One side of the "yoke" portion of my lever link broke off and locked up the action. A new one is only $10 at Brownells but is this common failure?

I've been playing around with paper patched slugs in my .45-70 and because my rifle has the short SAAMI throat, I was caught off guard trying to chamber a load with a too long a patch. After the link broke, I took a good look at the action and was surprised to learn that the lever does not lift the bolt directly. The bolt is raised by an arm pulled by the lever link. Seems like a pretty weak system, especially the way the link nests in the pockets on the arm and lever.

It's such a sweet little brush gun but not for a hamfisted guy like me!

I like No 1's, but that little link is a pita. Haven't broken one, though.

I have 3 #1's, 220 Swift, 338 Win Mag and a 375 H&H. All have been shot a lot. Never had a problem so far.

Currently own a No.3 45/70 and No.1 458Lott and use both a fair amount. Have had others over the years and never had the problem you mention.
Overall a very robust and functional design, can't imagine why your linkage would fail??

Were you using bullets designed for paper patches, or bullets which have grooves designed to be lubed?

As you probably already know, bullets designed for paper patches are markedly smaller diameter.

If one uses two wraps of paper and a grooved bullet designed for lube, they can end up trying to push a .006" to .012" too large diameter bullet into a solid steel hole (the barrel bore). It takes a heck of a strong link to withstand that, especially if the leverage is as long and as powerful as a Ruger finger lever can produce.

The Army method ("if at first it doesn't work, use a bigger hammer") can have its downsides.


Better luck next time.

Wow! Good bunch of guys here in Single Shots! I was hesitant to post my experience, half expecting to get berated for treating a rifle roughly, but civility prevails!

AC, my slugs are .452 naked and .460 patched (one layer of .004" white adhesive label) so it was a little tight lifting the lever to close the bolt. With the patch coverage, the loaded round stuck out about 1/4", dropped in under it's own weight. Finger pressure seated the round most of the way but not quite.

I took a closer look at the link and it appears that the roll pin between the halves must have worked out part way and put the load on one side. I'll examine the replacement to see if it looks like the pivot pin will stay in position. And, set aside my "bolt trash" treatment of a fine little rifle!