forcing cone erosion? bad, ok,?

O

old fart

New member
i have a service six made in 1985, i just recently found out about forcing cone erosion. i checked mine and it has some, but i wasn't able to get a pic of mine that was viewable. so i found one online that looks kinda like mine, mine isn't hardly as bad as this pic but is close. i shoot 158 grain hollowpoints and softpoints from federal. so with mine similar to this pic what should i do? keep it and shoot as it's not bad, sell or trade to another newer gun that doesn't have erosion? i am not able to have something like this fixed as money is too tight right now. thanks for any help

 
gun shoots great, most accurate handgun i've ever owned. a friend was telling me how older guns have erosion and when i looked mine does. he said it could cause a cone to crack. but i wanted to others advice that have seen this before.
 
It "could" crack, or it could last another 30 years

I bet far more last than crack

The internet is a wonderful thing, but all the rumors you hear aren't necessarily true
 
The great thing about Ruger is that they will stand behind their product. Shoot the crap out of this revolver, and when it finally cracks, send it back to Ruger. They're out of parts for -Six series guns, but they will likely replace it with a brand new GP100.

So, continue to shoot it until it gives up the ghost.
 
John C: what you've posted is very encouraging. I have a Ruger GP100 and I love to shoot it. I bought it in 2012.

Now, if it's shot out, will Ruger really send a replacement all the way to the Philippines? Hmm...could be too optimistic but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Thanks for the info anyway.
 
Most etching like that is caused more by flame cutting than erosion. Comparing 35K pressure rounds, the 158 grain 357 rounds have less flame cutting than 125 grainers and much less than 110s. The lighter the bullet, the heavier the powder charge which equals longer duration of the burn.

All revolvers have some and it is mostly cosmetic and takes a lot to effect performance. I shot 357 Super Mags (Maximum) for years and they would get the flame cutting quickly if you shot bullets under 180 grains. Generally the heavier the bullet, the better for the revolver. The 357 magnum 158 grain is an excellent choice for both performance and long service life.
 
Most etching like that is caused more by flame cutting than erosion.
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I was always under the assumption that they were really the same thing. When the concerns of excessive premature forcing cone erosion came out from the use of Lil' Gun in revolvers it was always contributed to the high temps associated with it's burn. Seems folks call the effect erosion on a forcing cone and flame cutting on the top strap. Same process, but different locations.
 
Considering the accumulated cost of the ammo for shooting our guns over their life time, (and ours), the price of eventually having to replace the gun, itself, is minimal.
Don't sweat it.
 
If the gun shoots good and doesn't spit,
you are all set. Light bullets at high velocity can cause accelerated wear. Do not shoot those, and the gun will last a very long time. Be happy don't look for a problem where there is none.
 
I was always under the assumption that they were really the same thing.
Click to expand...

You may be right. I have always used erosion to describe things like chamber wear at 6 o'clock in say a 22 LR target rifle. That wear is generally more from abrasion than flame/heat and more pronounced at the bottom. If the wear is occurring around the entire circular area, flame/heat is usually involved.
 
Old ya got nothing to worry about, as your forcing cone is in great shape, and any flame cutting on the top strap is normal and WAY to small to even think about. No go out and shoot that guy for another 20 or so years.
 
What problem?
Looks good.
Look at the tapered area.
When that taper wear close to the edge of the barrel and it start spitting lead or jacket out from between the cylinder and the forcing cone - then worry.
 
The great thing about Ruger is that they will stand behind their product. Shoot the crap out of this revolver, and when it finally cracks, send it back to Ruger. They're out of parts for -Six series guns, but they will likely replace it with a brand new GP100.
Click to expand...
No they won't, they'll call that wear and tear. The best they'll do is offer a GP at dealer cost.

OP the one pictured will probably last a good while longer.
, I wouldn't worry too much it's not a K frame Smith with a thin spot to crack.

Most etching like that is caused more by flame cutting than erosion.
Click to expand...
erosion just means it happens a little at a time over a long period.
So correctly stated it's the flame cutting that causes the forcing cone erosion.
 
that is one thing that has me puzzled, i have no flame cutting on my top strap, i looked and its smooth and just like a new one. strange how my forcing cone is eroded but i don't have flame cutting. i will only shoot 158 grain 38 and 357 so i hope they won't speed it up too fast. the guy i got it from must have shot hot loads but why no flame cut of the top strap? oh well thats one thing i don't have to worry about. thanks
 
I admit my first thought was that that didn't look like erosion, more like nicks caused by using a steel cleaning rod or something like that.

Jim
 
You said the pictures aren't your gun. Yours is not "hardly as bad".
The one you pictured is fine. If yours is less than that, it's perfectly fine.
Stop worrying about having replacement parts for every single part of your gun.

You seem like a nice enough guy, but, buddy, it's a big chunk of American steel designed to be shot, carried, knocked around, holstered, shot some more and maybe even tapped against an idiots head to get their attention.

It's not very likely to quit being a gun in your lifetime and, if something breaks, repair it.

Post some pics of your groups. A row of water jugs popping when a hot .357 sails through them. Tell us about what a great gun it is (we'll likely agree!) and about shooting it!

Here's a couple pictures of NYPD Rugers just as a change of pace.

SPServ6.jpg


Enjoy life, enjoy the gun. It's as good a gun as you will find.
 
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