Post by gnappi on Jul 7, 2023 13:32:36 GMT -5
I wasn't so sure that a replacement pin would be a good idea but since Power parts are readily available on Ebay and I can use Paypal I gave their Keith #5 pin a try.
Compared to the stock Ruger pin, it measured in at .0015" oversize. The cautions supplied with it about frame burrs were not an issue and it slid right into the frame but more snugly than the Ruger OEM pin.
The cylinder turned a bit slowly at first owing to a tighter fit but a quick rubdown of the pin with 0000 steel wool and a drop of oil and it rotated freely. I never realized how sloppy the cylinder wobbled about with the OEM pin and it's now snug with zero lateral play. At the range it worked perfectly without binding.
To tell the truth I rarely if ever "target shoot" and my 357 blackhawk had never been required to shoot accurately, but at this range trip it WAS checked and the 75' seemed only 15 feet away with one ragged hole in the page. So any concern that a replacement pin might have a detrimental effect on it is gone.
Now will I buy more BP's? Unlikely because this blued .357 has been a sort of quest assembly project to eliminate the little things that bothered me about it, and since the BH was so inexpensive I figured what the heck! Last up will be the barrel chop.
One thing became clear on this range trip. The PO opted out of using .357 magnum ammo and two cylinders began to have extraction issues due to the ring in the cylinder from shorter .38's. Well one thing is certain, after cleaning that gunk out, this revolver will never (as long as I own it) see .38 special ammo again. If I ever buy a .475 I'll only shoot .480's out of it and think about the next owner cussing me the way I cussed the PO of my .357 BH :-)
Compared to the stock Ruger pin, it measured in at .0015" oversize. The cautions supplied with it about frame burrs were not an issue and it slid right into the frame but more snugly than the Ruger OEM pin.
The cylinder turned a bit slowly at first owing to a tighter fit but a quick rubdown of the pin with 0000 steel wool and a drop of oil and it rotated freely. I never realized how sloppy the cylinder wobbled about with the OEM pin and it's now snug with zero lateral play. At the range it worked perfectly without binding.
To tell the truth I rarely if ever "target shoot" and my 357 blackhawk had never been required to shoot accurately, but at this range trip it WAS checked and the 75' seemed only 15 feet away with one ragged hole in the page. So any concern that a replacement pin might have a detrimental effect on it is gone.
Now will I buy more BP's? Unlikely because this blued .357 has been a sort of quest assembly project to eliminate the little things that bothered me about it, and since the BH was so inexpensive I figured what the heck! Last up will be the barrel chop.
One thing became clear on this range trip. The PO opted out of using .357 magnum ammo and two cylinders began to have extraction issues due to the ring in the cylinder from shorter .38's. Well one thing is certain, after cleaning that gunk out, this revolver will never (as long as I own it) see .38 special ammo again. If I ever buy a .475 I'll only shoot .480's out of it and think about the next owner cussing me the way I cussed the PO of my .357 BH :-)
