Well Ruger has done it to me this time! They have taken a perfectly good very accurate Mini-30 rifle and turned it ito a Tomato Stake.

I had a Mini-30 that would shoot 1 inch groups at 100 yards with handloads. I know, I know, hard to believe, but it was true.

Last spring I busted the firing pin and had to send it in to Ruger for replacment. The work order on the returned rifle said, "Replace Firing Pin, Replace Bolt and Repair Headspace".

Took it out to the range for a test fire. To my suprise my "Go To" loads didn't shoot there usual 1 inch at 100 yards, more like 8 inches. Came home and loaded up everything I could think of. I used 12 different powders, 4 different primers, 2 kinds of brass, and bullets ranging from 110 to 150gr in SP RN FN etc etc.

All loads were fired slow and the barrel was allowed to cool before the next 5 rounds. In 2 days of testing I came up with one 4 inch group ( a fluke) and the rest well over 6 and many over 10.

I called Ruger and explained my problem. Although they did agree to take the rifle back and check it, they didn't seem to think those groups were out of specs. I don't think there is going to be a whole lot of effort on Ruger's part to correct this problem. Like I said my Mini-30 is now a Tomato Stake.

Thanks Ruger!!

quote:

Ruger Sucks

I agree.

My last go with Ruger wasn't good either. This spring I stumbled on an old model 77 round top in 257 Roberts that wasn't in too bad of shape, so I bought it believing I could fix it. I placed a call to Ruger asking about replacement sights for said gun. After giving them the description and serial number, I placed the order.
True to their word, the parts arrived within the time specified, however, they weren't the right parts. Placing another call to Ruger confirmed what I thought, but the worst was yet to come. During that second conversation I was informed that they didn't make parts for their older model 77s, and I would be charged a 20% restocking fee. So I said to the gent: "Let me get this straight, you're going to charge me a restocking fee for sending me parts that you knew full well wouldn't fit?" I also told him I would decline that offer and sell them on eBay instead.
This was my second, and last, unsatisfactory dealing with Ruger. I will never buy another gun from them again, heck I think it best to avoid the old ones too.

I guess my bad experience has been with Remington as I had Ruger reblue a first year Mark II pistol that came back looking better than a new gun, ( I did not ship it with my custom honed sear and trigger shoe) and they actually put in new trigger components-I need to reinstall the old.

The 2nd was when I told them my 350 RM was purchased new with an aluminum floorplate and it was supposed to be stainless, they asked for the serial # and followed up with me, shipping me a new one free in stainless.

I am sorry anyone has anything less than what is expected when it comes to service on a firearm. In my limited experience, I was very please with Ruger to be honest. I realize everyone's experience likely varies.

It would be nice if all products were flawlessly mfg and shot one hole groups and never broke down, such is not Murphy's law unfortunately.

Oh, about that restocking fee, that was just wrong.

My only experience with Ruger was about 15 years ago when I bought a 77VT in 223. It shot 52gr bullets in a tiny hole but every other weight in a hatbox. I called and the lady on the other end said:"Shoot 52gr bullts in it". I told her I bought it to be more versatile than that. She said "Send it back". I got it back with a new barrel that shot everything OK but nothing good enough to brag about. The rifle has been sitting since '93.
Years ago a friend blew up a Model 29 using 540 instead of 296. He told Smith what he had done and they still replaced the pistol for him for a nominal fee-$85 as I remember. When it came back it had the original # with a -2.

I too have had my last one. Had the VT model in 25-06. Kinda like bying a Dodge. You wonder if it is a product label, or a flat out warning. Now there is a can of worms!!

I've had good luck with Ruger 77's and No.1's but Mini 14's and Mini 30's tend to shoot like yours does now. You must have had the only one in the world that shot that well.

quote:

Originally posted by jstevens:
You must have had the only one in the world that shot that well.

Getting it to shoot that well was no accident. I had the stock bedded, trigger group reworked and shimmed, gas block screws adjusted and retorqued and hundreds if not thousands of rounds developing loads. I also installed a Biathlon Stabilizer that worked wonders.

