OLD Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 Mag gate keeps opening

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ghbucky

New member
I inherited a gorgeous .44 Ruger Super Blackhawk that is in pristine condition.

It did have the recall work to keep it from drop firing (tang?). I even have the original parts that Ruger replaced.

It has 1 bad habit. The loading gate (this one does not lock out if it opens) will swing open under recoil. Its not a real issue, just annoying.

Is there anything that can be done to remedy this?
 
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ghbucky

New member
I don't think anything is broken. It closes and holds, it's just magnum recoil that pops it to open.
 
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stinkeypete

New member
Since you have already done the recall on your 3 screw, call Ruger customer service. The gate should not jar open no matter what Cape Buffalo loads you light off!
 
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Wallyl

New member
I had that issue years ago with a .357 Magnum Blackhawk....it was a "bad" MR07300 loading gate spring that caused the issue, as it didn't provide enough tension to prevent the loading gate from opening up when firing. Call Ruger for a replacement. Don't shoot your pistol before you do or you will damage the loading gate.
 
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ghbucky

New member
I had that issue years ago with a .357 Magnum Blackhawk....it was a "bad" MR07300 loading gate spring that caused the issue, as it didn't provide enough tension to prevent the loading gate from opening up when firing. Call Ruger for a replacement. Don't shoot your pistol before you do or you will damage the loading gate.
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Thanks. I feel kind of silly now, contacting Ruger is a pretty obvious answer.
 
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Wallyl

New member
No reason to be...I have a no. of Ruger SA pistols and this only happened with one that I had back in the 70's...I never had that trouble ever again. I did try to bend the spring so it'd give more tension...that didn't work. Some call the spring a "Loading Gate Detent Spring".
 
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arquebus357

New member
Whoever reassembled last did not seat the gate spring properly. Ruger single actions are a nightmare to reassemble. Brownells sells a gadget that will hold the gate spring in place.

I would not suggest you try to do this unless you are very patient. There are some youtube posts for you to peruse.
 
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ghbucky

New member
yeah, there is no way in heck that I am going to take a screwdriver to that gun. It means far too much to me for me to be monkeying with it. If there is work to be done, it is going back to Ruger.

I dropped them a contact form. I'll just let it continue to be a safe queen until I hear back from them.
 
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Wallyl

New member
Please/please!!! I did it and so can you...I didn't have this handy You Tube clip---it is quite easy and if you run into a problem...(First) call your local gunshop and explain what you want to do ...ask them if you could bring it over to take it apart on their premises (at a convienent time for the) and if they would be willing to help you if you run into an issue. Most will not want to take it apart, but are willing to help you, if you need it. Just don't take it apart and bring it in all dissassembled.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bytV-v4pP9Y
 
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DaleA

New member
ghbucky---your gun, your call and I think you're doing the smart thing here...Ruger has a great reputation for customer service.

That said, the video Wallyl mentioned seems to be pretty good and if you want the info straight from the horses mouth Ruger has their own videos that cover lots and lots of stuff including disassembly and reassembly of their single action revolvers.

https://ruger.com/videos.html?vid=131271707&cat=3769277
 
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ghbucky

New member
I appreciate the info. I did watch the video, and if I had bought the gun myself I would probably go for it.

But, given that the gun is a 1968 with the original bluing that barely even has cylinder drag on it, I'm not going near it with a screwdriver.

I know how that would end up.
 
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rclark

New member
Ruger single actions are a nightmare to reassemble.
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Must be who is doing it, because I've not found it to be a problem over the last 30 years that I've had to tear down and then reassemble. Old Model is even easier than the New Model IMHO. In fact one of the first things I do with a new revolver is tear it down, check the parts, clean up here, stone there, oil, and reassemble. One should use correct size screw driver though to not bugger the screws.... and yes, I do have a few buggered screws over the years! I could replace them, but the guns wouldn't shoot any better anyway, so I leave them.

Problem of sending it in, is a) they might condemn the gun or b) they will convert it and then may not return the original parts. Always a crap shoot.

{edited} I see the conversion was already done. Pays to read the whole post! Hopefully won't be a problem then.
 
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Aguila Blanca

Staff
Wallyl said:
Please/please!!! I did it and so can you...I didn't have this handy You Tube clip---it is quite easy and if you run into a problem...(First) call your local gunshop and explain what you want to do ...ask them if you could bring it over to take it apart on their premises (at a convienent time for the) and if they would be willing to help you if you run into an issue. Most will not want to take it apart, but are willing to help you, if you need it. Just don't take it apart and bring it in all dissassembled.
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IMHO, this is both terrible advice, and a waste of time. I don't know about matters where you live but, around here, I don't know of any gun shops that have anyone on staff who is qualified to do anything much more involved than a field strip of a Glock. I also seriously doubt that many local gun shops, if they even have a gunsmithing bench, would allow a customer to work in there.

My local FFL is an exception -- for me. He has been my go-to FFL for twenty years, and he calls me in to work on 1911s. I don't think he has ever allowed a customer off the street to go behind the counter or into the workbench area.
 
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44 AMP

Staff
Don't send it in. I have heard stories of people sending 3 screw Rugers in for service and when they got it back, it had been "safety converted."
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They aren't stories. Ruger is REQUIRED to convert any of the "old model" (3 screw) guns they get. The legal settlement that requires this did not require a recall, and Ruger didn't issue one, but if you send them a 3 screw gun, they will convert it, you don't get a choice.
 
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ghbucky

New member
I really don't understand the consternation about Ruger doing the conversion. I guess I see that it could be surprising that they did work you didn't expect them to, but they do return the original parts.

If you are determined to have a dangerous gun, you can always convert it back.
 
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Ricklin

New member
Stash a Benjamin

If a 3 screw Ruger is dangerous, I also have some dangerous guns.
Leave it to the legal system to "protect us" from ourselves.

There is nothing inherently unsafe about a traditional single action, follow the rules for single action revolvers.

Keep an empty cylinder under the hammer. I have read that some folding money can be stashed in one cylinder.

The downside to the safety conversion is the change to the trigger pull. Or so I hear, I don't currently own a 3 screw Ruger but do own some traditional single action revolvers.
 
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KEYBEAR

New member
Ruger no longer Sends the Parts back if you send it in for any reason it will be converted. (The old Parts will not be sent back)
 
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