April 15, 2006, 09:27 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 9, 2005
Location: Colorado (not Denver or Boulder)
Posts: 186
|
How to remove a pin
I have a Ruger Mk III, and I want to (temporarily) remove the "loaded indicator" flag so I can touch it up with a Dremel.
It's held in place with a pin embedded in the barrel. You can't tap out the pin because you can only see the one end of the pin. It's a small pin, too. I'm thinking about punching a dimple in the pin so a drill bit does not travel, take a very small drill bit, drill a hole in the pin, drive a screw into the pin, and pull it out. Any advice appreciated. |
April 15, 2006, 11:16 PM | #2 |
Member In Memoriam
Join Date: March 17, 1999
Posts: 24,383
|
I don't have a Mk III to check, but I doubt very much that pin is in a blind hole; Ruger doesn't do things that way. Have you removed the barrel and receiver from the grip frame and checked it out?
Anyway, don't go drilling until some of the other folks are heard from. Jim |
April 16, 2006, 12:27 AM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 9, 2005
Location: Colorado (not Denver or Boulder)
Posts: 186
|
I don't have a Mk III to check, but I doubt very much that pin is in a blind hole; Ruger doesn't do things that way. Have you removed the barrel and receiver from the grip frame and checked it out?
Oh yeah. The barrel is bare. "Blind hole" is the term, and I think this classifies. Item 7 is the pin I want out. Items 4 are just fillers, which are for, and now hold, a Weaver rail. And no, the other end of the pin is not visible from inside the chamber. It is pinned in solid stainless. Anyway, don't go drilling until some of the other folks are heard from. I'm there. I'm in no rush. Haste makes waste. Learned that the hard way. |
April 16, 2006, 05:17 PM | #4 |
Staff
Join Date: March 4, 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 21,063
|
It's possible that because this is a safety feature they intentionally rendered it undefeatable for liability reasons. Call Ruger and ask if they made it permanent? If you have to drill it out you may be able to drill it out a little bigger part of the way, tap the rest, then substitute a shoulder screw for the pin.
Before you go to drilling, get a plastic hammer with a fairly solid head and strike the frame near the barrel threads (where it is solid) and in the same direction as if you were driving a parallel pin into place. This may back the troublesome pin out. Nick
__________________
Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle |
April 16, 2006, 07:00 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 9, 2005
Location: Colorado (not Denver or Boulder)
Posts: 186
|
It's possible that because this is a safety feature they intentionally rendered it undefeatable for liability reasons.
It's possible. I just think it's bad design, and the undefeatability was a side-effect. This was added to the line just a year or so ago. Previous models did not have the device, so the barrel, as it was originally designed and intended, did not have it. It was an after-thought inspired by our lawsuit happy society. In fact, the first few specimins that had this 'safety feature' (the 'loaded indicator'), you could discharge the round in the chamber by striking the indicator with a hammer Thank you for your time and advice. |
April 16, 2006, 08:35 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 4, 2005
Posts: 242
|
I've seen this topic discussed over at the Mark ll forum. You could search over there or ask your question again. Here's a link into the site:
http://www.markii.org/forum/ Pretty good group over there as well... Josh
__________________
"It's not the arrow, it's the indian!" |
April 16, 2006, 09:27 PM | #7 |
Member In Memoriam
Join Date: March 17, 1999
Posts: 24,383
|
Again, I don't have a Mk III, but it looks to me like the loaded chamber indicator simply pops out if driven backward. That is why it has a "U" shaped cut. The pin is driven in and becomes permanent part of the receiver (not the barrel), and then the indicator is just pushed forward and in until it snaps in place. That sounds more like Ruger.
Jim |
April 16, 2006, 10:42 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 27, 2006
Posts: 1,559
|
I'll agree with Jim in that the pin looks as if it stays in place and the indicator is removed. Ruger does a very good job with their engineering and can't imagine them putting in a pin that has to be drilled out. You're thinking of GM's and Ford's engineering.
|
April 17, 2006, 11:14 AM | #9 |
Staff
Join Date: March 4, 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 21,063
|
Wouldn't that be sweet? I haven't seen a III up close enough to disassemble it, either, and I just can't tell clearly from the schematic. But it makes sense. Call Ruger for verification. Cheap long-distance is a modern blessing to be taken advantage of.
Nick
__________________
Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle |
April 17, 2006, 01:09 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 24, 2001
Location: LC, Ca
Posts: 1,917
|
If you go to the Ruger website and use Adobe to blow up the drawing to 300%, you'll see that part #5, the indicator, has a through hole and is trapped by the blind pin.
The good news is that Ruger will sell you a new indicator, pin and spring. If you really need to get the indicator out, you could use a cutoff wheel and Dremel to grind away the indicator until it pops off he pin. Then grab the pin through the slot with a small pair of long nose pliers and back it out of the hole. |
April 18, 2006, 02:20 AM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 9, 2005
Location: Colorado (not Denver or Boulder)
Posts: 186
|
If you go to the Ruger website and use Adobe to blow up the drawing to 300%, you'll see that part #5, the indicator, has a through hole and is trapped by the blind pin.
Indeed it is. Indeed it is. But it's not trapped by much. I took a pair of Vice Grips and pullled that sucker out like an old world dentist would have pulled a bad tooth. Had to give it some elbow grease, but that sucker pulled. I figured, what's the worst that can happen. I'll have to ditch it and get a competition barrel. Oh my, how awful. Took it to the range tonight. Put 160 rounds through it. Not one jam. Not one failure to fire, not one failure to feed, not one failure to eject. Which is more than I can say when the indicator was there. When it was there, I was getting jams about once every twenty rounds, due to that frickin thing. Should have bought a used Mark II. But now I have a 'customized' Mark III. And I no longer have a piece of metal blocking my chamber from the round going into it. Yes, it's no longer 'pristine' and I'll never be able to sell it (never sold a gun. probably never will) But that barrel (or whatever) was scarred by the indicator in the first place. And it was causing jams. Aftermarket ruger competition barrels don't have that 'safety'. And no longer does mine. |
April 18, 2006, 01:40 PM | #12 |
Member In Memoriam
Join Date: March 17, 1999
Posts: 24,383
|
Well, that is one way to approach a gunsmithing job. A cutting torch might work, too.
Jim |
April 19, 2006, 10:35 PM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 9, 2005
Location: Colorado (not Denver or Boulder)
Posts: 186
|
Well, that is one way to approach a gunsmithing job. A cutting torch might work, too.
Took it back to the range tonight. Put 400 rounds through it with just one stovepipe. I'm happy now. Sat down, and put 40 rounds all within a 2" group at 35 feet. Not olympic quality, but one handed at bullseye, the gun will shoot as good as I can hold it. Now maybe I won't have to call three alibis out of ten rounds. |
April 19, 2006, 11:16 PM | #14 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 23, 2004
Location: Western New York
Posts: 394
|
How to remove a pin
Quote:
__________________
Life Member Vietnam Veterans of America Life Member DAV Life Member NRA Life Member Harley Owners Group |
|
April 22, 2006, 06:54 PM | #15 |
Member In Memoriam
Join Date: March 17, 1999
Posts: 24,383
|
In the movies they always pulled the pin on a grenade with their teeth. I tried it, whitsh ith why Ith talkth like thissch.
Jim |
|
|