I just had a though!! What do you think the accuracy of this Tomato Stake would be if it wans't bedded etc. Maybe 20 plus inches. I think they really fucked something up.

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:

quote:

Ruger Sucks

I agree.

me too

[QUOTE] Originally posted by steve4102:

I had a Mini-30 that would shoot 1 inch groups at 100 yards with handloads. I know, I know, hard to believe, but it was true.

Getting it to shoot that well was no accident. I had the stock bedded, trigger group reworked and shimmed, gas block screws adjusted and retorqued and hundreds if not thousands of rounds developing loads. I also installed a Biathlon Stabilizer that worked wonders.

Last spring I busted the firing pin and had to send it in to Ruger for replacment. The work order on the returned rifle said, "Replace Firing Pin, Replace Bolt and Repair Headspace".

Took it out to the range for a test fire. To my suprise my "Go To" loads didn't shoot there usual 1 inch at 100 yards, more like 8 inches.

I think they really fucked something up.

[QUOTE]


Steve,
I learned my lesson about Ruger factory repairs and customer service in 1977. I had a Ruger 77 in 7x57 with several problems. I worked on it and spent some money with a gunsmith to get it to feed properly, trigger work etc. But I was not happy with the oversized chamber. Speaking to Ruger customer service, they said send it back for inspection, and if the chamber was not correct, they would replace it.

So, I boxed it up, sent it, and when I got it back, the trigger had been replaced, and the follower, and a message that the chamber was within specs. So now I had a rifle with a bad trigger again, that wouldn't feed correctly, with a fat chamber, and never was accurate.

I traded it for something - I can't remember what.

So, never again will I send a gun to Ruger for repairs. If it can't be fixed by a gunsmith, then I get rid of it.

Now, I'm a little surprised that you did all that work on the mini 30, then sent it to Ruger for a broken firing pin. I think that is something that could be done by a local gunsmith.

I suppose this shows that the "repair tactics" of Ruger are rather stable - given the time span of similar experiences. One would think that we all can learn something from this, which is don't send your gun to Ruger if you have had any custom work or modifications, because they may be restored to "Ruger Specs".

Live and Learn.

KB

I am a happy customer and have had 4 rifles, 2 handguns and one shotgun from Ruger, all well designed and manufactured products. When dealing with their customer service they always treated me well, even sending exchange scope mounts overseas free of charge, including the export license!

quote:

Originally posted by duikerman:

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:

quote:

Ruger Sucks

I agree.

me too

x 4!

Guys don't you think you're being a little hard on Ruger rifles. I've never once had a problem with one. Then again I've never owned one. Watching other friends problems with them made me never go there.

quote:

Originally posted by Kabluewy:


Now, I'm a little surprised that you did all that work on the mini 30, then sent it to Ruger for a broken firing pin. I think that is something that could be done by a local gunsmith.



KB

Right on the money! After the pin broke, I took the rifle to my local smith and asked him to install a new one. Problem is Ruger will NOT sell factory firing pins for the mini 14/30. We had to order an after market pin and install it. It lasted about 200 rounds and busted. Next step was to return it to Ruger for the proper pin.
Ruger Sucks.

Steve4102
What is the biathlon stabilizer? I see it was nowhere near a stock Mini 30. If I were to pick something to shoot poorly, however it would be a mini14 or 30. I learned my lesson fooling with them probably 25 years ago. There are so many good AR-15 type rifles around, I can't see how they sell the little Rugers at all. It's too bad, as they are a handy little rifle and don't have the fear factor an AR15 does with the non shooting public, not that I really give a damn about what they think. I don't know why I even said that. I have a friend who reworked some of the Mini's with a heavier barrel,etc. and they worked well, but by then you had more $ in it than an AR15.

Jstevens, The Biathlon Stabilizer was designed for US Biathlon Shooting Team. Here is a link.
http://www.henrich3.com/biathalon_stabilizer.htm

Did I mention "Ruger Sucks"!!

