Is it common to have bad machining on GP100? - The Firearms Forum

R.Smith · 01-12-2012, 09:01 AM

Hi guys. I’ve posted the same thing on another forum but would like some more thoughts. I'm new to this gun thing which is probably why I'm having questions now. That and I unfortunately didn't have my glasses with me when I bought a new GP100 last weekend (hasn't been fired by me). I'm only wondering if Ruger GP100's typically have machining errors here and there. I’m not looking for perfection but I also don’t want one of the worst examples. Hopefully I will be posting three photos of the two areas in question, two of which is one of the locking notches. All the notches have what appears to be a small amount of metal missing on an edge as well as what looks to be a small section of raised metal with a corresponding crack? Another photo shows what I'd say is bad machining but I don't know what the part is called... Hopefully the photo will clear this up. I sent the three photos to the dealer but he tells me he can’t tell what I’m talking about from looking at them. I would certainly apprecate any ideas/opinions.

See three photos at photobucket:

http://s1195.photobucket.com/albums/...ulate35/GP100/

Ron Smith

Bindernut · 01-12-2012, 10:25 AM

Are all six locking grooves like that?
If so, I'd venture a guess that either the hand is over-rotating the cylinder and forcing the bolt against the far edge of the groove, or the bolt is unlocking late and the hand is turning the cylinder before the bolt is fully out of the way. I'm thinking the latter would be the most likely case.

The hiccup on the barrel shroud (by the ejector rod cutout) isn't normal. Haven't seen anything that noticable on a NIB Ruger before. From the pic you've got, to me it looks like it's dinged up by a tool and not machine marks. It might look differnt from another angle.

Gun Geezer · 01-12-2012, 11:10 AM

From what I can see from the photos it looks like a bit of sloppy machining and sloppier quality control. Not used to seeing this from Ruger, but from what I've been seeing lately from all manufactured products, you're lucky it has all the pieces. There seems to be no excellence in the workplace any more. I think it has something to do with the modern trend to give everyone who ran in the race a medal. Another socialist scheme to make us all equally dumb.

al45lc · 01-12-2012, 11:22 AM

My opinion is to pack it up and ship it back with detailed notes on what you feel is wrong.
Ruger boasts of being "high quality", so remind them of that.
My experience's with Ruger's repair team was poor to abysmal, so be prepared to fight for what you think you should get.

RunningOnMT · 01-12-2012, 12:15 PM

Some looks like just plain sub standard hand finishing. Those digs around the ejector rod look typical for someone hogging out material because of not having his air motor under control. I would definitely send it back to Ruger.

I tell you, I like Ruger but my GP100 had issues too. What I noticed on mine is an unequal amount of material removed from one side to the other on the frame and barrel. Look at the flat on top of the frame and see if it's centered to the top of the barrel, then look at the muzzle end and see if the barrel wall looks slightly thicker on one side. I called Ruger and they just said "you'll get that with hand finishing". I call BS, their CNC should be machining everything pretty even and hand finish not removing more than .001"-.002" to remove tool marks. All I can say is that kind of asymmetry wouldn't cut it in the mold shops I've worked in.

R.Smith · 01-12-2012, 05:24 PM

RunningOnMT said, "What I noticed on mine is an unequal amount of material removed from one side to the other on the frame and barrel. Look at the flat on top of the frame and see if it's centered to the top of the barrel, then look at the muzzle end and see if the barrel wall looks slightly thicker on one side."

RunningOnMt, the gun I have is just like yours and is visiblely noticeable. I even measured to make sure my eyes weren't deceiving me.

I hope you guys realize that I have never had a revolver before this and thus don't know what is normal quality on a GP100. At least you have been kinder than some at other forum. Some there implied that I was an idiot for even bring up my concerns. The one area I could maybe dress up with a file or some other tool. The blemishes on all the locking notches might be another thing. If by chance Bindernut is correct and it isn't a machining problem but maybe something caused by using the gun I'd hate to see it get progressively worse.

Just out of curiousity I stopped at the local Scheels and looked at the two stainless GP100's they had in stock. Neither one of the GP100's they had had the issues I'm talking about in my original posting. I wouldn't have any second thoughts buying either of those.

