When one thing works it means I'll mess something else up

[Cheyenne Ranger]

Got the free spin pawls in.  So I'm messing around with the guns and notice that:
1.  The loading gate is hard to open and
2.  The rounds are hitting on the gate when I first load them.  If I pushed the gate back it would do fine.  Gate didn't seem to move but the rounds didn't hang up.

So, fresh from the free spin victory I decide to tackle these two.  Had been watching Larry Crow's Ruger video as I was putting in the pawls so I knew everything there is to know about the Rugers (fool that I am! :roll: )

Marked where the rounds were hitting the gate and took it out and relieved it, filed a slight bevel and stoned it--no problem worked fine on both guns.

So Mr Know-it-all sees that the gate detent spring is what makes the gate open.  No problem just shorten it to lessen the force needed to open the gate.  Took off maybe a 1/16 and, yes Virginia, now the gate opens much better.  Put the gun back together and guess what?  They cylinder latch now won't engage the cylinder.  Free spins all the time--to misquote Martha, "This is not a good thing."

So there was a reason for the length of the spring to the gate.  

It's nice that Brownells has just about every part for a Ruger (plus most others) listed in their catalog.  Order went off tonight.  Did order 3 as I might wasp-waist one and see if that does what I want it too.  

Education:  usually painful, expensive or both.....

CR

[RB Rooson]

Cheyenne, can I ever empathize with you!!!

Many of my (brilliant projects?) seem like a good idea.....and there is no reason that they shouldn't logically work......but, then again along came "Jones" and somehow things go south.

You would think putting in a new hammer on a Colt-clone would be simple,
wouldn't ya'?  Well, let me tell you the story sometime........

[Cheyenne Ranger]

End of story--I hope.  After messing up three springs, counting the orginial, I now have the gates opening with less effort.  Think the biggest help was compressing the spring with a pair of plyers.  Did do a bit of shortening of the spring where it contacts the gate and did stone both the end of the spring and the gate but think the biggest help was compressing the spring.  
In any event the Rugerette's now are on a par with the full size RV's and we have a new shooter match on the 28th.  Hoping that it don't rain or be freezing down here along the coast.  
Figure that if my wife comes out and gives it "the old college try" then I'll be satisfied with whether she joins up or not.  

Cheyenne (who'll be keeping his gunsmithing down to changing out grips) Ranger