Redhawk Ignition issues

[DarrenL]

So I have a Redhawk 45 colt/45ACP with ignition issues. When using 45 colt, I get a FTF 1 or 2 out of 50 using hornady or federal factory ammo. With 45 ACP, it is anywhere from 49/50 (federal) to 3/12, depending on ammo. I also have reloads of all types (45 colt cowboy, standard, hot) that do not reliably ignite. The problem is much worse in DA vs SA.

I sent it back to Ruger, and the issue was not fixed, all they did was replace a few parts. I have researched this issue, and found there are three potential solutions:
1) new mainspring of 30 or 40 lbs
2) new firing fin of extended length
3) shave off 0.02" off hammer face where it contacts the frame.

Has anyone tried any of these? Success, failure? Can you order a new hammer from ruger? I have read slight tolerances in the hammer can cause the issue to occur or make it go away. I can do #1 or #3, but #2 requires a gunsmith. Thanks.

NOTE: I am aware your redhawk has fired everything for 20+years without a failure. Mine has failed many, many times in two years. Note that my 1911 will ignite any 45ACP I give it, and even my rem 1858 with conversion cylinder will ignite 100% of my cowboy reloads. As far as I am concerned, this thing is a lemon, (900 dollar guns should fire every time) and I wish I had bought a SW 69 or a 686.

 

[rep308]

I'd start with hammer shims to reduce frame drag on the hammer to give more force to the strike on the ammo.

http://triggershims.com/

These are the same shims that Ruger uses on the GP100 Match model

Look at the videos and read how to select the shim thickness, the total cost here will be under $10 and 15 minutes of time. If you remove the hammer from the frame are there obvious drag marks?

I have a Super Redhawk in 44 mag that Tim at Gartman Arms worked on. He polished the internals, installed trigger, hammer and hammer dog shim and selected the appropriate hammer spring weight. I would strongly suggest having Tim take a look at it work on it as he did a great job on mine. PM me if you want more information

 

[Rugerfan]

If it does not reliably fire Federal Factory rounds, then there is a mechanical problem. Federal primers are the easiest to ignite.

As for the .45 ACP rounds, that sounds like a cylinder problem. It sounds like the relief in the cylinder for the moon clips is bored too deep. Or, the whole cylinder is short and too far from the firing pin.

All of the hammer shims in the world will not fix this problem. Send it back to Ruger and ask them to check spacing and clearances on the cylinder.

 

[greencobra]

yep, mine did the same as well as the cylinder locking and I couldn't open it. went back to ruger 3x and it works now......sometimes. it had misfires mostly with 45 acp. yes, I was using ruger full moon clips. the ejector rod also worked loose.

these guns were duds out of the gate and ruger customer service acknowledged they had a problem. i have a friend who lives near the ruger facility and has several friends who work there. they blame the problems on employee turnover, retirements, etc causing a quality issue. don't know how true that is, I got the info 2nd hand.

go to the ruger boards, search my screen name (same...greencobra) i have extensive postings there regarding my problems with the 45 colt/45 acp redhawk.

good luck.

 

[92G]

ruger needs to send you a replacement gun. end of story. ship the gun back to them and tell them you want a replacement. i've been up this road with ruger a few times. they will send you a gun that works beautifully. their QC is garbage and they know it. i think half of the ruger firearms I own are replacements from them. they work like a charm.

while shims might smooth up the trigger they're not going to turn a gun that mostly lightstrikes into a reliable firearm. i run shims in all my ruger revolvers but mostly just because i don't like the idea of the hammer smacking the frame.

 

[boilermaker]

i think half of the ruger firearms I own are replacements from them. they work like a charm.

This would be very discouraging if true

 

[92G]

This would be very discouraging if true

1) it's true
the following are full replacements ruger has issued me over the past ~5 years. i might be missing one or two.
-GP100 in 357 mag
-GP100 in 22lr
-Ruger american ranch 5.56
-Ruger SR9c (long since sold)

2) it's not discouraging. many manufacturers these days have garbage QC. they're pumping out garbage with goal of max revenue regardless of product quality.

3) the only difference between Ruger and other manufacturers is that at least Ruger stands behind their garbage.

