Better report,
Hello all, against some of your advice, I decided to take a variation on
GWillikers suggestion. The sight issue was resolved easy peasy.
The slide pin, not so much. What I decided to try was to spread the "cup" in the pin, as this appears how it is done at the factory, they just didn't do it right.
I put my brass jaw attachment on my vice, and put some grease in the "cup" in the pin and placed a small ball bearing on it ( like a bb but smaller) and with the grease holding the ball bearing in place, I CAREFULLY placed the slide in the brass jaws of the vice, and situated it so that the pressure was on the left side of the pin, which protrudes a bit, and the bearing in the "cup" on the right side, and carefully tightened the vice, which allowed the ball to spread the cup. I didn't spread it too much, as this pin may need to come out in the future (service firing pin, or extractor) but enough to hold it in place.
Then this afternoon, I took my new pistol to the range, and ran 125 rounds of CCI SV LRN ammo thru it, and it ran flawlessly. It cycled 100 percent, and I found it to be very accurate. I was able to hit the 3" steels at 60 yards the first time out with it.
I then tried it at a paper target, and grouped very well. I was almost as happy to see it cycle 100% as I was to experience the accuracy, as I have read about Fail to Chamber and Fail to Eject several times. This appears to be luck of the draw. Mine ran well.
Later, I bought it home and did a full detail clean, ( initially I cleaned it enough to use it, paying special attention to the bore).
When I went to place the barrel on this evening, the trigger guard required effort, but it was not the 2 hand ordeal of yesterday, so I guess something settled in. Overall, what started as a big disappointment, turned out to be a pleasant surprise.
I wanted to post a follow up in case someone else experiences this.
I just cringe at the idea of returning a gun, especially when I know I have the ability to make it right myself. In the end, I am glad I did the repair.
By the way, my Ruger Mk III rear sight also fell off, and I asked Ruger for a new sight, which they gladly obliged, and I fixed that myself as well. I am not sure why I am so opposed to use a warranty, but I guess it is that I trust myself more than some disinterested employee. Today it worked out!!
Thank you all who offered advice or insight or direction.
I do greatly appreciate it
Kind regards
Rich