Gun Geezer · 01-12-2012, 05:45 PM

I've got a Taurus that most guys on here think is crap, that has better machining and finishing than that.

hansom · 01-14-2012, 02:53 AM

Heck i own 6 Taurus revolvers and they have nothing like that, Ruger should be ashamed to let that gun out of the factory.

Take it back to your dealer and have them send it back to RUger.

SHame! shame!

Helix_FR · 01-14-2012, 08:31 AM

The machining error on the barrel shroud were the ejector is, Ive seen before. Its just cosmetic. I agree with Bindernut on the cylinder issue. At least the gun works, Taurus just likes to send them out not working

.

sctt77 · 01-24-2012, 05:33 AM

i had a gp100 yrs ago i had scratches on mine when i got it but that was it ruger is usally good on what they make i would send it back wit ur concerns written down

w1spurgeon · 02-05-2012, 11:32 AM

Your comments made me go inspect my week-old SP101. Thankfully I did not see the same problems.

Old John · 02-07-2012, 09:16 AM

I bought a 3" Gp100, new about 6 or seven years ago. It was pristine. No tool marks, no scrathes, anywhere. I've got close to 6000 rnds. through it and it still looks pretty good. I clean it pretty regular to keep it looking good, too.
It'sw one of my faqvorite handguns.

R.Smith · 09-09-2012, 02:32 PM

Ruger made arrangements to pick the gun up and sent a replacement back two months later. The replacement is much better than the original gun except for the fluting on top of the barrel. A representative so much as said that the fluting not looking centered is common because of "hand" machining. I'd have to guess that the original gun has probably been resold.

01-12-2012, 09:01 AM	#1
R.Smith Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 5	Is it common to have bad machining on GP100? Hi guys. I’ve posted the same thing on another forum but would like some more thoughts. I'm new to this gun thing which is probably why I'm having questions now. That and I unfortunately didn't have my glasses with me when I bought a new GP100 last weekend (hasn't been fired by me). I'm only wondering if Ruger GP100's typically have machining errors here and there. I’m not looking for perfection but I also don’t want one of the worst examples. Hopefully I will be posting three photos of the two areas in question, two of which is one of the locking notches. All the notches have what appears to be a small amount of metal missing on an edge as well as what looks to be a small section of raised metal with a corresponding crack? Another photo shows what I'd say is bad machining but I don't know what the part is called... Hopefully the photo will clear this up. I sent the three photos to the dealer but he tells me he can’t tell what I’m talking about from looking at them. I would certainly apprecate any ideas/opinions. See three photos at photobucket: http://s1195.photobucket.com/albums/...ulate35/GP100/ Ron Smith --> Last edited by R.Smith; 01-12-2012 at 11:25 AM..

01-12-2012, 10:25 AM	#2
Bindernut Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ND, USA Posts: 2,453	Re: Is it common to have bad machining on GP100? Are all six locking grooves like that? If so, I'd venture a guess that either the hand is over-rotating the cylinder and forcing the bolt against the far edge of the groove, or the bolt is unlocking late and the hand is turning the cylinder before the bolt is fully out of the way. I'm thinking the latter would be the most likely case. The hiccup on the barrel shroud (by the ejector rod cutout) isn't normal. Haven't seen anything that noticable on a NIB Ruger before. From the pic you've got, to me it looks like it's dinged up by a tool and not machine marks. It might look differnt from another angle.

01-12-2012, 11:10 AM	#3
Gun Geezer Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,710	Re: Is it common to have bad machining on GP100? From what I can see from the photos it looks like a bit of sloppy machining and sloppier quality control. Not used to seeing this from Ruger, but from what I've been seeing lately from all manufactured products, you're lucky it has all the pieces. There seems to be no excellence in the workplace any more. I think it has something to do with the modern trend to give everyone who ran in the race a medal. Another socialist scheme to make us all equally dumb.

01-12-2012, 11:22 AM	#4
al45lc Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: colorful colorado Posts: 1,016	Re: Is it common to have bad machining on GP100? My opinion is to pack it up and ship it back with detailed notes on what you feel is wrong. Ruger boasts of being "high quality", so remind them of that. My experience's with Ruger's repair team was poor to abysmal, so be prepared to fight for what you think you should get. __________________ You are what you do, when it counts.

