I just bought a NIB Ruger SBH.

The barrel appears to be a smoothbore shotgun barrel with 12 light etched lines in the shape of rifling. It has no lands or grooves!

Ruger customer service stated it was test fired, and to send it back in for inspection if it doesn't appear right.

Defective barrel or new type of rifling?

mwm464; Unless something has changed, that does not sound right! I know that Smith went to a newfangled type of electronic rifling, but I have not heard of Ruger making any changes. Call Gil at Ruger customer Service, explain your issue, and see what they need to do to correct it if need be.

Groovez!!! Groovez!!!! A 44 mag don't need no stinkin' Groovez!!!!

I would slug the bore with a pure lead ball or sinker to get actual measurements.
Rifling is not that deep and will run from .004" to .005" depending on caliber.

mwm464: Take your wallet when you ship off that bad boy! I've got a BH at Ruger now for repairs (my fault!). It cost me $78.50 to ship it UPS.

Have a FFL dealer uses the USPS Priority Mail to return a handgun to a manufacturer. The cost will be $20-25 or even less. UPS is a pack of legal thieves.

Do you not have a good local gunsmith you could show it to for an opinion, before spending anything? I'd also ask Ruger under what circumstances they pay for shipping.

Ditto on what Shack says. Find some SA guys in WI and get some info. I drove to Madison to buy some Bowen Bisleys so they are out there, or do I have to drive back to show you and buy more cheese. Love that cheese!

quote:

Originally posted by kenoneill:
Have a FFL dealer uses the USPS Priority Mail to return a handgun to a manufacturer. The cost will be $20-25 or even less. UPS is a pack of legal thieves.

The FFLs out here wants a piece of the action =/+ the USPS costs. I'm lucky just to save $20 over UPS/FedEx ~ particullarly if the hw in question wasn't purchased thru him.

I've looked at several SBH's and could plainly see a difference just at the crown. It was even more obvious difference in the barrel. Mine clearly has no lands & grooves, just scratches.

Sent her back to the factory at $69 for shipping, and asked if they could change out the grip frame to the bisley style to compensate for my time & money. Ruger has always done well in the past and kept me happy, so we will see...

I hope you're as happy with yours as I am with mine. UPS just dropped it off. Ruger totally rebuilt & refinished mine. Added new very nice laminated grips along the way. The trigger pull is excellent; lawyers must have been in a meeting! The whole gun is nicer now than when it was new.

Just got her back from Ruger today, and they did an excellent job.

The original barrel was defective, so that was replaced along with the hammer, trigger, and the grip frame changed over to the Bisley with beautifully finished & fitted brown laminated grips and a test target. Original parts (including grip frame) were returned also. Trigger is also very nicely done.

There's nothing worse than picking up a new piece or iron before hunting season, and having to send it back for repairs, but Ruger corrected this situation 110%.

NICE WORK RUGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

....Ruger has the best customer service of anyone....and, I have dealt with them for a long, long time. I smith a lot of Rugers, and they are always excellent to deal with when it comes to getting parts, etc. This is why I own and shoot Rugers!!!! It amazes me though that such a drastic "mistake" like your barrel could have gotten by QC...somebody was asleep at the wheel!!!!

Hey, stuff happens, at least they took care of it. You got a different grip frame too, not just a new barrel, thats above and beyond to me, what more can you ask for? Course, Im a pretty big fan of Ruger too. Glad they took care of you.