Steve: Boy, that one brings back memories. I once owned a Mark II in 7x57mm. I fine tuned it to the max and then did some honing on the trigger to get it right at 3 pounds. It was what I wanted. Even drilled the trigger and tapped it so a screw would eliminate overtravel. To make a long story short, had to send it in to Ruger for something or the other and got my rifle back with a note saying the company took my bastardized trigger out of the rifle before its technicians would work on it. Now that, sucked! Tom Purdom

Seems like a lot of Ruger 7x57s have problems. I bought one used and the Mauser style extractor would not ectract. Ruger said to send it in. I then get a letter telling me they will not replace the extractor unless I buy a new stock. WTF? Seems like the original owner fre floated the barrel. $250 for a new stock? I told them to just send the piece of shit back and damned if they didn't bill me for teh shipping. I replaced tne extractor with one from a Mauser I'd parted out and it worked just fine. It sure soured me on Rugers. I sure as hell won't buy any new ones.
I also had gtrouble with a #1A in 7x57. I took that one to a gunsmith and a chamber cast proved that the throat was way out od specs. Well, at least they fixed that one without a hassle but it took seven months to get the gun back.
So far, I guess I'm one and one.
Paul B.

I've owned Rugers for decades and never had a problem... that my local gunsmith couldn't fix.

Face it if the rifle or handgun for that matter fails to function properly why send it to the fools that produced the screwed it up to begin with.

All my rifles are so after market that I'm sure Ruger would have a fit. I consider them a "platform" from which I and my gunsmith construct a rifle I want.

I like tang safeties. I still have no idea why Ruger stopped making them. (Other than some lawyer inspired crap.) So the only Rugers I own are old tang safety M77's and a couple of old No. 1's. I would not buy one of their new rifles period. If I'm goin to put up with a 3 position safety that's inconviently located I'll just buy a Kimber.

I'm generally pro-Rugger, been lucky I guess. I looked for the bset part of a year to find a tang safety 243 for her first deer rifle. Lucked into an RSI, that puts 3 in about and inch and a quarter at 100yds. She shot it for the first time tonight, and she loves this rifle. Her younger sister is just as goofy over the 77-22Hornet I "loaned" her. FAT! chance of ever getting that rifle back. It was worth every penny I paid just to see the looks on their faces today.

Rich

Did I forget to mention these are my two nieces, almost 14 and 11? five-foot, four and one hundred seven pounds, and the younger one is five foot even, and eighty-nine pounds. They are probbly sleeping with these two rifles

Rich

I'm going to have to chime in on Ruger's behalf as well! I've had excellent luck with all but one of the MANY Rugers I've owned. That one was a 10/22 and I kind of wonder what the source of the problems with it was because I had picked it up DIRT CHEAP being that it was a display model for a local sporting goods store that was going out of business. The troubles with accuracy that I had with it were all caused by LOOSE parts. I will never know if it left the factory that way or got a little too much loving on the rack!???

In defence of the the mini's I've got a Mini 14 that will shoot HONEST 1 1/2" groups out a 200 yds. factory box stock. I TOO have been told I'm full of SH*T until guys see it then they all try to buy it for $100 less than I paid for it new just so they can brag they own an accurate one. Maybe I just got DAMNED LUCKY. Don't know, but after many of the horror stories I've heard I've been shaken far beyond buying a second to find out!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, and that little 77/22Hornet I've got one of those that's about an inch to inch & a quarter gun and I've heard all kinds of stories about what a POS those are too! Must just be lucky.

quote:

Originally posted by tdobesh:


In defence of the the mini's I've got a Mini 14 that will shoot HONEST 1 1/2" groups out a 200 yds. factory box stock. I TOO have been told I'm full of SH*T until guys see it then they all try to buy it for $100 less than I paid for it new just so they can brag they own an accurate one. Maybe I just got DAMNED LUCKY. Don't know, but after many of the horror stories I've heard I've been shaken far beyond buying a second to find out!!!!!!!!!!!

