Dry firing Ruger Wrangler

USNRet93 · February 11, 2020, 08:49 AM

Just bought one and when wandering around the interweb found the below..WITH Ruger note in owners manual,

Quote:

The WRANGLER® revolver can be dry-fired without damage to the firing pin or other components.

BUT..just for info...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl0lf0RPAPs

GREAT fun tho..went shooting with it and my Beretta BirdsHead 38spec..great fun!!

**Aguila Blanca** · February 11, 2020, 10:17 AM

Yep - a guy who doesn't know the difference between a cylinder and a chamber certainly knows more than the people who make the firearm.

pete2 · February 11, 2020, 11:11 AM

The damage was caused by dry firing, no doubt. I would have sent it back to Ruger. Min/max tolerances met at the wrong point on his revolver.
On another point, my Wrangler firing pin has a blunt point on it, it has fired every time but it doesn't put much of a dent in the rim. Nothing like the pin in my Single Six. I don't dry fire the Wrangler. Dry firing hasn't hurt my other Rugers, MKII, 10/22s and the Single Six.
The people who made his firearm certainly screwed up on his Wrangler.

Pahoo · February 11, 2020, 11:51 AM

Good heads-up and Ruger certianly, will take note to rectify !!

My primary take-away on this is to be selective on what and how you dry-fire. Regardless of what "the" manual says, I take steps not to dry fire and do not let others, dry-fire my "stuff". I routinely use my thumb, dummy or spent rounds as well as snap caps. When handling other folk's firearms, I make it a point to assure them that I will not fry fire their 'stuff". …….

I fully understand that there are competition shooters that "need" to dry-fire a firearm and that's their call. ….

Be Safe !!!

Carl the Floor Walker · February 11, 2020, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aguila Blanca

Yep - a guy who doesn't know the difference between a cylinder and a chamber certainly knows more than the people who make the firearm.

It was obvious he knew the difference. I do not see any need for a comment like that. I can see how it would be useful info for some folks, especially new shooters or younger shooters. Give the guy credit for taking the time to point this info out.
Still, he should not have fired without snap caps. I use dry wall anchors. Ruger should not have put that misinformation in the manual.

Cheapshooter · February 12, 2020, 01:23 AM

"Cylinder" instead of chamber, "bore" or "cylinder bore" instead of chamber aside his credibility of knowing what he's talking about flew out the window before that. "Most of my handguns are striker fired and "specifically" you aren't supposed to dry fire them"
Dude, ever hear of Glock?
Rather than a video of his "expertise", contacting Ruger would have been a better plan for everybody concerned .

**JohnKSa** · February 12, 2020, 02:39 AM

Quote:

I would have sent it back to Ruger.

Yup, a rimfire that's supposed to be safe to dryfire should not peen the chamber. Probably a missing or out-of-spec part. Ruger should fix it.

USNRet93 · February 12, 2020, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aguila Blanca

Yep - a guy who doesn't know the difference between a cylinder and a chamber certainly knows more than the people who make the firearm.

Did you see the part where he showed the indentations on the cylinder walls?
FROM the firing pin? That prevented the rounds from going into the cylinder? Guess that's 'fake news' since he
"doesn't know the difference between a cylinder and a chamber certainly knows more than the people who make the firearm"..yeegads.

Quote:

The damage was caused by dry firing, no doubt. I would have sent it back to Ruger. Min/max tolerances met at the wrong point on his revolver.

He made that point also..even if he make the YUGE cardinal error of calling a 'cylinder' a 'chamber' or whatever something...

Quote:

It was obvious he knew the difference. I do not see any need for a comment like that. I can see how it would be useful info for some folks, especially new shooters or younger shooters. Give the guy credit for taking the time to point this info out.

Agree..and it caused me to look at my new Ruger..(I don't dry fire it at all)..

I guess he could have kept all this to himself, then let 'some' bad mouth Ruger...AND him...

Quote:

Rather than a video of his "expertise", contacting Ruger would have been a better plan for everybody concerned

See above, he implied it was a QC issue and anybody seeing this SHOULD contact Ruger.

FrankenMauser · February 12, 2020, 11:05 AM

Sample size of ONE.

**44 AMP** · February 12, 2020, 12:32 PM

If the manufacturer says "mechanism will not be damaged by doing X" an it is damaged by doing X then it is defective. Simple. One individual gun is defective. Call Ruger, they WILL fix it.

