.. no. Freedom Arms? Metallurgy!, Even rifles! Weatherby? Great until you discover an issue. Remington? Well - we know that story. Winchester? Which Winchester? What company? Walther? Same. Springfield? (Do I dare utter their name?), FN? Loved their 1899!! Now?? etc, etc, ad nauseum. The point of my rant is - Ruger has stood behind their products. Period. And that's the best you can ask of any company.
Call them!!

(Oh, and btw Drm50 - thank you for a wonderful transaction and a great pistol!!)

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[MrWolf]

You will get QC issues from every company no matter the name. What matters are the frequency and if they fix it on their dime. I have a new Kimber 6 that had finish issues. No problem sending it back and getting her back nice an purty. No it did not heed to go through an FFL.

[cwtebay]

One more question to the OP - didn't the fit and finish give you pause? There's nothing wrong with telling a salesperson that thei wares they are representing are below your standards. I actually took photos and a video of an S&W that I was set to purchase, passed on the buy and sent those to S&W. They were appreciative and said they pulled that X frame from that store.

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[contender1]

Ok, let's look at things with an open mind, and an appreciation for manufacturing, in todays market.
The market is competitive. To be able to sell a product, a company must be able to build it where it can sell with it's competition. And do this while meeting the demands from the market.
(High demand,, vs low availability.)
When you employ top quality gunsmith types, (hard to find nowadays,) you will pay a lot more in wages & overhead to keep them. And when you have a LARGE company (over 1800 employees,) where everyone must be able to pass a background check, as well as a drug test, it lowers the available workforce. So, you then add in the fact that you NEED to turn out thousands of guns weekly, it becomes very hard to meet ALL the criteria.
(Typical consumer; "I want a perfect product, but I do not want to pay a premium.")
Freedom Arms makes a handgun darn near perfect, but they also cost at least 4 times the amount of a Ruger.
The TIME, (read expense) it takes to make a FA,, over a production line gun (Ruger) is why you pay the premium for a FA. OR,, Or,, you buy a production line item, that may have the occasional flaws, or need to be returned to have any flaws corrected.
Ruger employees are production line assemblers mostly. They are not allowed the luxury of being a custom gun builder or gunsmith.
And as for the QC issues,, at each building station, they have various methods to check the results of that station's portion of the build. By the time the gun reaches the end of the assembly line,, it has been checked according to each station.

HOWEVER,,,, they do not undergo a severe inspection at the end, due to the numerous inspections prior to that.
And you have to expect that OCCASIONALLY,, a gun will be built that passed everything,, but is still not "right." It's a production line item. And the employees are human,, and NONE of us are perfect 100% of the time. Humans make mistakes. (Look at your job & how often you made mistakes,, and hopefully, if honest, you'll understand this.)

With all that,, it's a simple process.
Contact Ruger, and politely explain your issues. Ask, (politely) for a pre-paid shipping label to return the gun. Ship it back, and usually within 1-2 weeks, you will get back a properly fixed handgun.
As for FFL fees,, I'd say it'll depend upon your state laws, of which, I'm not schooled in, nor how that type of service is handled. I do know that in my home state, they ship the gun back to the customer.

Remember, none of us are perfect 100% of the time. Heck, in my job, I'm headed back to a house tomorrow that I finished last week. Apparently, the customer has a critter getting in again. If my repairs didn't hold, I'll be re-doing my work, for free. I'm not perfect either.

[onelight]

Ruger has had great service on every problem I have contacted them with . Some things I fix myself
I think they make a great product for the money and for me they are worth the trouble of getting the issues lined out when they have them. They also offer some unique products that you can't get anyplace else .
No doubt there are better built guns but nothing with the same features any where near the same price range.

[ddixie884]

I got one of the single sevens when they first came out. The chambers didn't line up with the loading gate. I contacted CS and they sent UPS to pick it up. A few days later it came back fixed. No charge................

[762 shooter]

The first decent revolver I could afford back in 1972 was a Super Single Six. Still got it. For the last 39 years I have been surprised at the quality for the price point.

Send it back. They will try to make it right.

762

[sharps4590]

Well said contender1. I was in business for 35 of the 43 years I was an electrician. I hated it when it happened but on the rare occasion I had a call back it was on my dime.

Rugers are ok and represent pretty good value for the money. Some I've owned shot quite well, others didn't but, none have equaled any Freedom Arms I've owned. I've had several Rugers and with all I've had the worst thing has been a trigger that was like dragging a chain down a gravel road...and that has been amazingly consistent. Cylinder mouths are not always consistent either. A trigger job and spring change is relatively inexpensive and a good 'smith won't charge much to true the chamber mouths. Never had to do either with any Freedom Arms but, as contender mentioned, I paid 4 times as much and did so gladly for the 4 times better revolver and resale value.