Rugers - oversize locking base pin

[Thunderjet]

Any worthwhile improvement to be had by installing an oversize locking base pin in an otherwise "stock" Ruger revolver?

[sl1]

yes, it basically tightens up the slop that occurs between the cylinder and frame.

[Thunderjet]

Thanks, I realize that. Should of worded my question better.

Is there any noticeable "before and after" effect on accuracy? Any one installed a new pin and see the groups tighten up?

[dmize]

The ONLY difference I have found is the locking screw. In the 3 I have installed,the cylinder bore is larger than the frame bores. You fine fit the pin to the cylinder and then its too big to go thru the frame. Fit it to the frame and its loose in the cylinder. And after the aggrivation and disapointment with the first,I checked it and the others,stock vs. Belt Mountain and there was no accuracy improvement. Just didnt have the base pin coming out after 4 or 5 shots. And that only happened with HEAVY 44 and 45 loads.

[majorKAP]

In my Rugers, I've noticed after installation that they look cooler and the big knurled or #5 style are easier to grasp. That, plus I've noticed that I never have a tiny allen wrench handy when I need to remove one.

[AxeHandle]

In a stock gun the most important aspect of the aftermarket basepin to me is the lock. The holes in the frame and cylinder would most likely need to be reamed to get anything else consistantly significant out of an oversize pin. People that study such things will point out that the factory slop in the base pin fit goes together with the slop in the alignment of the individual chambers and the barrel. When you tighten up the basepin fit the chamber to barrel alignment becomes more critical... That slight misalignment with the stock pin that has freedom to corrects itself under pressure could be held rigidly out of alignment with the OS pin.

[macjalford]

John Linebaugh confirmed what Axe has said at his seminar in MS several years ago. Unless the other necessary alignment corrections are done, the oversize base pin could make accuracy worse. Custom base pins look cool though. Maybe a "non-oversize" or standard diameter Belt Mountain, for looks, if they make them.

[boxhead]

I have an Accusport Bisley 45 Colt that would not "accept" a Belt Mountain BP as confirmed by my range rod. As such, the factory BP and the barrel were drilled for a locking pin.

[hammerdown77]

I'd go with a standard diameter BM basepin if installing in a stock Ruger. Like Axe said, sometimes removing the "slop" can have negative effects on function/accuracy. Unless you know how to confirm cylinder/bore alignment.

[Thunderjet]

Thanks, saved me some money:)

[Deleted]

Never noticed what they do or don't do for accuracy but they look cool. Especially the #5.

[Markbo]

I actually did some before and after testing on this subject before the forum was moved to this current form. The term that resulted was "statistically insignificant". I used one ruger and one SAA clone in the testing of before and after shooting with known loads and substituting in Belt Mountain base pins.

The resultant data showed no appreciable difference + or - in accuracy of either test vehicle.

[AxeHandle]

FWIW If you've never had a basepin jump let me tell you that you are in for a real treat. The old heads commonly wrote about pins jumping in the field into oblivion resulting in a gun that, until the BP is replaced, makes a good trotline weight.. The idea was over my head until I traded for my first OM FT 44 and saw that the pin would indeed come all the way out without removing the EJR housing.. Then came the Buckeye 38-40/10mm that would spit the basepin at least once per cylinder of ammo. The pin wouldn't come all the way out in the Buckeye Blackhawk like the FT 44 but the gun was looking a lot like a trotline weight before I realized what was going on.

[subsonic]

I could have saved my money.

I don't use the lock either because I find myself removing the cylinder to check the bore condition fairly frequently.

Mine doesn't even look neat, as I chose one that appeared stock to fit into the kydex holster I made before I went looking for a pin.

I have never launched a BP...yet

[COR]

I do for aesthetics mostly...It doesn't seem to hurt any of mine. That #5 style really adds a nice touch.