Went to the range today and learned some lessons, or not... Took the Single-Seven, .327 Federal and both Federal American Eagle factory loads, the 85 gr. and 100 gr. bulleted loads. I am pretty much decided to load the 100 gr. XTP so I was using the 100 gr. load to zero/sight-in. I was also using the opportunity to see how much the 85 gr. load POI would differ from the 100 gr. load and to just get some trigger time. A couple of interesting things...

First, this gun has a couple of screws loose, the ejector rod housing screw and the screw in front of the trigger guard both shot loose. I was having to tighten them after every cylinder full. THAT I can fix.

Second was how well it grouped, or didn't. I realize I am not the best shot in the world, my eyes are starting to fail me (cataracts) and I'm certainly not infallible! While I didn't have time to shoot groups with individual chambers it certainly seems as if certain of the individual chambers shoot very well with many cloverleafs but those groups are separated by at least two calibers from one another. Some chambers don't seem to quite stand up to that. My best group from a cylinder-full (7-shots) was about 3½ in a bit of an oval. This at 25-yards doesn't seem so good.

Third, I feel as if it is spitting a bit but it isn't, it is just a LOT of gas working there. It looks as if there is some top-strap cutting but I never bothered to look or simply can't remember if these things have a relief cut there. One thing for certain, the burn rings one often sees on the front of stainless cylinders (due to the contrast) cover the whole front of the cylinder and extend in a neat little pattern to the side of the cylinder. Since this pattern varies slightly from chamber to chamber it is clear that each chamber's relationship to the barrel is a bit different, one very much so. Discoloring due to heat extends to the base pin where it is exposed between the frame and face of the cylinder.

Had a great time, of course.

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Sincerely,

Hobie

Some careful measurements may be worth taking, cylinder throat diameter, barrel groove diameter, barrel/cylinder gap (at a few points around barrel shank and at different chambers), cylinder endplay and then determine if it is worth calling Ruger about any problems found.

Also measure the distance between the chambers at both the front and rear of the cylinder, which will tell you if the individual chambers are on centers and on axis. I had a 45 Colt from them that shot nice little 100 yard groups separated by 14-16 inches in various directions and that was the culprit.

My customer service experience was not positive, hope your is better.

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Sincerely,

Hobie

I have dealt with Ruger customer service three times over the years, with three different firearms, and all have been very positive. Wish I could say the same about all dealings with firearms manufacturers.

It has been my experience that every firearm I have purchased within the last 30 years has had issues which warranted a return to the manufacturer for warranty repair. In all cases, a little persistence and patience, along with good documentation of issues, and the problems have been corrected. It has sometimes required as much as three returns to get work done correctly, but never with the Rugers.