A long time ruger problem

K

KEYBEAR

New member
I have shot Ruger Blackhawk and Super Blackhawks for years all in 44 Mag .
All the Ruger Revolvers have the same problem the ejector rod housing screw .
The screw will not stay tight or the screw will shear off . I have used Lock-Tight both Blue and Red I have glued the housing to the barrel total fail .
The only one that ever stayed on was welded on . I makes no difference Old model three screw or new model .

Question is have anyone got a fix .
 
I've owned a few and still own a BH .44mag. I never had that problem crop up with mine. I'm at a loss as to the remedy of the ER housing. I was going to suggest Lock Tight but you've already tried that with poor results. Maybe someone else on the forum can be of help.
 
I bought my first Super Blackhawk in about 1967 had the same problem in a year or two . I have used Lock Tight Glued the housing on and took care to check the screw . This Ruger I am working on now has had 4/5 new screws put in the ejector housing in the last year or two . I do love the Super Blackhawks but some time I hate them .
 
You can snug up the EH screw and then tighten a hose clamp around it. Can't holster it but it doesn't let go.
 
I got my first SBH in 1974. Shot it a lot and all the screws were coming loose, grip frame and ejector.

I finally cleaned the screws with acetone and gave a dose of blue locktite to all the screws.

The grip frame has held up good and I had to retreat the ejector screw one more time after cleaning with the acetone.

You have to acetone the threaded holes as well as the screws to get any oil residue out of them.
 
Yes I have cleaned the screw and screw holes And now use Red lock tight .
Now I just shear the screw head off.
 
The threaded holes are very shallow from the factory, and either strip or the screw strips because the screw tightens against the bottom of the hole. We have fixed several over the years. Mill a round recess into the barrel, turn a small threaded 4140 insert with a short "nipple" raised up that increases the number of threads the screw can grab. Works wonderfully.
 
The red locktite is almost akin to using epoxy. It does not break loose without applying heat.

I meant to mention above that if you use acetone to degrease, do it outside away from any ignition source. Acetone lights up easily and nothing to mess around with indoors.
 
In the late sixties, I had a .44 magnum Blackhawk (pre-SuperBlackhawk). The problem I had was the ejector housing screw was screwed-in to a threaded sleeve that was press-fit into the barrel. That sleeve would loosen and come out with the screw. After the local gunsmith trying soft solder (to maintain the Bluing), it again came loose and I finally had him Silver Solder it in place (messing up the Bluing). It never came loose again but if I understand correctly, the later models had a screw that was threaded into the barrel itself...no sleeve.
 
I only buy older Rugers with the Ejector housing riding on a Lug in the barrel . The Super Blackhawk I shoot now is a Three Screw with the lug still a Problem . Over the years I have bought a number of Revolvers of different makes to try finding one that will not fall apart (still looking) I shoot a lot of lead 240gr. with 10.2 gr. of Unique not a real big load around 950 fps . To date I have broke a Freedom Arms - a Magnum Research - Thomason Center single shot and a boat load of Rugers all in 44 Mag . I have the Rugers that I shoot coated so no thought of the finish .
 
FUNNY, I was shooting my Super Blackhawk .44 one day at the range and I went to extract the empty's and everything was gone. Ejector rod housing, screw, rod and spring. I looked on the ground and found the housing with the screw still in it GREAT. A little more searching I also found the spring and rod. I range friend lent me his cleaning kit and after a while I was shooting again. Moral of this story is ck your gun screws !!!!!!!!!!!!! hdbiker
 
I wonder if rockset would be a better choice and tightening with a torque wrench.....not sure how many inch pounds....I'm guessing 15 in lbs.
 
I cleaned the threads thoroughly with acetone and used blue loctite and that's been working a long time on my stainless Vaquero. But it's merely a 45 Colt, though I do run some warm loads through it from time to time; warm, but not crazy-hot.
 
Pathfinder45
I have shot 44 Mag for a long time over 50 years now . I do love the Super Blackhawks but i can get real frustrated . I do not shoot a lot of hot loads most of the time 240gr. lead coated and I do about a 1,000 a month. All With 10.2 gr. unique about 950fps
 
Well, KEYBEAR, it sounds like you are doing a heck of a lot of shooting. I shoot my Vaquero as much as I can, but it's likely a fraction of what you are doing. Still, I probably have 10,000 rounds through this one....
Trying to be helpful, I'm wondering if my stainless screw has a greater shear-strength than a blued steel screw?
Since I haven't had such a bad problem with this issue, I'm guessing that you are still running quite a few very hot loads though the gun?
Even so, a Super-Blackhawk is supposed to take full-power 44 magnum ammo....
Another alternative idea: How about have a gunsmith drill and tap the hole to a slightly larger screw that can be had in grade 8 or 10 alloy tool-steel?
It all must be frustrating, but it's hard to feel terribly sorry for someone that gets to go shooting a whole lot more than me.;)
Good luck with it and let us know what solution works out best.
 
So now I'm wondering if the threads in the hole are worn and contributing to a problem that gets progressively worse....
Maybe try using JB Weld in place of loctite?
 
Pathfinder45 I think the steel screws are a little less likely to brake not sure if that screw it stainless or steel in all rugers . The Threads are good that is not the problem .
Also I shoot lead out of this gun very little hot loads . I have a plate rack in the back yard I use every day (got tired of paper targets) if it is not raining or cold as hell . If I get real bored I shoot out of my the truck window with the heat going .
 
Keybear, are you keeping track of how many rounds are fired before each screw breaks? I know it sounds ridiculous.... I know I wouldn't bother counting, at least not until it became a recurring problem, which it is for you. It must be perplexing knowing that for many of us, it has simply never happened.
I'm using 250-255 grain bullets for at least 95% of the rounds fired through my Vaquero. My standard woods load is 255 grain cast at 1075 fps. I never go below 840 in my lightest target loads; usually I'm at 950 and above. Occasionally I still get in the neighborhood of 1200 fps and for years now, I don't go any higher. I've had this revolver for about 21 years. In the beginning, screws would loosen with use. Acetone and loctite fixed that, and I have never broken the ejector housing screw, though it was the primary screw to loosen with use. Mysterious that you are having this problem while I am not.
You must be firing a heck of a lot of rounds..... but that's what it was made for.
 
Pathfinder45 A local friend is a welder and dose stainless steam pipes only in about 198? I bought a new Ruger in stainless . I had this person sweat the ejector housing on before I ever shot this Ruger 44 mag . I shot the gun until the cylinder failed . (Hair line cracks) . I have been a reloader and shooter over 50 years and all I shot was the 44Mag . I do not know the round count on this SBH but over 12,000 last year just in powder used .
 
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