Ruger-repaired 22/45 Mainspring won't fit back into gun

[FourCornerm'n]

If I can find the right file and some cold blue, I might try to do the job myself. I need to get back to shooting, not trying to find out how to download pictures. Spent much of the day yesterday fooling with my computer, which I'm no expert at.

Since Ruger seemed to disinterested in what basically was a bad repair, I don't know that I want to rely on them anymore. The guy I spoke to just seemed over-tired and somehow unresponsive. I guess with an increase of 60% or so, in sales, they aren't getting some things right. How could an experienced repair man there, look at this bolt stop pin and not know it was a blem?

[perazzi]

4 it seems like a simple repair. Just use the edge on a flat file to whack it off till it fits.

[Bullseye]

Use one with a "safe side" edge to protect the housing and go slowly. Roll the file as you cut off the blemish. About a 10 minute job to do right. That bolt stop is hard so take your time and don't try to cut too much at once. A well oiled course sharpening stone would do just as well.

R,
Bullseye

[FourCornerm'n]

It does look doable. Thanks for the recommended details. They should make a difference. A lot better than sending this thing back to Ruger and waiting to see if they make another mistake, then having to start over.

Will post when the job's about done.

Bullseye - when you say roll the file, since it's a flat file (one edge with no teeth or cutting surface), I'm not sure what you mean. Do you mean to stroke the rimmed edge and wrap around part of the circumference as I'm doing it?

[Bullseye]

Basically yes. Typically when you use a flat file you keep it parallel when cutting, but with this curved surface, you'll need to gently roll the nose of the file over forward as you cut, essentially following the surface contour of the bolt stop pin. Otherwise, you'll cut flat spots in your bolt stop if you keep the file straight.

R,
Bullseye

[perazzi]

Like a manicurist rounding off fingernails with a fingernail file.

[FourCornerm'n]

Thanks, Bullseye. And Perazzi - I could use (pardon the term) a good manicurist. Nice example.

Will get to work finding the file and a vice and will let y'all know

[Bullseye]

A set of good needle files would be great for this application. Be sure to put some padding in the vise to prevent damage to the surface of your bolt stop. A couple of pieces of hard wood would be perfect.

R,
Bullseye

[FourCornerm'n]

Thanks again, Bullseye. Protecting the bolt stop with buffer padding was about all I actually knew just how to do in this simple process. My landlord has a small, well secured vice and I've got two or three miscellany files - one's 1/4" wide - not quite a needle file. I'll ask around.

Ruger might come through? They've asked, based on earlier contact, to see photos of the bolt stop. So, I may wait to see how helpful they decide to be. If I hadn't waited to put it back togeth .... etc. Time is the problem because of the hope to get action work done on the match gun while I begin practice right away with this one. If Ruger could turn the gun around quickly, that would be one thing. But, if it comes to a simple fix here, I'd probably more quickly have a functioning mainspring system, as well as the satisfaction of having done a good job. The 'by-my-own-hands' thing has value, too, of course.

I'll know in a couple of days.

Thanks to everyone whose contributed.

[FourCornerm'n]

Received an e-mail from Ruger late yesterday after I sent the pics they asked for the night before. They're sending another mainspring housing assembly and including an envelope for me to return the blemished housing/bolt stop to them so they can determine why it arrived in an unusable form. I think this is a credit to them and appreciate their following up on our earlier contact.

If I'd started this earlier, myself, and understood that what I was looking at (the bolt stop) was a blem, it would have been easier on everybody. Also, it turns out that I only need to send the bottom half of my match 22/45 to Louisiana to have the action work done. That means I'd have that gun's mainspring to use in my practice gun during the long wait before the match gun is returned. The hairs on my spine never needed to get all astir in the first place !

It's good to know Ruger's gonna come through.

[blue68f100]

That's good news. Glad to hear that Ruger is taking care of it. That is definately one part that should have been rejected on QC during mfg.

[FourCornerm'n]

Ruger sent the replacement mainspring housing with a much spiffier looking bolt stop pin as they said they would. Received it today and will try to take it for a test run tomorrow. It looks real solid. They've been stand-up in this process and I have to thank them for it.