GunTalk-Online.com

Out of the blue, I find my 22/45 Bolt Stop Pin in two pieces as I disassembled the gun just now. I've been firing the gun 175 rounds every few days and probably accumulated 700-750 rounds since last cleaning. Nothing in firing the gun seemed amiss.

The main spring housing slipped out easier than usual (after releasing it's lever), but the bolt stop pin remained in place. A weird, totally unexpected event (and feeling) watching it happen. The bolt stop pin is broken through the neck, just below (1/16th inch) the bottom of the pin itself. The larger part of the neck is still pinned with the small pin that secures it to the main spring housing. That pin is immovable and the remaining neck of the bolt stop pin swivels about as usual.

I bought the gun new at a Salt Lake City Gun Show in 2005, and the serial number indicates it was first distributed by Ruger in the same year. I thought the gun was a little shop worn when I bought it. It had a couple of very small pits, I thought, within the barrel and a couple of small superficial rust spots on the outside of the barrel. None of these have been apparent for a long time. A blue gun, 6 7/8" Competition Target.

Probably nearly 12,000 rounds through it. 99%+ Federal Bulk Hi Velocity. I put about 300 rounds of Standard or Sub sonic rounds through recently. But then back to Hi-Velocity Federals. I've got 20 rounds missing from two hyper velocity boxes of ammo I've had for a few years but I don't recall which of three .22 pistols I might have used them in. I'm sure that if it was in this gun, it was done soon after I got it in 2005 or early 2006. That is, over 10,000 rounds ago. (10 rounds missing of Quick-Shox 32 grain Hyper-Velocity, and 10 of Aquila 22 Super Maximum). ???

I'm confused about how this happened and wonder if anyone has had this experience under any circumstances. I talked to Ruger about the gun a few months ago because the rear sight base has never been anchored properly.

I'd love to see a pic of the broken pin.

It is not the first time I've seen this happen. These stop pins have broken on rare occasions. The bolt stop may have been miss-heat treated at the factory. Just call Ruger and they will send you a new one. Ask them for a new pivot pin too, because you will have to drift out the old one to install and it has a heavy staked dimple in it. You can install the new one by drifting out the old pivot pin with a punch. When installing, be sure to heavily stake (dimple) both ends of the pin with a pointed punch to prevent the pin from walking within the frame. If this pin walks, it will be extremely difficult to remove your mainspring housing.

R,
Bullseye

If you can get Ruger to send the whole assembly it would be easier.

Thanks Bullseye, and blue68. It was really surprising to see something that had always been whole, all of a sudden be in two pieces. Is it likely that if I did shoot some of the hyper velocity stuff through this gun 3 or 4 years ago, that it would have aggravated a weakness already there? Seems like 10,000 or so rounds later would be too long for an earlier mismatch between the bolt stop pin and the aggravation of a handful of hyper velocity rounds.

I'll try to get a hold of Ruger tomorrow afternoon or Monday to see how they can handle this.

Thanks, again.

I don't have a digital camera. If I can borrow one and figure out how to get a picture into my computer, I'll do so. Not sure I'll be able to. Will keep the part if Ruger allows me to, and send something later, Bullseye.

FourCornerm'n

Typically a digital camera has a USB capable cable to import the picture to your computer. I will host that picture if you send it to me via Email as an attachment, that will reduce the complication of needing a photo host to attach it into your forum posts.

Ruger may want you to send the bolt stop to them so they can determine if the failure is a manufacturing defect or an anomaly.

R,
Bullseye

OK, Bullseye, I'll see what I can do. I'll be calling Ruger on Tuesday, sometime. Will let you know about the pic.

I called Ruger in Arizona today and talked with a woman named Alma. I don't think she was in a Parts Dept. I didn't ask for prices for parts, but all she did was give me the prices for a full mainspring assembly (just over $28.) and for a bolt stop pin (about $10). When I said my understanding was the breakage was likely due to an incorrect heat treatment of the bolt stop pin, she took my phone number and said she'd have a technician call me. Never heard back the rest of the day, though I was calling in the later morning. She really sounded disinterested and there was no reason to argue in any way with her. I didn't think she was in any position to make a decision or bother thinking the situation through.

I'll most likely call again tomorrow and ask to talk to a 'technician' who might be able to help me. I wonder if anyone has a suggestion?


Thanks

You're doing it the right way, sometimes the technicians take a day or two to get back to you. Make sure you let them know the part appears faulty. $28 isn't bad for the whole assembly, if you have to pay for it, which you shouldn't. The time saved removing and restaking in the new pin is well worth the difference, especially if you don't have the tools and time to install the part properly.

R,
Bullseye

Thanks, Bullseye. I never heard back from Ruger, so I called today. Was transferred to a Service Dept. The tech said they'd be glad to take care of it for me if I mailed the mainspring housing and broken bolt stop pin. They'd install the pin in my mainspring housing. He said that this pin is not expected to break no matter whether hyper velocity .22 ammo was used, or not. (99.9%-100.0% have been regular Hi Velocity .22s). But, in any case, I'd have to pay shipping both ways and for the bolt stop pin. Explaining what my general understanding was (from here and elsewhere) the service tech, very congenially transferred me to a supervisor who would probably call me back right away, if she wasn't near the phone.

When she called back she repeated that what the tech had told me including the payment they expected. No rancor, at all. She said the gun was an old gun and that's why I must pay. I said that every source I'd referred to said it was likely a faulty stop pin because they are never supposed to break. Also that I was on line with knowledgeable professionals that knew Ruger products well. Both tech and super understood that the only smiths in my small town worked from garages - and that my experience here is that they think they know more than they do. Explained a little of my personal circumstances, and asked if there'd been a change in Ruger's policies regarding repairs. Neither of us was at all confrontational.

I sent the mainspring and broken bolt stop pin to Prescott later today after she said they'd be glad to repair it at no charge. I'm not going to worry about postage. Little surprised it took the turns it did, but it'll probably turn out well. Both the first phone answerer and the super said this gun was released in 2002, while the Ruger reference for the serial number category always led me to believe it was released in 2005. Also, the same person who first told me the main spring housing cost $28, today said it cost $48. I remember hearing $28 earlier and quickly calculating the relative value of $28 compared to the $6 pin and thinking it was cheap. It was. And incorrect. I'd be a little careful in dealing with the first person answering the phone there now. I used to talk to Jim in repairs and he was up to snuff. All in all, it will probably work out.

I've been swamped with obligations and so far unable to try to post the picture to you, Bullseye. Thanks for helping me know how to proceed with this small matter.

Thanks for the update. All I can say is the service department there has slipped a little since Mike Smisko retired. Sending it in is really no big deal, the USPS has that "if if fits it ships" policy with some inexpensive small boxes. Or, you could send back in a bubble pack. Plus, the mainspring housing is fairly small so it won't need a big package. Me, I'd have just let them send me a new bolt stop and pin then installed it myself, it's not rocket science, fifteen minute job at best.

R,
Bullseye