Good Luck with your Mini-14. I hope it never needs a new bolt or firing pin! Ruger will not sell bolts and require the gun sent to them so they can fuck it up. They think that the morons they have working for them are the only people qualified to work on the Mini. Qualified "MY ASS"!

Some bad but mostly good. This is a compilation of Rugers My two cousins I have owned A couple single sixes, a skeet gun, a couple 10-22s,a circa 72 ,.257 varmint. a 22-250 varmint a .243 varmint,a .270 circa 70, a .223 varmint and a Mini 14. Except for the mini 14 all have given great service over many years and the rifles have really shot <MOA. Only resently has the trigger on the 34 year old .257 started to crap out. At this point in life I do ,however think that Savage is a better investment. roger

Experiences differ it seems

My first Ruger was a Super Blackhawk 44 mag back in 75.
Since then at least six different guns from 22 LR to 35 Whelen, and two Red Labels have been in my cabinet.
Not one single problem so far ( exept trigger tuning )
My Rugers are rugged working guns who have seen a lot of use and abuse and I´m very fond of them.

Once upone a time there was products marked "Proudly made in US of A" not so any longer ??

They pulled the barrel and chances are the gas block is torqued unevenly. It's probably the single most common cause for thiese rifles to shoot poorly. Pull the gas block and reinstall carefully. Chances are it'll shoot way better than it came home. Headspacing may cause some chage, but souldn't effect the barrel harmonics to much. Nate

I'd rather have a Remington over a Ruger any day.

A friend gave me a Ruger 22-250 a few years ago. Skinny barrel, wouldn't shoot worth beans. I pulled the barrel, replaced the magazine box and had my local gunsmith put on a Lilja in .308 and do a trigger job. Took it home put on some rings and started to lap them in with the old Kokopeli lapping bar.... Aaaarrrgggh! The cuts in the receiver for the front ring were offset about ten degrees.

On the other hand, I had a model 77 in .257 Roberts that a gunsmith had reamed out to 257 Ackley Improved without setting the barrel back a turn or two. Brass only lasted two firings before separating. I sent it in to Ruger and they sent it back with a new barrel on it for a nominal fee.

I also had a stainless/synthetic 77/22 in 22 WMR. It had the ubiquitous four inch group syndrome. I sent it in and insisted that they fix it because, "the chamber is so loose that soot goes back into the action, gas is leaking out that I can feel when shooting it left handed, and it is a safety hazard." It came back with a new barrel that was a little closer to tight than loose. 1" groups. Glory Allelujah, etc. My girlfrined's ex-husband's buddy stole it a year later . Now we have a CZ that was a hammer from day one.

LD

quote:

Originally posted by BigNate:
They pulled the barrel and chances are the gas block is torqued unevenly. It's probably the single most common cause for thiese rifles to shoot poorly. Pull the gas block and reinstall carefully. Chances are it'll shoot way better than it came home. Headspacing may cause some chage, but souldn't effect the barrel harmonics to much. Nate

I pulled the gas block and retorqued the screws. No help.

Thanks

I have owned a 270 1B, needed bedding/trigger work-shot 1-1.5 moa

1B in 2506, 3/4 moa factory ammo out of box

1A 243 shot 3/8", yes 3/8 inch 3shot group 100yds, and a 1RSI mannlicher 243 sub moa factory ammo both 243 out of box

77/22, inch or better at 50yds with factory barrel, under .5 moa with Butler Creek barrel

30-06 laminate, could not shoot to potential for recoil, but shot around 1moa, did float barrel and did trigger job

Mark 2 pistols, 1-1.5" 25yds, 1" 50yds for slab side-10 shots of course, did I say I own 4 22 pistols?

350 mag-shoots as well as I can hold, so really all in all, the 270 1B I had to bed, but I have not had to modify or repair Ruger's I have owned for the most part. Never bought, nor desire to own the Mini as I always thought they were fickle, not to my accuracy standards, sounds like you had a good one......

