Ruger Blackhawk Hammer Wont Cock.

Boomer8404 · February 8, 2010, 12:41 AM

I just got my brand spankin' new 4.625" Ruger Blackhawk .41 Magnum in a couple of days ago and was finally able to go out to the range today for some plinking. I was only able to get two rounds fired off and it jammed up, not letting the hammer cock. Later on at home, I removed the cylinder, closed the loading gate and all of the sudden it was working just fine. After further inspection of the workings, I seems as though the transfer bar was riding against the frame and hitting the firing pin, where as in normal operation the transfer bar moves up and backward to clear the firing pin. Anyways, Im just wondering if anyone might know why this might have happened. Thanks.

K8vf · February 8, 2010, 12:50 AM

Pull the cylinder pin, and reinstall...

Also, see if it is bent.

On Mine(.357 3 screw converted) if the cylinder pin is not fully inserted, it will lock up as you say.

Good luck

Mark

Boomer8404 · February 8, 2010, 01:19 AM

Thanks for the help K8vf. You know what though, come to think of it. When I pulled it apart after I returned home, the cylinder pin was sticking out about a 1/4". It was like that out of the box and that was as far as I was able to get it back in after the cleaning I gave it when I first got it. I guess the fitment is just a bit tight being new. But its now seated fully and Ill giver another shootn' session tomorrow. Thanks again.

Malamute · February 8, 2010, 01:26 AM

The base pins sometimes come out in recoil. There's a spring loaded plunger in the center of it that pushed the transfer bar back to clear the firing pin. If the base pin backs out, the transfer bar hangs up on the firing pin. Check the base pin catch, the little spring loaded cross pin, and see if it's screwed tightly together. Sometimes they need a stiffer spring, sometimes the hole for them isnt drilled/milled deep enough and the catch doesnt engage deeply enough. If you take the extracor rod housing off, remove the base pin and cylinder, an see if the catch looks like it comes at least halfway into the base pin hole. If not, it may need to be deepened slightly. A stiffer spring may do it tho, even if the catch isnt engaging very deeply. I believe Wolff has heavier base pin catch springs.

K8vf · February 8, 2010, 01:31 AM

ALSO, install cylinder pin FULLY W/O cylinder and rotate it.

See if it Binds up at all.

If it does, it may be bent(check roughly by rolling on a glass or marble surface and looking for wobble. I KNOW this wont be exact, but it MAY tell you if it is bent. )
It only needs to be very slightly bent to cause the pin to ONLY be able to be fully inserted in one way.

Just something else to check.

Mark

Malamute · February 8, 2010, 10:52 PM

"ALSO, install cylinder pin FULLY W/O cylinder and rotate it.........

....It only needs to be very slightly bent to cause the pin to ONLY be able to be fully inserted in one way."

Ruger New Model SA factory basepins can only be inserted in one way, they have a flange with a notch on it that limites how it goes in. It wont rotate no matter what.

K8vf · February 9, 2010, 03:09 PM

Hey, thanks, I didn't know that. I have only had OLD model.

Good info, for sure.

Pathfinder45 · February 10, 2010, 07:33 PM

Yes, the plunger in the end of the cylinder pin is depended upon to keep the transfer bar pushed back away from the firing pin. When I got my Vaquero .45 Colt about 14 years ago it had a problem of the cylinder pin, "walking out", from recoil. Turns out, the groove in the cylinder pin wasn't deep enough for the retainer to adequately engage the groove. Simple fix with a few strokes of a chainsaw file.

February 8, 2010, 12:41 AM	#1
Boomer8404 Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2007 Location: Far West Texas Posts: 108	Ruger Blackhawk Hammer Wont Cock. I just got my brand spankin' new 4.625" Ruger Blackhawk .41 Magnum in a couple of days ago and was finally able to go out to the range today for some plinking. I was only able to get two rounds fired off and it jammed up, not letting the hammer cock. Later on at home, I removed the cylinder, closed the loading gate and all of the sudden it was working just fine. After further inspection of the workings, I seems as though the transfer bar was riding against the frame and hitting the firing pin, where as in normal operation the transfer bar moves up and backward to clear the firing pin. Anyways, Im just wondering if anyone might know why this might have happened. Thanks.

February 8, 2010, 12:50 AM	#2
K8vf Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: Iosco county Michigan Posts: 39	jammed up Pull the cylinder pin, and reinstall... Also, see if it is bent. On Mine(.357 3 screw converted) if the cylinder pin is not fully inserted, it will lock up as you say. Good luck Mark

February 8, 2010, 01:26 AM	#4
Malamute Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2004 Location: Rocky Mts Posts: 740	The base pins sometimes come out in recoil. There's a spring loaded plunger in the center of it that pushed the transfer bar back to clear the firing pin. If the base pin backs out, the transfer bar hangs up on the firing pin. Check the base pin catch, the little spring loaded cross pin, and see if it's screwed tightly together. Sometimes they need a stiffer spring, sometimes the hole for them isnt drilled/milled deep enough and the catch doesnt engage deeply enough. If you take the extracor rod housing off, remove the base pin and cylinder, an see if the catch looks like it comes at least halfway into the base pin hole. If not, it may need to be deepened slightly. A stiffer spring may do it tho, even if the catch isnt engaging very deeply. I believe Wolff has heavier base pin catch springs. __________________ "Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat." -Theodore Roosevelt-

February 8, 2010, 01:31 AM	#5
K8vf Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: Iosco county Michigan Posts: 39	Blackhawk lock up ALSO, install cylinder pin FULLY W/O cylinder and rotate it. See if it Binds up at all. If it does, it may be bent(check roughly by rolling on a glass or marble surface and looking for wobble. I KNOW this wont be exact, but it MAY tell you if it is bent. ) It only needs to be very slightly bent to cause the pin to ONLY be able to be fully inserted in one way. Just something else to check. Mark

February 8, 2010, 10:52 PM	#6
Malamute Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2004 Location: Rocky Mts Posts: 740	"ALSO, install cylinder pin FULLY W/O cylinder and rotate it......... ....It only needs to be very slightly bent to cause the pin to ONLY be able to be fully inserted in one way." Ruger New Model SA factory basepins can only be inserted in one way, they have a flange with a notch on it that limites how it goes in. It wont rotate no matter what. __________________ "Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat." -Theodore Roosevelt-

February 8, 2010, 01:19 AM	#3
Boomer8404 Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2007 Location: Far West Texas Posts: 108	Thanks for the help K8vf. You know what though, come to think of it. When I pulled it apart after I returned home, the cylinder pin was sticking out about a 1/4". It was like that out of the box and that was as far as I was able to get it back in after the cleaning I gave it when I first got it. I guess the fitment is just a bit tight being new. But its now seated fully and Ill giver another shootn' session tomorrow. Thanks again.

February 9, 2010, 03:09 PM	#7
K8vf Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: Iosco county Michigan Posts: 39	cylinder pin. Hey, thanks, I didn't know that. I have only had OLD model. Good info, for sure.

February 10, 2010, 07:33 PM	#8
Pathfinder45 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2008 Posts: 818	cylinder pin Yes, the plunger in the end of the cylinder pin is depended upon to keep the transfer bar pushed back away from the firing pin. When I got my Vaquero .45 Colt about 14 years ago it had a problem of the cylinder pin, "walking out", from recoil. Turns out, the groove in the cylinder pin wasn't deep enough for the retainer to adequately engage the groove. Simple fix with a few strokes of a chainsaw file.