Warning to anyone buying a Ruger New Vaquero!

mlehtovaara

mlehtovaara

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Just bought one and had it out to the range twice so far without any issues. I am very happy with the gun, except for the butt ugly black plastic grips it comes with!

I got back from the range today after shooting some factory .357 magnum stuff, which I bought just for kicks. I reload some lighter cast loads myself but just wanted to see how she did with the full power .357.

Anyhow just got back home and finished cleaning the gun to find that almost all of the screws on it had come loose!

Now before you start calling me a newb and saying that is something I should have checked, I actually did. They were all tight when I gave it it's first cleaning upon arrival, but after 2 trips to the range they had loosened up. Maybe I just didn't wrench them on tight enough but I don't like wrenching anything too tight.

Anyways the 4 screws holding the grip frame to the frame itself were very loose, and the screw holding the ejector tube on was really really loose allowing the ejector tube to wobble slightly.

I have since tightened them which was not a big deal but I think some blue locktite will be finding it's way into those threads very soon!

Moral of the story - make sure you check all the screws on these things and I would recommend a little blue locktite on them all just in case!

Still very happy with the gun, and I got a holster, and set of grips on the way!

Cheers
Mark
 
Good advice ! There's nothing worse than discovering your revolver is missing a sideplate or grip frame screw when back from the range and starting to clean it. :(
 
This is not a new problem at all as it happened to me with a 3 screw .44 Super Blackhawk back in the 70's. The problem is two-fold as I see it the first being the threads on both the screws and the shallow blind holes that are tapped for the screws. Shallow blind holes never actually deliver 100 % of useable threads required meaning if a hole were .250 deep, realising .200 of thread is normal even using a plug tap. Combine that with small diameter screws such as slotted head #6-48 or #8-40 with a low torque threshold and screws will eventually loosen. Finish that with manufacturers applying some sort of oil to the threads to keep them from rusting while awaitng shipment and the scenario is complete. As mentioned the appropriate treatment would be to use a suitable threadlocker and dry out the oil from the threads first with a degreaser. Threadlockers will not set up correctly if there are contaminents
 
I used to have to check the screws on my Blackhawks regularly, mainly because I used top end loads, things tend to shake loose.
 
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