Back from the Mothership....Again

[rkrcpa]

UPS came today and dropped off my 44spl Bisley Flattop


This is the second time I sent it back for a broken pawl. Hopefully, this time is the last. In both instances the pawl broke while I was cycling the action, not while firing it.

I sent it in on 11/9/17 and spoke to the technician Monday morning (11/13/17). We discussed the issue and how it occurred in the same fashion each time. He indicated that it was not an unheard of problem and believed he knew how to correct it. He was a very nice gentleman, more than eager to make sure I was happy. He indicated that after the repair was made he would have them put 50 rounds through it to make sure everything was in proper order.

One of the reasons that I requested to I speak to them before any repairs were made is the last time it was in they replaced the hammer, trigger, pawl, gate spring as well as repairing the pawl hole in the frame. I wanted to make sure they were not going to replace the hammer and trigger again. When I sent it in the first time it had a stainless hammer and trigger but returned with blued parts. I was determined that it would return with the same blued parts. Not only did it come back with the blued parts, they also returned my after market springs.

A quick examination shows everything to be in order although the trigger pull can only be described as robust. Hopefully I can get to the range this weekend and she how it shoots.

[jdoc]

I don't especially care for the stainless hammer/triggers in a blued revolver either. The blued Bisley triggers have been available for awhile. Although I have not seen any blued Bisley hammers offered. Best of luck with your Ruger NMFT 44.

[dhd]

"A quick examination shows everything to be in order although the trigger pull can only be described as robust."

You mean it breaks like a cinder block? I like the way you worded that!

[Alaskan454]

I had this issue with a Vaquero once upon a time. If you look at the pawl design for these midframes, Ruger accomplished a free spin feature by using a lower tab that contacts the grip frame. My gun was fit so the pawl was forced against the back of the pawl window every time it was retracted (hammer fully forward on the frame). Ideally, you would want it out of the way but with a tiny bit of room to move back and forth in the retracted position so it doesn't fail under repeated stress cycles.

This gun in particular had likely broken 2 or 3 pawls before I decided to investigate further. I was new to SAs at the time and it was used for SASS, not an easy life in the holster. Someone told me it was normal so I just replaced the pawl, turns out they were wrong. After fitting a new pawl myself with a bit of extra room in the retracted position, I've never had one break. Just thought I'd mention this if anyone was struggling with broken pawls.

[bradshaw]

While I don’t carry one of these flattops, I understand the affection these generate among those who do. Examples I’ve fired shoot true and for moderate loads the compact size is sweet. However, the Ruger transfer bar system is not designed to be cramped. Parts should move freely. Work from the leather is hard on a sixgun, but nothing a Ruger shouldn’t last a very long time doing. Fit of a freespin pawl is more sensitive than the traditional ratchet. A feature in the frame casting can cause binding or timing issues.

Good input from alaskan454.
David Bradshaw

[mbogo]

Sounds like stacking tolerances in the wrong way. Have had the same revolver with the 5.5" barrel since early 2010, with nary a problem. Stock springs, rebent the trigger spring a bit, and a bit off the nose of the hammer surface per David's instructions to tame the trigger. It always ends up in my range bag, and had enjoyed at least a thousand loads of 7.5 grains of Unique, and many rounds of test and gallery loads.

[rkrcpa]

My discussions with the Ruger tech were essentially what Alaskan454 stated. When I originally received the revolver there was noticeable binding of the hammer against the grip frame. I believe that contributed to the problem. My hope is that with proper clearences established the problem has been resolved.

[wildcatter]

I had an issues with a brand new Stnl. Single Six Bisley in 22 LR only that I picked up Friday. It had pawl binding issues also, along with other less than ideal issues! It was binding because the grip screw was completely compressing the pawl spring and binding the hammer half way thru the drop, and causing binding rotating the cylinder in free spool, and hard cocking right out a the box. Not sure if the return spring is different in the Single Six from the Blackhawk, maybe it had the wrong one?? Maybe the grip frame screw that loads it is two long, or the pawl specs are off? Anyways a 1/4" off the spring cured the binding. But this revolver had several issues out of the box, yes it went bang but with so much wrong from the factory, I decided to fix mine myself. Not a big deal as I tear em all down and clean and polish everything that will benefit from it, as well as fixing the triggers that break like cinder blocks,,,, Ruger QC is definetly not what it was 45 years ago.
 
Good Luck hope she's ready for them moments of truth!