Super blackhawk barrel unscrewing!

Glad you have gotten thru this, it ought to be fine. How much torque would you estimate you put on the BBL to get the sight centered up?

Willie

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If I had to guess I would say it was 30 lb-ft or so. I made a barrel vise block out of a 2X4. Drilled a hole in it the size of the barrel and sawed it down the middle. Wrapped a wet paper towel around the barrel and clamped it down in a vise. Used a piece of a 2X2 through the frame and tightened it down. It took quite a bit of pressure from the vise to keep the barrel from turning.
 
"If I had to guess I would say it was 30 lb-ft or so"


That's about perfect. Well done!

I told you that you would need to clamp the crap outta it! The old school way is hardwood blocks with dusted rosin on that to secure things. The paper, etc., actually makes it harder to hold, but it sounds like you got it done perfectly. That torque will be fine. It'll stay put.


Willie

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Update.

I put about 120 rounds through it this weekend with no issues. Looks like it was a good fix. I'm glad I didn't take it to a smith or send it back to Ruger.
 
Well done!

Glad to have been able to assist with info, and equally glad you had the interest and ability to carry it out. Learn something, fix something, and enjoy the result. Win-Win.

Willie

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Willie nailed it in post 16.

Not long after S&W quit pinning their barrels, I picked up a 3" Model 65 that appeared almost unfired. I set about correcting that and within the first hundred rounds, noticed the groups shifting left and quickly diagnosed it as the barrel backing out. I fixed it just as Mr. Sutton described and the guy who bought it from me shot the daylights out of it for another 9-10 years. The barrel stayed put.
 
Thread Locker compounds are supposed to be heat sensitive. I have always wondered if the heat of firing a gun would make them ineffective on barrel threads. It sounds like the answer is no, it wouldn't. Is the heat buildup not high enough, or does the compound still have some effect after heating?

rat
 
Same thing happened to me. They called me and asked me if I handloaded for it. I told them yes, and they told me that I was loading jacketed bullets to too high of a pressure, causing too much friction between bullet and barrel, causing it to unscrew. I sold it when I got it back from them.
 
I've had it happen on four guns in my life; a Sako rifle, Armi Sport 56-50 carbine, Ruger Super Blackhawk, and an 18" .45 Colt Uberti Buntline. Peening with a 2 oz machinists hammer and/or Loktite, and some home made barrel blocks were the fix.
 
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