My purpose for this query is to create an alternative were the gunsmith to be unresponsive to the problem. My Super Redhawk has been returned with its custom work done. I have a serious problem with the mounting of front sight base with silver solder. The right side of the base has slots and pock marks where silver solder either did not adhere or was sucked beneath the base. And the base is improperly aligned with SRH's frame.

While these problems probably do not affect the usefulness of the front sight assembly, I paid for an cosmetically error-free job rather than what I obtained.

1. Can the gunsmith either remove the sight base and reinstall -- without harming the heat treat of the revolver's 480 Ruger barrel?

2. Were the gunsmith to add to the problem rather than solve it, whom would you recommend to remedy to defects?

The problem should be correctable without harming the barrel.

Spoke w/JRH and he uses a couple of heatsinking methods for silversoldering front sights & sling studs. Having said that ~ had a abilene that had a broken ejector housing screw. The threaded nut was silver soldered and the local smith referred it to the factory. It came back ruined. There was welding slag/scale in the bore that I couldn't remove, they buffed the barrel to the extent that it looked like a washboard. And that was the manufacture!!!

PLUS they changed out the hammer to a different configuration re something about a patent infringement judgement. Broke my heart.

Even today I think thrice before I let someone work on my stuff ! !

I see a lot of custom guns w/barrel band style front sights. One would think its hard to screw up ~

Talked by telephone with the gunsmith this morning. Bizarre. He told me to send the barrelled frame back and he would:

1. Strip the hard chrome plating from barrel and sight base.

2. Attempt -- ATTEMPT -- to add silver solder to the defective right side of base. He strongly explained that the problem of blow holes is a common one for torch-applied sliver solder, that he makes no guarantee that the "repair" will be an improvement over what exists.

3. Reapply hard chrome.
***
When I arranged for the work, I contracted for a result. I did not buy an attempt. My feeling is that had I been informed that the job was iffy, I would have had someone else do the work.

From our conversation, I believe there is a strong likelihood the gunsmith will charge me for the repair. If this occurs, being in a different state, have I any legal recourse?

I have no comment on your legal questions.

I will note though that I have applied more pounds of silver solder in my lifetime than I'd care to account for.

Crap alignment, and inclusion and porosity in the filler material are only common to crap work and rejected test samples.



--Tinker

I received my Ruger Super Redhawk 480 back after its repair. The job is magnificent.

I can now furnish a plug for the gunsmith without reservation.

Bob Cogan
Accurate Plating & Weaponry, Inc.
Cogan Custom
5229 County Road 99
Newville, AL 36353

334-585-9488
www.apwcogan.com

Glad it ended well for you.

Work done: Barrel shortened to 4-3/4 inches; custom front sight; frame, barrel, hammer brush hard chromed; warning stamping removed.

Photography is not best quality, but I think you get a reasonable idea of what occurred. In reality, the work is excellent.

I have never really liked the SRH, thought the extended snout on the front of the frame made the revolver ugly. But I have to tell you, this is a very nice looking revolver! I think you just changed my mind!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Doubless:
I have never really liked the SRH, thought the extended snout on the front of the frame made the revolver ugly. But I have to tell you, this is a very nice looking revolver! I think you just changed my mind!!!

This project was a result of another discussion where a participant showed a similar job being done by a Canadian gunsmith. It is this gunsmith's front sight base that you see here. The Canadian smith affixed the base with hex head screws and a visible mating of base and frame via a male (base) female (frame) half moon machining.

My original job was to be a silver soldered version of what the Canadian smith did. Having written that, I strongly prefer Mr. Cogan's second method although I have no idea how he managed to blend/weld/whatever?? base to frame without seam.

The revolver balances much better than the 7.5-inch barrelled 480, feeling much lighter than it really is. I'm uncertain of this, but Mr. Cogan may have done some action work and reduced gap between cylinder and rear of barrel. All SRH 480s I have examined are better fitted and more tightly timed than other commercial revolvers I've handled with the sole exception of Freedom Arms' Model 83s. And in this case, the only noticeable difference is FA's better single action trigger.

quote:

Originally posted by Naphtali: All SRH 480s I have examined are better fitted and more tightly timed than other commercial revolvers I've handled with the sole exception of Freedom Arms' Model 83s. And in this case, the only noticeable difference is FA's better single action trigger.

The Super Redhawk is the flagship revolver of Ruger.

That's a nice piece you've got there, Naphtali. Can you post a larger photo or two?

quote:

Originally posted by Whitworth:

quote:

Originally posted by Naphtali: All SRH 480s I have examined are better fitted and more tightly timed than other commercial revolvers I've handled with the sole exception of Freedom Arms' Model 83s. And in this case, the only noticeable difference is FA's better single action trigger.

The Super Redhawk is the flagship revolver of Ruger.

That's a nice piece you've got there, Naphtali. Can you post a larger photo or two?

If graphics linked to thumbnails are not large enough, I have extremely large graphics that I can send you if you PM me.

Oops, I didn't realize that....... Looks great!! How does it shoot? What have you settled on for loads?

The weather in Seeley Lake has been . . . brisk. I had to call a tow truck yesterday morning having gone off the road about 3-1/2 miles out of town -- and I drive a Land Cruiser. I have not shot the revolver. The primary bullet will be my LBT 340-grain WFN GC loaded to 1000 fps, give or take. I will be getting a Mountain Mold WFN PB 410-425-grains for my Model 83s. I may attempt to create a tyrannosaur slayer for the SRH, but I'm leery about being forced to hammer spent cases from chambers.

I'm open to loading suggestions for the 340-grain bullet.

I shot quite a bit of Buffalo Bore's 410 grain .480 loads out of my SRH (before I converted it), and have shot quite a few out of my brother-in-law's .480 SRH (in fact that is the only load it has been fed), and have had absolutely no issues with extraction. Those loads have consistently chronographed 1,200 fps. I wouldn't worry too much about sticky extraction unless you are using loads that are too hot.

quote:

Originally posted by Naphtali:
Work done: Barrel shortened to 4-3/4 inches; custom front sight; frame, barrel, hammer brush hard chromed; warning stamping removed.

Photography is not best quality, but I think you get a reasonable idea of what occurred. In reality, the work is excellent.

Hmm,Very Nice indeed! May I ask what this cost and time away?...I was thinking of a 480SRH like yours,but maybe 3.5-4"...