Now, if you've got 3 or 3 dozen of that specific model and ALL of them do it, THEN you have a case for saying the factory is having problems.

Cheapshooter · February 12, 2020, 01:36 PM

If the firing pin is striking the cylinder with enough force to peen it there is probably a bigger, even potentially dangerous problem than not being able to dry fire it. Is the firing pin length out of spec enough for it to negate the need for the transfer bar to make contact with the rim. Making the transfer bar safety useless.
Instead of taking a file to the chambers, contacting Ruger is definitely in order.
As a side note, nothing but this one video comes up when searching dry fire problems with Ruger Wrangler.
A one off incident, or at least not an epidemic of QC problems, or design flaw.

USNRet93 · February 13, 2020, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankenMauser

Sample size of ONE.

Perhaps but without this video I would have read the owners manual and 'maybe' dry fired the thing..and create a scenario where I gotta contact Ruger, plus all the rig-a-ma-roll...

blah, blah..It's just a PSA..you can bad mouth it if you want or ignore it or dry fire your Wrangler..don matter to me.

bamaranger · February 13, 2020, 10:08 AM

All very interesting.....I have not viewed the video yet.

I was taught as a lad NOT to dry fire any rimfire, and have abided by that instruction pretty much since.

FrankenMauser · February 13, 2020, 01:24 PM

I dry-fire mine occasionally - usually while it is traveling between a case and the safe.
I never read the manual and don't really care what it says.

I am not the average fecal floater in the punch bowl, though. Before even firing mine, I checked firing pin protrusion during the nearly complete detail strip that I did to see how it compared to other Ruger SA revolvers. Plenty good enough to crunch the rim of a cartridge, but incapable of touching the cylinder unless something breaks.

Sample size +1.

Cheapshooter · February 13, 2020, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Before even firing mine, I checked firing pin protrusion during the nearly complete detail strip that I did to see how it compared to other Ruger SA revolvers. Plenty good enough to crunch the rim of a cartridge, but incapable of touching the cylinder unless something breaks.

What would be your hypothesis on the gun in the video? Out of spec firing pin? Or broaken/missing part. Isn't there some sort of pin in the frame to limit the firing pin travel on Ruger revolvers?
Possible reason that the firing pin peened the cylinder, and potentially dangerous problem that the owner in the video should be taking to Ruger rather than taking a file to his gun!

FrankenMauser · February 13, 2020, 06:48 PM

My guess(es) would be:
Long firing pin, and/or missing, broken, or damaged rebound spring.

The Wrangler has a rebounding firing pin. I don't recall the exact parts arrangement for the firing pin, but I seem to remember thinking that a missing spring could be trouble.

FrankenMauser · February 13, 2020, 06:55 PM

Having taken another look at my Wrangler and photographs, as well as photos on the internet, and called another Wrangler owner to ask about that one... I'm beginning to doubt the legitimacy of the YouTube video.
Wranglers have flat firing pins. In the video, the dimples appear to be concave.

1+1=3? ...And more clicks/views.

Pahoo · February 13, 2020, 07:46 PM

Quote:

I'm beginning to doubt the legitimacy of the YouTube video.

Then I would add; Dry-Fire at your own risk !!!

No problem here as I do not own one and if I did, would not dry-fire, just to prove "something". ….

Be Safe !!!

Cheapshooter · February 14, 2020, 12:08 PM

With a couple BPS gift cards from Christmas, a few bucks in Club points, and some "mad money" stached, I might have to just buy a Wrangler to find out!

Carmady · February 14, 2020, 06:30 PM

At the 5:00 mark he's showing the back of the cylinder.

What are the marks at 9 o'clock at the outside edge of the rim on every charge hole (when the holes are at 12 o'clock)?

February 11, 2020, 10:17 AM	#2
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 18,468	Yep - a guy who doesn't know the difference between a cylinder and a chamber certainly knows more than the people who make the firearm. __________________ NRA Life Member / Certified Instructor NRA Chief RSO / CMP RSO 1911 Certified Armorer Jeepaholic

February 11, 2020, 11:51 AM	#4
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	Good heads-up !!!! Good heads-up and Ruger certianly, will take note to rectify !! My primary take-away on this is to be selective on what and how you dry-fire. Regardless of what "the" manual says, I take steps not to dry fire and do not let others, dry-fire my "stuff". I routinely use my thumb, dummy or spent rounds as well as snap caps. When handling other folk's firearms, I make it a point to assure them that I will not fry fire their 'stuff". ……. I fully understand that there are competition shooters that "need" to dry-fire a firearm and that's their call. …. Be Safe !!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.