Oh, and there was a 10/22 and the bolt guide rod and bushing needing replacing after MANY rounds, normal wear I guess.

That is about my experience, of course there was a super blackhawk SS 4 5/8 and a bicentennial 7.5" that worked fine, so all in all, not many problems in my experience.

I would venture to say I might have had more returns and problems with Remington to be honest, broken bolt handle, piss poor crown job, sloppy work - action had to be turned on exterior to be ROUND without flats, then reblued.

Honestly I have seen more consistent workmanship on Ruger's than Rem's over the past 10-15 years. My experience _ I have seen some REALLY shoddy Rem's, in fairness, the newest ones since the j lock have looked ok,

My 2 experiences with Ruger:
1. Really shoddy wood finish on a 77; goopy varnish, and the bolt handle cut filled with feathery, unsanded wood.
2. I gave a new #1 as a gift to a pal; the safety was extremely difficult to move forward to "off".
I wouldn't own or use a Ruger.

I'm beginning to come around to the notion that Ruger sucks as well. Especally after ordering a NEW ruger blackhawk in 30 carbine that the cylinder wouldn't lock at all in any shape form or fashon. Cock the revolver and the cylinder would still freespin.

Check under the cylinder where the part that locks into the notch, take the cylinder out and cock/let hammer down and see if that part is moving, there could be a burr, debris, or grease that is not allowing it to pop up, the spring tension is mild/weak so if it is new that might be a possibility. Yes, it should not have left the mfg like that, but I have trouble believing Ruger just makes piss poor guns, as I have handled many.

Not saying there are not some issues with some, but Rem has theirs, Winchester, S&W, and others.

Well you may have to sell that POS to someone who doesn't mind a mystery.

My mini shoots well and i've won money betting guys it will shoot. It's only mod is trigger work. Nate

quote:

Originally posted by BigNate:


My mini shoots well and i've won money betting guys it will shoot. It's only mod is trigger work. Nate

I've pocketed a buck or two betting on the accuracy of mine also. Now that Ruger has fucked it up, maybe I can win a few bets as to how large a group I can shoot??

quote:

Originally posted by 6.5BR:
Check under the cylinder where the part that locks into the notch, take the cylinder out and cock/let hammer down and see if that part is moving, there could be a burr, debris, or grease that is not allowing it to pop up, the spring tension is mild/weak so if it is new that might be a possibility. Yes, it should not have left the mfg like that, but I have trouble believing Ruger just makes piss poor guns, as I have handled many.

Not saying there are not some issues with some, but Rem has theirs, Winchester, S&W, and others.

This episode has been a few years gone and was repaired by my local gunsmith. The issue was the small plunger that sits atop the CYL lock spring was jammed solid into the grip frame like a freeze plug with the frame mangled accordingly. A new grip frame was required to rectify the problem. It just boggles the mind that shuch a major issue was allowed to leave the factory. Heck the gun could have exploded had the revolver been fired with the cylinder partially out of battery.

As I've owned my share I don't believe Ruger makes piss poor guns any more than the next manufacturer. I just think Ruger lets more of them get out the door so to speak.

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:

quote:

Ruger Sucks

I agree.

I guess this is off topic, but that is a fabulous image you posted!

Details?

Looking things over, it's scary to see that commentary is more than 3:1 against Ruger. Now that can't be good in anybody's book. I sure do hope somebody at corperate sees this.

As with Ruger Remington ect when you send a gun back to them to get fixed they send it back to factory specs. So the tension the gas block screws ect ect. It is all about lieibilty They don't want it.

Try sending a Remington back with ajusted trigger or after marget trigger they well jerk it out so fast and put in one of their factory spec ones faster then you can blink. The charge you big bucks for doing so.

Its a shame but they are all running very scared of law suits.

quote:

Ruger Sucks

This is not news to me all they are good for is tomato stakes.
Dr B