 

[Ultrarunner]

1) it's true
the following are full replacements ruger has issued me over the past ~5 years. i might be missing one or two.
-GP100 in 357 mag
-GP100 in 22lr
-Ruger american ranch 5.56
-Ruger SR9c (long since sold)

2) it's not discouraging. many manufacturers these days have garbage QC. they're pumping out garbage with goal of max revenue regardless of product quality.

3) the only difference between Ruger and other manufacturers is that at least Ruger stands behind their garbage.

I am still a Ruger fan despite this, but I have had exactly the same experience. Just dont trust my life on them...

 

[DarrenL]

So Ill be calling ruger tomorrow, but here are some pics from Friday. You can see three have a hefty, hefty, hefty primer strke, and three have a wimpy, wimpy, wimpy.

 

[DarrenL]

So I got the thing back, here are the results:

Once fired ammo, 45 colt (from last time, pics in post #9) 2/6 fired
45ACP, WWB 5/6, 5/6, 4/6
45ACP Geco 6/6, 6/6, 5/6
45ACP federal AE 6/6, 6/6, 6/6, 6/6, 6/6, 5/6
45Colt, handload, Winchester Large Pistol, 3/6, and 1/3 on re-shooting that lot
45 colt, Bullseye (factory brand) cowboy, 6/6, 5/6
45 colt Win Super X 6/6,6/6, 3/3
45 colt PDX1 6/6, 2/2

 

[EddieCoyle]

1) it's true
the following are full replacements ruger has issued me over the past ~5 years. i might be missing one or two.
-GP100 in 357 mag
-GP100 in 22lr
-Ruger american ranch 5.56
-Ruger SR9c (long since sold)

2) it's not discouraging. many manufacturers these days have garbage QC. they're pumping out garbage with goal of max revenue regardless of product quality.

3) the only difference between Ruger and other manufacturers is that at least Ruger stands behind their garbage.

Why the Hell do you keep buying Rugers?

 

[92G]

Why the Hell do you keep buying Rugers?

it's a fair question.

If appliances or automobiles were as poorly QC'ed as Ruger's firearms, I would forever avoid them. However with Ruger I know I'm one phone call away from getting the problem fixed. If Ruger's technicians cannot get the issue straightened out, then they immediately offer me a replacement firearm. In both of these instances the replacement functioned flawlessly and they reimbursed me the FFL transfer fee.

It's a shame that Ruger doesn't have stronger QC on their products. Overall I would grade their quality around a C+, and yet because of their excellent CS I stick with them.

--

When it comes to their "original" designs, they lay more eggs than anyone else. WTF is the Ruger American pistol? this is a striker fired abomination. Yet here they are releasing a 10mm 1911 that looks wicked cool. the LCR line is fantastic, yet they just built a GP100 in 44 special? nobody wants a 44 special they want a 44 mag.

 

[Ultrarunner]

it's a fair question.

If appliances or automobiles were as poorly QC'ed as Ruger's firearms, I would forever avoid them. However with Ruger I know I'm one phone call away from getting the problem fixed. If Ruger's technicians cannot get the issue straightened out, then they immediately offer me a replacement firearm. In both of these instances the replacement functioned flawlessly and they reimbursed me the FFL transfer fee.

It's a shame that Ruger doesn't have stronger QC on their products. Overall I would grade their quality around a C+, and yet because of their excellent CS I stick with them.

--

When it comes to their "original" designs, they lay more eggs than anyone else. WTF is the Ruger American pistol? this is a striker fired abomination. Yet here they are releasing a 10mm 1911 that looks wicked cool. the LCR line is fantastic, yet they just built a GP100 in 44 special? nobody wants a 44 special they want a 44 mag.

I like their product offerings, the fact that they 100% US Made and owned, and their big bore revolver chamberings.I've had Rugers that have run great out of the box but also many with issues, maybe its the sample size or maybe its my luck. I've also owned 3 Glocks with issues.

Even a Toyota Corolla can break down...

 

[Qwikdraw45]

I like Ruger revolvers because they are built "heavy duty", and one of the few revolvers that everybody lists as capable of handling heavy/hot loads. (I don't shoot that way, but like the option if needed). If S&W didn't have that stupid lock, I might consider them again. Nothing in the auto pistol line really excites me, although I do have an LCPII. And, someday, will have a 10/22 again.