01-12-2012, 12:15 PM	#5
RunningOnMT Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Akron, Ohio Contributor Posts: 4,720	Re: Is it common to have bad machining on GP100? Some looks like just plain sub standard hand finishing. Those digs around the ejector rod look typical for someone hogging out material because of not having his air motor under control. I would definitely send it back to Ruger. I tell you, I like Ruger but my GP100 had issues too. What I noticed on mine is an unequal amount of material removed from one side to the other on the frame and barrel. Look at the flat on top of the frame and see if it's centered to the top of the barrel, then look at the muzzle end and see if the barrel wall looks slightly thicker on one side. I called Ruger and they just said "you'll get that with hand finishing". I call BS, their CNC should be machining everything pretty even and hand finish not removing more than .001"-.002" to remove tool marks. All I can say is that kind of asymmetry wouldn't cut it in the mold shops I've worked in. __________________ "Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!"

01-12-2012, 05:24 PM	#6
R.Smith Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 5	Scheel's GP100's Comparison RunningOnMT said, "What I noticed on mine is an unequal amount of material removed from one side to the other on the frame and barrel. Look at the flat on top of the frame and see if it's centered to the top of the barrel, then look at the muzzle end and see if the barrel wall looks slightly thicker on one side." RunningOnMt, the gun I have is just like yours and is visiblely noticeable. I even measured to make sure my eyes weren't deceiving me. I hope you guys realize that I have never had a revolver before this and thus don't know what is normal quality on a GP100. At least you have been kinder than some at other forum. Some there implied that I was an idiot for even bring up my concerns. The one area I could maybe dress up with a file or some other tool. The blemishes on all the locking notches might be another thing. If by chance Bindernut is correct and it isn't a machining problem but maybe something caused by using the gun I'd hate to see it get progressively worse. Just out of curiousity I stopped at the local Scheels and looked at the two stainless GP100's they had in stock. Neither one of the GP100's they had had the issues I'm talking about in my original posting. I wouldn't have any second thoughts buying either of those. Last edited by R.Smith; 01-12-2012 at 05:43 PM..

01-12-2012, 05:45 PM	#7
Gun Geezer Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,710	Re: Is it common to have bad machining on GP100? I've got a Taurus that most guys on here think is crap, that has better machining and finishing than that.

01-14-2012, 02:53 AM	#8
hansom Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 81	Re: Is it common to have bad machining on GP100? Heck i own 6 Taurus revolvers and they have nothing like that, Ruger should be ashamed to let that gun out of the factory. Take it back to your dealer and have them send it back to RUger. SHame! shame!

01-14-2012, 08:31 AM	#9
Helix_FR TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Imperial, MO Posts: 3,624	Re: Is it common to have bad machining on GP100? The machining error on the barrel shroud were the ejector is, Ive seen before. Its just cosmetic. I agree with Bindernut on the cylinder issue. At least the gun works, Taurus just likes to send them out not working . __________________ Only cowards shoot with their eyes closed.... helixgunsmith.com

01-24-2012, 05:33 AM	#10
sctt77 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: wash pa Posts: 73	Re: Is it common to have bad machining on GP100? i had a gp100 yrs ago i had scratches on mine when i got it but that was it ruger is usally good on what they make i would send it back wit ur concerns written down

02-05-2012, 11:32 AM	#11
w1spurgeon V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 176	Re: Is it common to have bad machining on GP100? Your comments made me go inspect my week-old SP101. Thankfully I did not see the same problems.

02-07-2012, 09:16 AM	#12
Old John Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 49	Re: Is it common to have bad machining on GP100? I bought a 3" Gp100, new about 6 or seven years ago. It was pristine. No tool marks, no scrathes, anywhere. I've got close to 6000 rnds. through it and it still looks pretty good. I clean it pretty regular to keep it looking good, too. It'sw one of my faqvorite handguns. __________________ 'Til later.... Hang in there,and Hang on! Life is a Journey... Not a Destination! Old John

09-09-2012, 02:32 PM	#13
R.Smith Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 5	Update Ruger made arrangements to pick the gun up and sent a replacement back two months later. The replacement is much better than the original gun except for the fluting on top of the barrel. A representative so much as said that the fluting not looking centered is common because of "hand" machining. I'd have to guess that the original gun has probably been resold.