Ruger semi-auto locked open - The Firearms Forum

Kiltman · 10-02-2012, 06:28 PM

Hello and hope someone can help.
I have an early .44 mag. Ruger carbine. It is in super shape but the slide locked open when I shot it. It wasn't the last round. I managed to get it taken down and freed the slide so it worked. I didn't bend or pry anything.
I pulled the slide open and it locked open again. It will not go shut when I depress the under button. I believe I was using pistol ammo in this older version. Is this repairable by a gunsmith?
I already know the factory no longer has parts per inquiry with Ruger customer service.

Helix_FR · 10-02-2012, 10:16 PM

I had one in the shop that did that same thing. It escapes me exactly what the issue was but it was repairable wo even replacing anything.

Kiltman · 10-04-2012, 07:28 PM

I looked up the serial number and mine was manufactured in 1980.
I'll tear it down and look again to see if there are any areas that need to be deburred on the back of the bolt.
thanks for your reply

JLA · 10-04-2012, 08:02 PM

Sounds like the hold open is tripping without the mag follower hitting it.

Helix_FR · 10-04-2012, 08:53 PM

The ruger carbine runs much like a semi auto shot gun. (think Rem 11-87) its tube fed. When the gun fires, the bolt carrier moves the cartridge stop and the next round loads on to the carrier (or lifter) at the back of the carrier is a trip lever that allows the carrier unlock and move upwards and the bolt to move forward. If no round is in the tube then the trip lever is never hit and the bolt stays back bc the carrier stays down and it intercepts a notch in the bolt holding it in place. The one I fixed a while back was a bad cartridge stop timing. i the cartridge stop was interfering with the feed of the next round, slowing it down. Broken mag tube spring could also be a problem. If its weak it wont feed the next round with enough force to hit the trip lever nor fully feed the round to the carrier. The final thing could be trip lever is bound to the carrier for some reason and does not break away easily. The gun is easy to strip but repair of the trigger group and the timing can be rather tricky

BETH · 10-04-2012, 08:55 PM

everyone always tell me on here clean it then see what happens

Helix_FR · 10-04-2012, 09:07 PM

many times thats the case. the ruger carbine was never real sensitive to being dirty. Gas piston was about it but it would cause a cycle issue.

Kiltman · 10-07-2012, 11:17 AM

Thank-you All for your comments...I have discovered the culprit. I looked into the lifter mechanism. What I discovered was the lifter latch has a pin other than the hinge pin that keeps the lifter from moving until you depress the lifter latch to load it or the gun fires.
This pin had slid all the way to one side keeping the lifter from operating (couldn't feed next shell). The gun thought it was in the "last round mode". It appears to be a simple fix if I can tighten the pin in the lifter latch......any suggestions?

10-02-2012, 06:28 PM	#1
Kiltman Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: West Michigan Posts: 13	Ruger semi-auto locked open Hello and hope someone can help. I have an early .44 mag. Ruger carbine. It is in super shape but the slide locked open when I shot it. It wasn't the last round. I managed to get it taken down and freed the slide so it worked. I didn't bend or pry anything. I pulled the slide open and it locked open again. It will not go shut when I depress the under button. I believe I was using pistol ammo in this older version. Is this repairable by a gunsmith? I already know the factory no longer has parts per inquiry with Ruger customer service. -->

10-02-2012, 10:16 PM	#2
Helix_FR TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Imperial, MO Posts: 3,621	Re: Ruger semi-auto locked open I had one in the shop that did that same thing. It escapes me exactly what the issue was but it was repairable wo even replacing anything. __________________ Only cowards shoot with their eyes closed.... helixgunsmith.com

10-04-2012, 07:28 PM	#3
Kiltman Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: West Michigan Posts: 13	Re: Ruger semi-auto locked open I looked up the serial number and mine was manufactured in 1980. I'll tear it down and look again to see if there are any areas that need to be deburred on the back of the bolt. thanks for your reply

10-04-2012, 08:02 PM	#4
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,315	Re: Ruger semi-auto locked open Sounds like the hold open is tripping without the mag follower hitting it. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

10-04-2012, 08:53 PM	#5
Helix_FR TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Imperial, MO Posts: 3,621	Re: Ruger semi-auto locked open The ruger carbine runs much like a semi auto shot gun. (think Rem 11-87) its tube fed. When the gun fires, the bolt carrier moves the cartridge stop and the next round loads on to the carrier (or lifter) at the back of the carrier is a trip lever that allows the carrier unlock and move upwards and the bolt to move forward. If no round is in the tube then the trip lever is never hit and the bolt stays back bc the carrier stays down and it intercepts a notch in the bolt holding it in place. The one I fixed a while back was a bad cartridge stop timing. i the cartridge stop was interfering with the feed of the next round, slowing it down. Broken mag tube spring could also be a problem. If its weak it wont feed the next round with enough force to hit the trip lever nor fully feed the round to the carrier. The final thing could be trip lever is bound to the carrier for some reason and does not break away easily. The gun is easy to strip but repair of the trigger group and the timing can be rather tricky __________________ Only cowards shoot with their eyes closed.... helixgunsmith.com Last edited by Helix_FR; 10-04-2012 at 08:57 PM..

10-04-2012, 08:55 PM	#6
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,668	Re: Ruger semi-auto locked open everyone always tell me on here clean it then see what happens

10-04-2012, 09:07 PM	#7
Helix_FR TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Imperial, MO Posts: 3,621	Re: Ruger semi-auto locked open many times thats the case. the ruger carbine was never real sensitive to being dirty. Gas piston was about it but it would cause a cycle issue. __________________ Only cowards shoot with their eyes closed.... helixgunsmith.com

10-07-2012, 11:17 AM	#8
Kiltman Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: West Michigan Posts: 13	Re: Ruger semi-auto locked open Thank-you All for your comments...I have discovered the culprit. I looked into the lifter mechanism. What I discovered was the lifter latch has a pin other than the hinge pin that keeps the lifter from moving until you depress the lifter latch to load it or the gun fires. This pin had slid all the way to one side keeping the lifter from operating (couldn't feed next shell). The gun thought it was in the "last round mode". It appears to be a simple fix if I can tighten the pin in the lifter latch......any suggestions?