February 12, 2020, 01:23 AM	#6
Cheapshooter Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 8,306	"Cylinder" instead of chamber, "bore" or "cylinder bore" instead of chamber aside his credibility of knowing what he's talking about flew out the window before that. "Most of my handguns are striker fired and "specifically" you aren't supposed to dry fire them" Dude, ever hear of Glock? Rather than a video of his "expertise", contacting Ruger would have been a better plan for everybody concerned . __________________ Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING!

February 12, 2020, 11:05 AM	#9
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Sample size of ONE. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

February 12, 2020, 12:32 PM	#10
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,846	If the manufacturer says "mechanism will not be damaged by doing X" an it is damaged by doing X then it is defective. Simple. One individual gun is defective. Call Ruger, they WILL fix it. Now, if you've got 3 or 3 dozen of that specific model and ALL of them do it, THEN you have a case for saying the factory is having problems. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

February 11, 2020, 11:11 AM	#3
pete2 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 2,566	The damage was caused by dry firing, no doubt. I would have sent it back to Ruger. Min/max tolerances met at the wrong point on his revolver. On another point, my Wrangler firing pin has a blunt point on it, it has fired every time but it doesn't put much of a dent in the rim. Nothing like the pin in my Single Six. I don't dry fire the Wrangler. Dry firing hasn't hurt my other Rugers, MKII, 10/22s and the Single Six. The people who made his firearm certainly screwed up on his Wrangler.

February 12, 2020, 01:36 PM	#11
Cheapshooter Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 8,306	If the firing pin is striking the cylinder with enough force to peen it there is probably a bigger, even potentially dangerous problem than not being able to dry fire it. Is the firing pin length out of spec enough for it to negate the need for the transfer bar to make contact with the rim. Making the transfer bar safety useless. Instead of taking a file to the chambers, contacting Ruger is definitely in order. As a side note, nothing but this one video comes up when searching dry fire problems with Ruger Wrangler. A one off incident, or at least not an epidemic of QC problems, or design flaw. __________________ Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING!

February 13, 2020, 10:08 AM	#13
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,312	interesting All very interesting.....I have not viewed the video yet. I was taught as a lad NOT to dry fire any rimfire, and have abided by that instruction pretty much since.

February 13, 2020, 01:24 PM	#14
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	I dry-fire mine occasionally - usually while it is traveling between a case and the safe. I never read the manual and don't really care what it says. I am not the average fecal floater in the punch bowl, though. Before even firing mine, I checked firing pin protrusion during the nearly complete detail strip that I did to see how it compared to other Ruger SA revolvers. Plenty good enough to crunch the rim of a cartridge, but incapable of touching the cylinder unless something breaks. Sample size +1. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

February 13, 2020, 06:48 PM	#16
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	My guess(es) would be: Long firing pin, and/or missing, broken, or damaged rebound spring. The Wrangler has a rebounding firing pin. I don't recall the exact parts arrangement for the firing pin, but I seem to remember thinking that a missing spring could be trouble. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

February 13, 2020, 06:55 PM	#17
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Having taken another look at my Wrangler and photographs, as well as photos on the internet, and called another Wrangler owner to ask about that one... I'm beginning to doubt the legitimacy of the YouTube video. Wranglers have flat firing pins. In the video, the dimples appear to be concave. 1+1=3? ...And more clicks/views. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

February 14, 2020, 12:08 PM	#19
Cheapshooter Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 8,306	With a couple BPS gift cards from Christmas, a few bucks in Club points, and some "mad money" stached, I might have to just buy a Wrangler to find out! __________________ Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING!

February 14, 2020, 06:30 PM	#20
Carmady Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2013 Location: on the lam Posts: 1,735	At the 5:00 mark he's showing the back of the cylinder. What are the marks at 9 o'clock at the outside edge of the rim on every charge hole (when the holes are at 12 o'clock)?